I was wondering about that, too, but this is from the manual that CleanSump linked above:
Kohler manual wrong oil capacity
- Thread starter Allaned
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MolaKule
Staff member
I have two large OE's, a generator and a snowblower. Both have instructions on checking the oil levels which state that the dipstick is to be set on top of the oil fill hole; not screwed in or pushed down past the o-ring on the lipstick.
This is a $1900 engine so I would reread the manual to determine the proper procedure for determining the oil level.
MolaKule
Staff member
That is a definite possibly since all data points to a 2 quart sump capacity.
See my post #21 above.
MolaKule
Staff member
I did after I posted not seeing your comment at first and thanks but yes, if the lipstick is to be pushed all the way down, then a quart of oil is not being drained.
How are you "draining" the oil, with the drain plug or sucking it out of the oil filler or dip stick hole? If you're sucking it out that maybe why it can't pickup all the oil in the sump.
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Revisited
After reading all the replies and feeling that I must be wrong because of all the people who say 2 quarts, I decided to drain and try again. Before starting this work, the dipstick read "full." So I opened the drain tube (it is a rubber tube with the screw cap for oil drainage. It must have been done that way to allow Toro to put the Kohler 7000 in place rather than directly on an oil pan). I pulled the filter and allowed that to drain. In total I got a quart and a few ounces more after allowing it to drain for an hour, that's it. Replaced a new filter and a quart of oil and now reading nearly full after starting the engine to allow circulation. So there is something about the way Toro is using this engine in this mower because when I followed directions I had read in past and put in 2 quarts, it was overfilled. All this is on the original dipstick.
After reading all the replies and feeling that I must be wrong because of all the people who say 2 quarts, I decided to drain and try again. Before starting this work, the dipstick read "full." So I opened the drain tube (it is a rubber tube with the screw cap for oil drainage. It must have been done that way to allow Toro to put the Kohler 7000 in place rather than directly on an oil pan). I pulled the filter and allowed that to drain. In total I got a quart and a few ounces more after allowing it to drain for an hour, that's it. Replaced a new filter and a quart of oil and now reading nearly full after starting the engine to allow circulation. So there is something about the way Toro is using this engine in this mower because when I followed directions I had read in past and put in 2 quarts, it was overfilled. All this is on the original dipstick.
I wonder if the way the drain tube is installed it doesn't allow all the oil to drain.
I have seen this quite a few times on mowers and lawn tractors. It's really a pet peeve of mine the way manufacturers see maintenance as an afterthought. It also seems way more common on homeowner grade zero turns, but do they just assume homeowners won't maintain them? Do you need to spend 15 grand to get a suitable way to drain out the oil on a mower instead of a plug that dumps all over the machine? Ridiculous.
I'd say as long as it is reading on the full line for your machine you should be good to go, in the end that is what matters.
I would be curious to know if you jacked up the side of the mower opposite the drain if you get any additional oil out?
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I didn’t do that but will say the new oil looks clear and not dirty on the dipstick. I’m concluding that there was little residual oil in the engine or pan.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
You could try extracting through the fill hole and see what you get out.
Dipsticks in mower engines don't go all the way to the bottom of the sump so aren't really telling you if there's no oil left.
Dipsticks in mower engines don't go all the way to the bottom of the sump so aren't really telling you if there's no oil left.
