Too much oil? Can't see level on dipstick

Changing the oil in my 2008 Tacoma Sport 6 cylinder DCSB automatic 2 wheel drive with the towing package. Should have 4.8 quarts of oil. I drained it then added approximately 4 1/2 quarts.

When checking the dipstick it's exceedingly hard to see the oil level. The oil is very clear and oil gets on the stick as I remove it from the tube. It appears there's too much oil but I can't be certain.

I poured the used oil in these gallon containers (all I had). 1 gallon = 4 quarts. From the 5 liter oil bottle I poured about 4 1/2 liters. See the black mark on the bottle... from the line up.

What do you think?

 

Sand the end of the dipstick enough to take the sheen off, and see if that doesn't help your reading

 

Where are you getting 4.8 quarts from? My second gen was 5.5 quarts.

Do you have a picture of the dipstick? Look at both sides.

Also, dang, I bet that 0w-40 is expensive. Any reason you're not just running the 5w-30? (If nothing else, I think the 5 weight is easier to see on the stick).

 

If you are brave enough and have a dremel you can cut little tiny notches on the side of the dipstick between the dots so the oil will stick in the notches and be way easier to see, sorry couldn't find a picture of what I mean.
Your engine takes 5.5 quarts of oil.

 

Pull the stick out, wipe it, set it on the bench and walk away for 10 minutes. Then come back and check it. That let's the residual oil drip down out of the tube and it won't muddy up the reading

Also I could be wrong but did the 2wd engines have a slightly different oil pan? Maybe a bit less oil volume? My 4x4 takes 5.5 like mentioned..

 

Well fuck me. I could have sworn is it was 4 1/2 quarts in several places I looked. Now that you said 5.5 quarts I looked again and see that's right. In this situation (haven't drove it yet) under filled is better than over.

I do have a dremel so I may mark or score the stick.

I'm using the Mobil 1 because I had it left over from another car I used to own.

Thanks!

 

On my 07 manual: it is 4.8 qts (4.5 liters) for V6 2 WD models. And 5.5 qts for V6 Prerunner and 4x4 models.

 

Damn I've had both a 07 prerunner and a 08 4x4 both 4.0L, I did not realize the non prerunner 4.0L took less oil. When I specifically searched for 2wd oil capacity it confirms what you said.

 

Now I'm confused. And probably put too much oil in it.

 

Ok, couldn't take the uncertainty. From the 2008 owners manual - 5.5 is correct for my model.

 

@Bishop84 out of curiosity do you know why there is a difference between oil capacity on the 4.0L 2wd vs PreRunner/4x4?

 

The oil pan is shaped differently due to the front differential on the 4x4 model.

 

The Prerunners and 4x4 have more ground clearance. That may be why oil pan is a bit larger/deeper.