HELP…Been driving with oil levels well below the minimum mark…

[BicBoyXx]

[2012 Mazdaspeed 3,
140,000 miles,
Bone Stock including the tune,
Bought brand new, single owner, drive like a grandma with weekend Italian tune up]

So today my dumbass decided to finally check my oil level after a couple thousand miles, even though I know these cars very well and that they burn oil like a mother. Low and behold the dipstick came out DRY (yes, I made sure to check it 15 min after I shut off the car). My heart dropped and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I must’ve checked at least 5 more times because I couldn’t believe it. I feel like shit. What damage could I have possibly done to my poor Mazda driving it a couple thousand miles with engine oil below the minimum? (Note: no lights came on the dash and also the car drove surprisingly smooth for such low oil levels. I change my oil religiously every 5000 miles with full synthetic…)

 

[Awafrican]

Well the good news is no oil light an light driving, so you might be alright. Could have added some bearing wear. If you're really worried do an oil change and during it take an oil sample and send it off to Blackstone for analysis to check for wear metals.
Also check the dirty oil pan for metal, if you're really into it you can gently take apart your oil filter and inspect that.

Also time to figure out what's causing your oil consumption, leak? Bad PCV?

 

[Easter Bunny]

Story time. I have a friend who is admittedly kinda an idiot about cars etc. He lives on Maryland's eastern shore so flat and lots of winding back roads. Perfect for cruising on a motorcycle. He has a Honda shadow and is out riding with another friend going about 50 and the bike starts to buck etc pops the clutch and pulls over. Motor is locked sucks but it had like 50000 miles on it which is usually a lot on a bike. He got it used for like $1200 so no big deal. Has to ride on the back of other friends bike to go get a truck and ramps they get the bike and dump it in other friends garage. Looking it over nothing seems out of place or messed up so other friend starts asking questions of first friend.

When's the last time you changed the oil? Blank stare. How many miles have you put on it? 20000. When is the last time you checked the oil? Blank stare.

At this point they check the oil and it's completely dry figure it can't hurt so they put oil in it. Ends up taking a complete fill so it was empty. Put it in gear and rock it back in forth to try and free it up cooling down has helped so it rolls without much drama. Figure what the hell and hit the starter fires up idles fine no weird noises.

After some rides up and down the street they decide it's fine and friend continues driving the bike all over.

15000 miles other friend gets a call from first friend. I did it again. They pick up the bike put oil in it and get it running seems fine keeps riding it.

Bike ended up with close to 100,000 miles on it before it got traded in and literally never missed a beat. He did stay on top of the oil changes after the second time

I would bet your fine

 

[jdab555]

I ran my car pretty low on oil inadvertently (dry dipstick) for a not insignificant amount of time - didn't realize the consumption was as bad as it was (is, but lol), and I haven't had any problems in the 2 years since then with a lot of really hard beating. If it's acting happy with new oil, echoing other sentiments here, you're probably good.