Overfilled from the factory?

[Flatrate]

Hope all is well. So yesterday I went to do the first oil change on my 2026 Durango with Hemi (5.7) 945 miles and I wish I would have videoed it all.

I was curious so on level pavement I pulled the drain plug and let it go till a slight drip and plugged it up filter still on. I took my oil collector and poured it into a 2 Qt measuring cup and then pouring it into a waste jug. I collected 7.8 Qts? Should also say it was a brand new collector, so nothing from the past.

Is this a factory thing or just a mistake? As I was thinking about I've bought a fair number of new vehicles in my life but always took them to the dealer, hanging around here changed that. So it was a first time for me cracking a new one open. The system is supposed to be a 7 Qt system.

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0W-20 went in OEM filter.

Any thoughts.

 

[Dutchy491]

Did you verify that it’s a 7 qt sump by the manual? Did the oil smell strongly of fuel?
Oil filter might hold a cup of oil….

 

[Flatrate]

Verified by manual and tons of searching. No real fuel scent.

Yep, filter is the same as last car and changed it many times, holds about 8oz.

 

[AuthorEditor]

I've found official oil capacity can be off by quite a bit. Did you observe the dipstick reading first? I would fill according to that. I have a Honda and a Subaru and they both take more oil than the manual says.

 

[Rand]

How much oil did you put back in.. and was it on full?

I always check oil level before I drain.

the 2020 ram hemi I do oil changes on takes 7.25 qt for full.

 

[Hirev]

What did the dipstick say after you put in 7 qts of new oil???

 

[Flatrate]

I did not check the dipstick prior and did put in about 7.25 qt in and it was good after the test start. It sat all night long and this morning I checked it and it was a little on the high side. It only got pulled out to the driveway for a wash today. Tomorrow I got somethings to do and will get it up to temp and check it a bit after I get home.

 

[AuthorEditor]

If it's a little on the high side doesn't that indicate the 7qt figure is correct? But, I wouldn't worry if it's a tad bit above when cold. Check your manual for what it says about checking the oil level and go with that procedure.

 

[GMBoy]

Oil specs seem to be an average because they rarely match perfect to the stick. I bet 95% of the vehicles I have serviced required around 1/2 qt over the listed capacity to reach the full mark on the stick. The only vehicles I ever saw that the manual spec was dead on was BMW. Any oil change I do I fill to capacity per the service manual then adjust as required.

 

[BHopkins]

Reports of factory fill being off always boggle my mind. Anyone who has worked in an assembly plant can correct me if I'm wrong, but from the few visits I have done to assembly plants, fluid fills are carefully metered and controlled by the process equipment. The tech just pushes a button and the metered amount is filled, and stops on it's own. It's hard to see much chance for variation.

 

[MrJayhawk]

Reports of factory fill being off always boggle my mind. Anyone who has worked in an assembly plant can correct me if I'm wrong, but from the few visits I have done to assembly plants, fluid fills are carefully metered and controlled by the process equipment. The tech just pushes a button and the metered amount is filled, and stops on it's own. It's hard to see much chance for variation.

Question: for those that have worked at dealership, is oil level on new vehicles off truck something you check? Wonder if overzealous dealership maybe added oil it didn’t need.

 

[barkingspider]

Congrats on your new whip. Good choice w the Ultra Platinum

 

[fantastic]

Fuel dilution can certainly add to the level. Was it hot oil? Thought I'd seen a video showing hot oil expanding its volume of space.

What did the dipstick say after you put in 7 qts of new oil???

Dipsticks talk you know...

I type "Say" instead of "Show" for a reason...

 

[danstraylee]

I would not worry a bit. Overfilling a modern engine that holds 5+ quarts by 1/2 to 1 quart will not hurt a thing.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I try to under fill about a cup to a pint. Better than overfill

 

[ATex7239]

My thought is happens. ~ 1/2 quart is nothing to worry about especially with such a large sump capacity. I regularly put 1/4 to 1/2 over full in the CR-V and Elantra since both are regularly short tripped and use some oil.

 

[Patman]

I try to under fill about a cup to a pint. Better than overfill

I disagree. I think being a half quart over is better than being a half quart under (unless it’s a severe fuel diluter)

 

[Hall]

fluid fills are carefully metered and controlled by the process equipment. The tech just pushes a button and the metered amount is filled, and stops on it's own. It's hard to see much chance for variation.

Haven't worked in an assembly plant, but yes, this is my understanding. They make it as fool-proof as they can, plus think about models with different engines and different oil capacities. No, they don't expect the worker to check the engine, check a chart for the capacity, then fill it appropriately. I'd put money on it that the worker scans a sticker or barcode and this is tied into the oil fill gun, which dispenses the suitable amount. That's the level of automation plants have nowadays.

 

[BrendanC]

i don’t look at dipsticks. i fill by the capacity stated in the manual.

 

[Japanese]

i don’t look at dipsticks. i fill by the capacity stated in the manual.

I don't think that's right. You can overfill every time. Then when the oil gets hot expands and gaskets and seals start to leak.