Reduced oil capacity?

[SoF]

Just changed the oil in my '98 3.0L Caravan 55k mi, and after adding just under 4 quarts, I checked the level, and it's reading about a quart HIGH!? I also changed the filter and filled it with oil before installing. Ran it for a bit to get it up to operating temp and it still reads way high. It is parked on a level surface. According to the owners manual and the chiltons guide, it should take 4.5 quarts with a filter change. All I can think of is there is so much sludge in the oil pan /engine that it's taking up oil volume. But more than a quart and a half? That's a lot of crud. Looking in the oil fill hole in the valve cover, I can see some varnish on the top end parts, but it doesn't look too bad. Anyone else have this problem? I just got the van a couple of weeks ago and don't know about the maintenance history, although it was originally a rental vehicle. I would assume they would keep up on the maintenance.

SoF

 

[rpn453]

I don't think it could possibly have anywhere near that much residual or sludge in it.
Is it possible you could have accidentally put 5 quarts in?
Dipsticks can be off too though. It is likely that the oil capacity is more accurate than the dipstick.

 

[SoF]

Ok, after posting this problem on a more vehicle specific forum: Apparently these engines are known for hard to read dipsticks. Supposed to read the back side, not the front (front has the add/full writing on it) Still difficult to read the back side , but it's definitly lower than the front. I went ahead and added it up to 4.5 quarts, and the reading on the front didn't change at all. It looks like the back side of the dipstick kind of drags on the tube on the way out so it affects the reading. It's going to be hard to keep track of oil consumption with this vehicle. I also had a hard time with my wifes '94 Saturn transmission dipstick. I could never tell if the fluid level was correct. Doesn't matter anymore though, timing chain just broke on that one doing 70mph on the freeway= engine hosed. Anybody want to buy a '94 Saturn with a blown engine? javascript:void(0)
javascript:void(0)

SoF

 

[dkcase]

quote:

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Originally posted by SoF:
Apparently these engines are known for hard to read dipsticks. Supposed to read the back side, not the front (front has the add/full writing on it)

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Good point. We had a '96 3.0 Caravan. I never was sure of the dipstick reading, but the best I could come up with was just that-- the reverse side gives a better reading. So that is exactly how I read it.

FYI.. the only trouble I had with the engine was serpentine belts and the tensioner. the dealer replaced them once in warranty, and once out (no charge, because I complained that it was a recognized problem). And I replaced it myself the third time. Almost 100k miles.

 

[uconn1150]

Looks like a job for Auto-RX !

Do a search on it and get cleaning!

Oh, and

[ October 09, 2003, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: uconn1150 ]

 

[eldawg4100]

lol weird, my GF's first car was a lebaron convertible with 3.0 and i remember when it was wet the serp. belt would slip off a lot, and it was replaced twice before it stopped happening.