Been doing it wrong for 106k miles. . .

Ok, so I've changed my oil myself every 3-5k miles since new in '06, except maby 3 or 4 times. My truck has 106k miles on it now. I never really knew how much oil to put in (manual says 4.8 and 5.2 qts.), so I just put 5 quarts into it because it looked good on the dip stick, and I don't have to buy an extra quart. Now, I just read the DIY oil change for giggles, and says to use 5.5 qts. . .

4.8 qts?
5.2 qts?
5.5 qts?
or
5 qts ok?

 

I use 5.5 and its good on the dipstick

 

half a quart isn't that big of a deal. Just start adding the extra half from now on.

 

5.5 it is

damn half a quart. arggggggggggggg

 

What's the big deal?

 

i dunno.

 

At least it was only half a quart. And at least you read the manual to many people dont even bother to read it. But your Taco should be fine just add the extra quart from now on!

 

If you've went 106 without issues no reason to beat yourself up. It is 5.5 quarts almost dead on... that said even a quart low you can probably get away with. As long as the pump can get to the oil at all times it can do it's job... there is a safety margin there.

 

As long as you are not parked on a steep incline, if the oil level looks good on the dipstick then it's good, unless you have the wrong dipstick. There is a good bit of "wiggle room" engineered into required oil levels, if there wasn't then the engine would have to be sealed as non-user serviceable. 5 quarts puts me exactly half-way into the "OK" region of the dipstick.

 

It's not sealed and is serviceable... it's just not as obvious as most. Look up the write-ups on here for it

 

Drain and refill with oil filter change 5.2 liters (5.5 US qts, 4.6 lmp. qts)
Drain and refill without oil filter
change 4.9 liters (5.2 US qts, 4.3 lmp. qts)​

Dry fill 6.0 liters (6.3 US qts, 5.3 lmp. qts)

I run my engine until its warm then drain the oil. Unlike some others I don't let it drip forever so there's probably a bit of oil up in the engine still as a 5-quart oil jug fills me up just fine. If you want to be nit-picky and let the oil drip for an hour and then top it off with an extra half quart from an additional jug it's probably OK too. I figure that extra half quart of "dirty" synthetic left in my engine is probably not going to do much harm when the oil gets changed at well less than half its serviceable life anyway.


I use a 5-quart jug

 

LOL I used to put 15qts into my diesel...Talk about Cha-ching.

 

just buy a bottle of STP oil treatment and add to every oil change...That will give you the extra .5 quart, plus some extra protection.

Boy, i know im gonna get reamed for this one...lol

 

used 5 qrts on my last change and it's half way in between low and high on the stick...

 

Mmmmm snake oil....

 

oh shi- Says 5.2 LITRES!!! I never even saw the 5.5 quarts haha.

 

We always just put 6 quarts in my old truck 2000 3.4L and never had any problems.

 

5.4999999999

 

I gotta 4 banger and i only put 4 with the stp treatment which is prolly a placebo but been doin it for 5 year. My old 4 banger yota only put 4 quarts in too, i dunno works for me

 

Is why you are getting 0.0 MPG ofc.