2016 2TR-FE oil qty. (owner's manual changes)

I was looking through my 2016 Tacoma 2.7l (2TR-FE) owner's manual and I found some interesting changes regarding oil quantity. I am aware of the confusion over how much oil to add during an oil change. The 2nd gen manuals said that oil and filter change was 6.1 qt. an just oil was 5.4 qt. A .7 quart filter? People have said that full on the dipstick is around 5.5 qt.
2016 reads 6.2 qt. and 5.8 qt. without filter. A .4 qt. filter? Sounds about right. The manual also states that the difference between low and full is 1.6 qt. Has anyone verified this? Does this mean full is ACTUALLY (wink wink nod nod) 1.6 qt. above the low mark even though the dipstick may read overfull. I believe that Toyota may have put a conservative dip stick in to keep people from flirting with the overfull range.
So.....the theory goes...6.2 minus 1.6 is 4.6 qt. (at the low mark on the dipstick). If someone is doing an oil and filter change soon, could you refill with EXACTLY 4.6 qt. and check the reading on the dipstick after running the engine and post your findings here? I am very curious.

 

Sub'd (for posterity).

FWIW, my 2006 2TR-FE is exactly full at 5.5qt with filter. I have used 4.5qt during a past oil change with filter, and the level was just above the ADD mark (and it ran just fine for the entire 5000-mile OCI at that level). So I would be surprised if the difference between between ADD and FULL marks is 1.6qt, probably more like 1.1 or 1.2qt. We shall see.

 

I tried doing this yesterday and poured in quart by quart, measured it with the dipsitck between pours, and took pictures of the dipstick. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the dipstick, it was impossible to tell the difference in the pictures between pours. If it means anything to you, around the 4-5th quart, I started seeing oil somewhere between the dots, but it didn't cover the entire width of the dipstick, it was kind of blotchy.

 

I appreciate that. Must not be very critical. Just would like to get to the bottom of this mystery though. I would like to know where the oil level ends up after 4.5 quarts is added after oil drain and filter change since Toyota says this should be the low oil quantity. I wish the manual was more informative. If the 1.6 quarts from low to full includes undrainable oil then the information in the manual could cause someone to add 1.6 quarts if their dipstick reads at the low mark. Dumb!!! If not then the dipstick is wrong! Also dumb. Unless the difference between the add and full mark on the dipstick is actually 1.6 quarts, then I'm dumb. Somebody is dumb and I would like to know who it is.

 

I did this. Check my post above. I used a 5-quart jug to top off another vehicle, and it had exactly 4.5 quarts remaining. That's how much I used for an oil change on the 2.7, including a new standard filter, and the oil level was 2-3 millimeters above the ADD mark on the dipstick. I drained it for maybe 8-10 minutes to a slow drip, so maybe 1-2 more ounces could have come out if I let it drip for another hour.

 

I did see that information and ran it through my organic data processor. If we assume that the 2016 is the same, the question remains:
If Toyota says that the difference between low and full is 1.6 quarts, is it safe to add 1.6 quarts when the dipstick reads add? If so, then the amount of oil to add after draining the oil and changing the filter to reach full capacity is 6.2 quarts.

 

6.2 minus 1.6 is 4.6 quarts for the 2016 (low level) . Also the last value in my last post should read "1.6 quarts."

 

Oops. I was right the first time, "6.2 quarts." I should just quit now.

 

For my 2nd Gen (2011) its a full filter + 5.5 quarts. It sits just a hair above full on the dipstick. Curious to see the differences for 3rd Gen...there shouldn't be any but I guess you never know.

 

Not this again. The manual clearly states the oil capacity is reference only. In case of conflict between dipstick and oil capacity, dipstick takes precedence.

 

The manual also clearly states that the difference between low and full is 1.6 quarts. Why would Toyota place such wrong information in the manual? I don't think they would make a statement like that if there was no truth in it. I'm trying to figure out what this means is all.

 

100% agreed KenLyns. This has been my main point in any discussion about "correct oil level." The listed capacities are for reference only; check the dipstick and adjust the level as necessary. If the level is between the ADD and FULL marks, it is fine for normal usage. Many people prefer to always have the level at or near the FULL mark, which of course is fine, but it is not necessary for normal usage. Several times I have run a full 5000-mile interval with the oil level barely above the ADD mark, and my engine purrs like new.

Most people doing regular crawling or wheeling or heavy hauling or towing (severe service), will be wise to adjust the oil level to the FULL mark. This is just like checking the other fluids more frequently or adjusting the tire pressures - it is all part of preparing the vehicle for severe service.

