Checking oil level

Ah shucks, guess I gotta get a beer now.

 

yes, costco 6 qt mobile 1, is about 3/4 to max on the dip stick. that's what i do, i am not suggesting anyone else do this, OK!

 

You are really suggesting to never check the oil level? If so that is horrible advice

 

That’s not at all what I am saying. Go back and read all my post.

 

Drain the oil, put the plug back, wipe the oil pan clean, change the filter, lube the rings and fill the filter with clean oil, put the filter back on, wipe the filter area. Dump 6 quarts of oil in the engine, close and clean the fill pipe, run your engine for about 5 minutes and check for any leaks.
Pop that beer cap open and you're done. It is the same oil change as always, the only thing that has changed is the oil you put in.

 

I'm in the camp of: Put in 6 qts and call it a day. My dipstick level has never been in any danger range as a result. (Knock on wood)
That's just my two cents

 

I come from the generation where some cars used just about as much oil as they did gasoline. You checked the oil level out of necessity. I still check mine about every other fill-up. Regardless, It's not a bad practice to pop that hood open every now and then and check your fluid levels.

 

Call me crazy, but I'm checking my oil level before, during and after and oil change.

a) First I want to know where the level was before I drain it. I usually have an idea because I check it regularly between changes and at 57,500 miles I still have zero oil consumption. It if is right near the top of the range, where I like it, I know like others I'm using about 6 quarts.

b) Anyway, after draining (while warm) I will refill with an entire 5 qt jug of Royal Purple. Check the level. Usually that's a tad low for me. So I top off another quart or so.

c) Re-check after a re-start to a warm idle and a few minutes with the engine off to let the level stabilize and defoam while I tidy up.

And, YES, these thin oils are very hard to see on the dipstick. Even Royal Purple which has their purple tint is hard to see.

 

Wonder why the 3.5L takes 6 quarts when the 4L only took 5? Personally, I'd rather the 4L took 6 also.

 

VVTI on intake cam vs VVTI on both cams?

 

It doesn't take a whole quart of oil to operate a VVT actuator, maybe a few cc's. My guess is the higher operating speed range of the engine would have more to do with it, more oil = better internal cooling of bearing surfaces.

 

Sure? Extra oil galleries, 2 more vane housing to fill with oil?
Both engine produce similar oil pressures at idle and 3000 rpms.
Does 4.0 use oils jets?

 

^^^This^^^

If I do this it always reads overfilled. (above top dot) I check it before first start after sitting over-night.

 

I never fill the new filter with oil. I'd end up with a mess. Figure out if it needs any additional oil the next day because of the dry filter and add it. (never had to)

Been changing the oil and filter on my cars for many years, and can say this one is the only one where the capacity spec in the manual didn't match the stick. i.e.: if it was "5.5 quarts with filter", when you were done and checked it would be at the "full" mark, regardless of hot, cold, or overnight rest.

(Never mind the "overfill" reading I get when I check it and then wipe and re-check it.)

Just saying.

 

I was wondering about filling the filter with oil. Some say yes, some say no.

 

Steel etched with muratic acid:

 

I do the same. Teaching all my kids to do the same. Their first cars will be older, so they need to know how to do it.

 

My manual says: "Maintain the oil level between the dots on the dip stick. The top dot is the full mark. When the oil level on the stick reaches the bottom dot: add one quart." When I change the oil and filter, and add 5 quarts, the level is a little below the top dot after a start up and overnight shut down. (4.0L) I don't chase that last 0.5 quart specified in the capacity "with filter change". When the oil bottle is at the half-quart level, it seems like much more oil than the filter will absorb. I was taught that an overfill is a big no-no no matter how minor.

FWIW: My truck is at 134K now and I check it I check it regularly..... the level never drops.

 

0.2 is for losses via the timing chain cover.

 

One gallery to each head supplies both VVT actuators, and whatever it takes to fill the vane housings can't be all that much. 5 quarts would be sufficient for the 3.5, it would just leave slightly less in the pan while the engine is running. When I said higher operating speeds, the 3.5L makes its max hp and torque at higher rpms than the 4L to make up for the smaller displacement.

Is a leaking timing chain cover an issue for the 3.5? At 136K, my 4L is dry as a bone on the outside.


I fill the filter when I change my oil, but I let it soak the element before I turn it upside down and screw it on. By then there is little free oil in the center of the filter to run out. I actually like where the filter is on my Taco, I'm getting way too old to be crawling under the vehicle to access where they usually are. The Civic my daughter used to drive hid the filter behind the engine under the intake manifold, and my Miata's filter was also under the intake and you had to remove the right front tire/wheel and reach behind the upper control arm. It helped if you had an extra joint in your arm.