Smallest oil capacity?

[KenO]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
The 1.8L Sentra uses something like 3 quarts. I don't know of any sump smaller, although its definitely possible.


Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
The 1.8L Sentra uses something like 3 quarts. I don't know of any sump smaller, although its definitely possible.

They've upped it to 4.2 quarts on the new ones, but yeah, some 7-10 years back, it was 2.9 qt.



They had too, too many blown motors on a car thats notorious for burning oil.

 

[hattaresguy]

When my sister first got her Sentra years ago I was surprised to find out it only took 3 quarts! OTOH that made it a cheap oil change so their was no excuse not to change it often.

 

[stang5]

my 91 Pathfinder holds 3.25 Qts with filter. currently has 230k miles with no oil consumption ,OCI 4k miles on 5w30 conventional

 

[redtrucker610]

98' Frontier 2.4L 3.5 qts with filter.

 

[bigt61]

My buddie's 2008 Impala with a 3.5L V6 holds 4 quarts with filter. Doesn't seem like enough to me, but at least he uses synthetic. He bought NAPA on sale last time we changed it.

 

[Smokescreen]

My Corolla holds 4.4L of oil, its a 1.8L engine
My LeSabre holds 4.5L of oil, its a 3.8L engine
My Suburban hold 4.7L of oil, its a 5.7L engine

Each of these engines are legendary for longevity & reliability but differ in only a couple of hundred mL in capacity. It all comes down to design.

 

[y_p_w]

I guess what also bugged me when I took my wife's car in for oil changes was that the amount of oil that comes standard with most oil service is "up to 5 quarts". A chassis lube is also theoretically included in the price. I even paid extra for 5W-20 even if they only used 4 quarts.

Also, a lot of places will even overfill, figuring that you're paying for it. I wish there could be a discount for using less oil.

 

[GatorJoe]

My daughter's 2000 Toyota Echo takes 3.7 quarts for its 1.5L 4 cylinder. I was surprised it didn't require 4 quarts. I put 4 quarts in anyway.

By contrast, my XJ6's in line 6 takes 8.5 quarts.

 

[SHOZ]

My Hyundai Accent 1.6L takes 3.5 qts with the small factory filter.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Flareside302
Your 4.3 should take 4.5 qts..


Maybe with the filter? I put 4 in without it and the level was about perfect.

 

[measureman]

Originally Posted By: KenO
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
The 1.8L Sentra uses something like 3 quarts. I don't know of any sump smaller, although its definitely possible.


Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
The 1.8L Sentra uses something like 3 quarts. I don't know of any sump smaller, although its definitely possible.

They've upped it to 4.2 quarts on the new ones, but yeah, some 7-10 years back, it was 2.9 qt.



They had too, too many blown motors on a car thats notorious for burning oil.


I have a 2006 Sentra 1.8 and it uses no oil at all. It does take 3 quarts. I buy the 5 quart jug and use 3. Then buy another one and use the left over 2 and 1 from the new jug and so on.I run synthetic for 7k to 8k and never have to top it off.

 

[Merkava_4]

I wouldn't buy a car with less than 5 quarts capacity.

You're really working the oil hard when you get below 5 quarts.

 

[nomochevys]

My old Pontiac 2.5 Iron Duke in my S10 held 3.5 quarts with a filter. It worried me to death because it had high miles and a slight leak. I just made it a point to check it and change the oil frequently.

 

[charbaby]

This shows how progress is being made. Engines are more efficient not only in terms of MPG but, in terms of how little oil is needed to protect the engine.

Engine management systems are also more efficient as well and the engine oil doesn't get as poluted as in the past, allowing the oil capicity to be smaller while doing a good job of protecting the vital parts.

Lots goes into designing the engine and all of it's related parts that are there to aid in the engine in it's efficiency so thus, less required oil.

 

[Nayov]

Ninety-three Sentra, 3.2 quart capacity. I have 277,000 on in and just dump in 3 quarts at each OCI (5,000) and call it good. Synthetic, obviously. No oil usage at all. Get this, though: OCI interval under normal operating conditions is 7,500 miles and NO filter change (OFI: 15,000 miles

) . Hard to abide by those recommendations with a low capacity oil sump.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
This shows how progress is being made. Engines are more efficient not only in terms of MPG but, in terms of how little oil is needed to protect the engine.

Engine management systems are also more efficient as well and the engine oil doesn't get as poluted as in the past, allowing the oil capicity to be smaller while doing a good job of protecting the vital parts.

Lots goes into designing the engine and all of it's related parts that are there to aid in the engine in it's efficiency so thus, less required oil.

Maybe, but every NA Ecotec I ever worked on took 5 quarts of oil. Most similar sized engines took 4 quarts.

But Nissan always amazed me with how few quarts many engines took. The Hardbody truck and Pathfinder V6 took less than 4 quarts, AND it had TBI which isn't good for fuel dilution. Plus the engines were rather unclean because they needed a very complicated exhaust air pump system. Still, even with those factors, those engines lasted for ages as long as the timing belt was replaced on time.

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

Honda accord's and pretty much all their new 4 and 6 cylinder motors go for ages and hold 4.5

 

[Number21]

My old 1973 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 350 only holds 4 in the pan, 1 in the filter. That's nothing for this giant old thing. Just think of all the fuel that ends up in the oil with the carb. But 350s go forever. They have a 2 quart filter for it but it hangs down so low it's easy to hit things with it...

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I wouldn't buy a car with less than 5 quarts capacity.

You're really working the oil hard when you get below 5 quarts.


Nah, Civic can do 10K OCI with 4 quarts easily, and in the older days 3 quart for 5K OCI on older oil standard (or if you believe their user manual, 7.5K OCI for highway, on 3 quart).

 

[surfstar]

Yeah, my old Mazda's 2.0L only lasted to 34x,xxx miles with 3.5 qt oil changes (spec'd 3.7 w/ filter, but 3.5 topped it off each time). Engine was fine at the end, also.