But the OP has a specific question related to the listed capacities, not related to the general practice of what is considered full enough.

snefo, this topic has been beaten to a bloody death, for many years, and nobody has any idea why Toyota would put wrong info in the manual. Some people argue that the 6.2-quart capacity is correct and the dipstick is wrong. The manual may say 1.6 quarts between the marks but many TW posts from real-world experience state the difference is actually about 1.1 quarts between the two marks, which makes more sense (1.6 quarts is a LOT to add for a top-off). And yes it would be safe to add 1.6 quarts from the ADD mark, if someone does not mind being 1/2 quart overfull on the dipstick reading. Many dealerships and quicky-lube places pump in the listed 6.2 quart capacity and call it good. This amount shows about 1/2 quart overfull on the dipstick, but owners aren't really having any problems because of this. Personally I would much rather add a little more oil than find out I am 1/2 quart over full.

If the design of the 2TR-FE for the 3rd gen had been changed related to the oil pan or dipstick, surely it would have been shouted from the mountaintops for all to hear!

 

DGXR, I agree with everything you just said. I just wish Toyota would give us relevant information or explain the information given. This is what I have pieced together and believe:

The 6.2 quarts (6.1 quarts for Gen 2) value stated in the manual is the "oil capacity" of a brand new engine or the "drain and fill with oil filter if you could drain all the oil out of the engine and oil filter (which you can't). The 5.8 quart value is for a drain and fill if you could drain all the oil out of the engine with the oil filter in place (which you can't). So since we verified that the quantity (more or less) to fill the engine to the low mark is 4.6 quarts and the manual states that the difference between low and full is 1.6 quarts, and 4.6 + 1.6. is 6.2 then this is the Toyota defined "full" which is not the full mark on the dipstick it is the full capacity of the engine. The full mark on the dipstick will be 6.2 quarts minus undrainable oil. So long story short: Do not add 6.2 quarts after drain and filter change on the GEN 3.
I will be content to just dump in the 5 quart jug and put the cap on. No need to add oil unless it goes below the add mark. Engines tend to consume less oil in this range anyway. Thanks DGXR, for help on my journey to sanity. I have a need to understand. I don't like to follow blindly, I am very uncomfortable with that.

 

That section of the manual also tells you to slowly add in that oil while checking the dipstick.

Are you using a graduated cylinder to measure oil volume before pouring it in, or just relying on the molded-in marking on the side of the oil jug? How variable do you think that is? There's also mfg tolerances on the oil pan. If the pan profile (width, etc.) is variable by a couple of mm from the stamping operation, that will also change the volume of oil in the pan for each mm of dipstick height.

Oil volume is not critical to engine operation. Oil *level* is, to a certain extent. Oil level sigificantly higher than the full mark on the dipstick is likely to foam from crankshaft windage. Oil level significantly lower than the low mark on the dipstick can cause starvation. Oil level anywhere between the full and low marks is indifferent to the engine.

 

Yes it is irritating that Toyota would do this and let it continue for so long without correction. But it is what it is, and our Tacomas are running fine anyway, right? That's what matters.

Perfect. Many cars and light trucks made over the last 20+ years have engine oil capacities somewhere around 5 quarts, so one jug is likely to put the level somewhere between the marks. So, there is obvious reason why motor oil is sold in 5-quart jugs My Corvette takes exactly 5 quarts with filter, right at the full mark. Put 5 quarts with filter in the Tacoma and the level is halfway between add and full. Done. Many newer models have extended drain intervals of 10,000 miles or more - often they will have have larger oil capacities to allow the longer intervals.

I know people who never check the oil level between oil changes. They check it once after an oil change and drive it thousands of miles, opening the hood only when the oil needs to be changed again. They've had no problems... yet LOL

I check my oil level about every 2-3 fuel-ups. It's always at the exact same level, every time, but I still check it while checking everything else underhood as we are supposed to periodically.

 

I would gladly go by the dipstick IF I COULD JUST GET A CLEAR READING. I don't mind bringing up this topic because ya know what, the fault is a simple dipstick that fails at what it does and Toyota should know. Having said all this, I wonder if the 3rd gen gets an improved dipstick and if it can be swapped.

 

^Take the dipstick out, wipe it clean, wait a couple of the minutes for the oil in the dipstick tube to fall back into the pan, then put it back in to get a reading.

Remember from your high school science class: read at the bottom of the meniscus.