***half quart over on oil***

[grbr95]

My owners manual on my minivan 3.3L indicates to install 4.5 quarts of oil. Thats with filter.
It takes 5 quarts to bring it to the full line at the top of the full line. I've been using 5 quarts at every OCI since I've owned it. Could I potentially be causing any problems internally?

 

[2Fast4U]

Don't worry about it.

 

[kendogg441]

I always run my cars a littel overfull anyways. I HIGHLY doubt they are that precise that a half quart will be causing any extra aireation.

 

[racer12306]

i never saw one that took less than 4.75 most were 5 qts. this is experience from 4 years at jiffy lube.

 

[grbr95]

Thanks for the replys. I've been told as well that anything up to a half qt over is fine..but not to exceed a half qt. I just wanted to double check the opinions out there.

 

[JohnnyG]

It depends on the engine. As the others have said, you are probably fine. However, some engines can be sensitive to too much oil. The Northstar is one such engine. The manual tells you in plain english to check the oil level when HOT, yet some insist on filling it with 8 quarts of oil, bringing the level to the FULL mark when cold. This causes additional oil usage by forcing the excess to be siphoned off by the PCV circuit. The excess oil burning in the engine is not only a source of a bad rap as an "Oil Burner", but it also serves to stick the rings causing ADDITIONAL oil consumption. My advice, READ your manual and do EXACTLY what it says.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

In my 2000 GC 3.3, 5 qts. + 4 oz LC + motorcraft FL1A filter. Oil is right at the full mark. Has 2900 miles on this oil now and it is still at the full mark. Added 1 oz of LC yesterday. Oil is M1 10/30. I don't worry about it. You shouldn't either.

 

[Patman]

I run an extra half quart in my wife's 2000 Civic and a full quart extra in my 98 Corvette. In both cases I've had no problems, and the level on the dipstick does not change at all, even when I went 11,600 miles on the same oil in the Civic and I'm at 8300 miles on the same oil in the Vette right now.

 

[-Clayton-]

My van calls for 4.5 I always put 5 in there.

 

[steveh]

My manual for my 95 Eagle Vision 3.3 says 5qts with filter. I have to use about 5.5 when I run the oversized filter.

 

[99]

You should really only run the amount of oil spec'd for the engine. Too high of a oil level will cause the oil to get churned up by the crank and that will cause aeration and foaming-not good for lubricating the engine and if bad enough, it will cause bottom end failure or a spun rod/main bearing. I'd slowly crack open the drain plug and let some out-it'll only take a couple of minutes.

 

[racer12306]

how is the oil level on the stick? if the level on the stick is good i wouldnt worry about it at all. in reference to my post that i never saw one take less than 4.75, all of the engines were dead on the full mark with 4.75 or 5 qts of oil.

 

[JohnnyG]

quote:

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how is the oil level on the stick? if the level on the stick is good i wouldnt worry about it at all. in reference to my post that i never saw one take less than 4.75, all of the engines were dead on the full mark with 4.75 or 5 qts of oil.

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And there lies the problem...is the oil supposed to be checked hot or cold? Sometimes it makes a difference.

 

[racer12306]

i honestly dont think there is that much of a difference. but it should probably be done cold. think about it: you change the oil, add new oil then start it up for a few min, then you shut if off and check the oil. the oil is cold. ive check the oil hot and cold and there is not much difference between the two levels.

 

[Winston]

quote:

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i never saw one that took less than 4.75 most were 5 qts. this is experience from 4 years at jiffy lube.

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OMG jiffy lubers have found this site. We must start being more carefull about bashing.

 

[eljefino]

quote:

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OMG jiffy lubers have found this site. We must start being more carefull about bashing.

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I'm just glad we have a mole.

Reform from the inside.

 

[racer12306]

you can bash jiffy lube all you want. never throught much of their practices. but it was a high school/college job

 

[bretfraz]

If the mfr says the motor takes a certain amount of oil (incl filter change), why deviate from that? Who cares what the dipstick says. I'd think the automaker knows exactly how much oil needs to be replaced during an oil & filter change.

I only use the dipstick as a guide to oil loss/usage, not as a bible to tell me exactly how much oil my engine needs. My truck takes 6 qts of oil with a filter change. So that's what I dump in, six quarts. The dipstick can show whatever it wants to, doesn't matter to me.

Why second guess the mfr's direction on oil levels? Just because the dumb dipstick says so?

 

[Cutehumor]

I would use the dipstick. it's only an estimate but I removed my oil pan a couple of times, even though I allowed the oil to drain for 2 hours, there was still about 50 ml of oil still in the pan. not only that there is probably old oil throughout the engine. so yes, the engine takes 5 quarts, but you only got 4.8 quarts out. I have the opposite situation, my sunfire says 4 quarts, I put four quarts in, and it's under the full line.

 

[racer12306]

tim, how do you determine if it is overfull or not?