Not a full quart in a quart bottle?

[Jimmy9190]

I changed the oil in my wife's 2003 Honda Accord tonight, put in exactly 4.5 quarts of Peak 5W20. When I checked the level about 5 minutes after I shut it off, the level was closer to the lower hole on the dip stick. I went in my house and ate dinner, went back out maybe 45 minutes later and the level was just a bit higher on the stick, right at half way between the holes on the dip stick. Usually when I check it after an oil change the level is closer to the upper hole in the dip stick...I scratched my head and will check it again tomorrow morning, add a little if it needs it.

I found no leaks after I changed the oil. Everything is fine under the car. I always check for leaks while it is still on ramps. I am wondering if maybe there was not a full quart in each bottle so I have a slightly lower level on the dip stick? Has anyone else ever had this happen when they did an oil change? Put in 4 or 5 "full" quarts and still be a bit low on the dipstick right after?

 

[79sunrunner]

I wondered that myself last time I did an oil change for the old man. Usually I add what I am told to add, which ends the level on the dipstick a bit above the full line. Yet this time the 5.1 quart bottle felt light, and landed the oil level just under full.

Maybe the oil companies are starting to take advantage of us a little at a time.

 

[79sunrunner]

Also one thing to consider is, did you raise the car differently this time? The engine drain hole may have been tilted just enough for another .5 quarts to drain out. Just a thought.

 

[redhat]

Originally Posted By: 79sunrunner
Also one thing to consider is, did you raise the car differently this time? The engine drain hole may have been tilted just enough for another .5 quarts to drain out. Just a thought.


^this.

I have noticed that when I put my Accord on jack stands, I need to refill with less than when I put it on the ramps I made.

 

[hisilver]

Same oil filter as normal?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Peak or any name brand oil company does not under-fill the bottle, the potential fine is too much to skim few cents a bottle.

Usually they over-fill a little, about 1/2 to 1 oz. Try pour 1 quart into a measuring cup you will see that you have more than 1 quart.

 

[jcwit]

With all the millions of bottles an oil company fills is it not possible for one now and then get a short fill inadvertently? Little in this world is perfect.

 

[Kuato]

This sort of thing is why I prefer the bottles that have the transparent scale on one side.

 

[901Memphis]

If it's anything like most production plants, they get weighed after they are capped and the light ones that fall under their preset minimum will get kicked off to be reconciled later. This prevents empty's from getting into cases too.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
With all the millions of bottles an oil company fills is it not possible for one now and then get a short fill inadvertently? Little in this world is perfect.


This is exactly correct! I have worked in filling/bottling plants(different products)that were actally under FDA regulations. Sure, bottles can inadvertently get under/over filled and passed through after filling. Inspections are at specific intervals and could sometimes get missed.

Most cameras, there to inspect the bottles, are typicaly looking for gross under/over filling and balances are used to check weights.

It can happen though, it's rare and more often than not, a bit more oil drained from the oil pan than before and the oil level with be fine when "Jimmy9190" checks it in the morning.

My '04 Altima 2.5 seems to do this often as well(4.5qts) and when I think it's under full and add more oil, when I check the oil later on, it's a tad overfull. So, go slowly and add just a little at a time(like 4 oz)

 

[Lubener]

You need to check the level after the car has sat overnight. I have had dipsticks which were not accurate. My bet is that the oil did not settle back in the pan.Put in what is recommended and live peacefully.If it bothers you, call your attorney.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: Lubener
You need to check the level after the car has sat overnight. I have had dipsticks which were not accurate. My bet is that the oil did not settle back in the pan.Put in what is recommended and live peacefully.If it bothers you, call your attorney.


Call your attorney? As discussed, there are several potential explanations, so proving that the bottle wasn't full is next to impossible (were it an unopened bottle/s, you could prove it). Further, the limit of liability is likely the purchase price of the oil, so spending $100 for a 20 minute conversation with your attorney seems a waste when the best case scenario is a few dollars refunded on the purchase...

 

[Fleetmon]

I recently got shorted on the quantity of oil I purchased.....my engine takes 7.5 qts so I always buy eight. On the last change, the electronic dipstick showed 1/2 qt low and when I pulled the manual dipstick it registered the same....I added a 1/2 qt from my leftover. All of the bottles felt the same but I wasn't really paying that much attention to them so one (or several) must have been a little low.

Even though this tragic event occured, life went on!

 

[demarpaint]

Doesn't the Department of Weights and Measures [Bureau of Weights and Measures, whatever they call it] check these things from time to time to be sure people aren't getting short changed? It is real easy to walk into stores and buy a qt. or oil and measure the contents. I think the oil companies would be taking a big risk under filling qts. or gallons or oil. My bet is the oil drained a little longer than previous changes or the car was in a different position causing more oil to come out. I could see an occasional error in filling an oil bottle, but this would be a rare exception and not the norm. It is probably something checked on the fill line as well, and short filled qts. are tossed off the line.

Next time you open a qt. of oil measure the contents, and if its short report it to the appropriate govt. agency.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Measure out the precise amount and see where it lands on your dipstick for your car, just for your own amusement.

 

[Astro14]

Whether we're talking about the department of weights and measures, or satisfaction from Peak, once the oil has been poured out, there really is NO way to prove that the bottles weren't full. There are too many variables in the drain and fill of a crankcase for anyone to accept that it is a provable, calibrated method of measuring volume. There are simply too many alternative explanations in this case, having to do with temperature, surface level, incomplete drain, filter capacity and the lack of prior, calibrated measurement of crankcase volume. It's still a question in the thread title, you don't actually know if the bottles were even short!

So, in my opinion, no judge, no bureaucrat, no enforcement agency and no company will accept, at face value, the premise that one (or more) bottles were low. It's not worth any more of your time because you're not going to get anywhere with it...

 

[Jimmy9190]

Originally Posted By: hisilver
Same oil filter as normal?


Yep, same Purolator Classic L14610 I always use on her car. Every now and then I will use a Carquest Red Label filter when I find them on sale but they don't go on sale very often.

I checked the oil level with the car dead cold in the garage this morning. It is a bit higher, looks to be about the same as it usually is after an oil change, about 2/3 of the way between the two holes on the dip stick. Maybe I just didn't wait long enough last night before I checked it.

Maybe I also got more oil out of it when I drained it. The car was at the same height it always is on the ramps but I did let it drain a good long time. It was still dripping out one drop every 3 or 4 seconds when I put the plug back in. Maybe it just took longer to drain back into the pan. Right now the level is in the normal full area so I will leave it alone but keep an eye on it (as usual) and add if it needs it.

This is all probably just a case of too much BITOG OCD.

 

[bigt61]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Doesn't the Department of Weights and Measures [Bureau of Weights and Measures, whatever they call it] check these things from time to time to be sure people aren't getting short changed? It is real easy to walk into stores and buy a qt. or oil and measure the contents. I think the oil companies would be taking a big risk under filling qts. or gallons or oil. My bet is the oil drained a little longer than previous changes or the car was in a different position causing more oil to come out. I could see an occasional error in filling an oil bottle, but this would be a rare exception and not the norm. It is probably something checked on the fill line as well, and short filled qts. are tossed off the line.

Next time you open a qt. of oil measure the contents, and if its short report it to the appropriate govt. agency.


Yeah, I'm sure they'll get right on it! ROFL. Just vote with your wallet and let the free market take care of itself.