Dipstick Inaccuracy?

I changed my oil today, and after reading threads on here about how much oil to replace, I decided to first put in 5.5 quarts. I let the truck sit on level ground for about 40 minutes and then checked the dipstick. It's reading well above the full mark. I checked several times and kept getting the same reading. If I looked harder maybe I saw the oil looking a little "thicker" half way between the low and full markings, but I might just be looking for something. So now I'm wondering what to rely on. Do we just go with the 6 quarts the manual says to add and negate the dipstick? I understand some oil is still sitting in the motor, but exactly how much is that? Kinda confusing...

 

Did you start the truck up after the change to cycle the oil in the filter and passages?

 

dipstick should be fairly accurate...
unless you have a dent in the oil pan.

sample your oil level after you've started/shut down the motor
thus allowing the old oil to mix with the new.

btw... the oil level is acceptable...
as long as it reads between the lower and upper fill lines.

tho' most folk prefer to be nearer the upper fill line.

 

My owners manual says 5.5 qts but that shows up above the full mark on the stick... 5.25 qts puts it spot on.

 

Also depends on how long you let oil drain. Every drop adds up

 

Run the engine to circulate the oil.
Shut down.
Remove the dipstick and wipe.
Wait 5 minutes.
Insert and remove the dipstick.

But it's a gauge... it's not a meter. As said, between the dots is fine, and from the top to bottom dot is about a quart difference.

On an oil change, just use 5.5 and you're good.

 

I let it drain a good half hour...

 

Yes I started the engine and let it idle for a little. I also drove around before I parked it to sit and then 40 minutes later I checked the dipstick. Unless the oil is being spread on the dipstick while pulling it out, it reads well above the top dot. And yes I do support the stick and hold it horizontally.

 

some residual oil stays up on the head/valvetrain...
so you will never be able to drain it completely.

I'd suspect that you added too much using 5.5 qts

have fun removing the excess

* I put 5.75 qts in mine with an over sized filter

 

I just changed mine 3 hours ago. Added 5.5 qts ran it for 5 min and checked. It read well above the second mark, so I let it sit for a bit re-checked it and was spot on. This may be obvious but wipe the dip stick clean and insert, than immediately pull dip stick. If you let the dipstick sit to long you may be allowing residual oil from the tube to get on dip stick.

 

I actually installed a Fumoto oil drain valve, so removing some oil is actually nothing more than opening the valve for a couple seconds

 

Start the engine, let it run a few minutes. Shut it off, wait 3 minutes. Then check the engine oil. It's ok to have a little extra.

 

5.5 is fine.
Gelo likes to put in 6 and he's overfilling it but he'll argue that point all day (as he did in a thread 6 months ago).

 

I wonder, you made no mention of changing the filter. Did a new filter get bought, and still lies on your workbench still in the box? ( member of the OH NO! club )

 

This is not my first time changing the oil on a car or truck Yes the filter was changed with a purolator pureone, which looks to be the same size as the oem filter.

 

That sounds about right... here's my experience (2006 2.7L):
6 quarts (w/filter) puts me well above the full mark
5.5 quarts (w/filter) reads just above the full mark
5 quarts (w/filter) reads just below the full mark

Been running it with 5qt and no problems, as expected, since the level is well between the marks. I might go with a little more oil (5.5) during the summer months when increased cooling capacity might help.

 

Exactly, so now is the dipstick telling the true story on what the oil level should be? or do we just go with the manual that says 6 quarts? Basically, can we confirm that the 6 quarts mentioned in the manual is referring to a completely dry engine, and that when doing a full oil change with filter there is still approximately a half quart sitting in the motor?

 

The dipstick in the cubicle beside me is not very accurate but that is my problem of the day.............

 

Try the

$10 PL20195 ONE Advanced Engine Protection Spin On Oil Filter Blue

PL20195 for an oversized PureOne filter.

 

I go by the reading on the dip stick.

The Chilton's manual says the same thing as my owners manual for engine/gear oil capacities except they mention...
* All capacities approximate. Add as necessary to bring to appropriate level.