low oil on warm engine?

Hi, first post here and have read a lot on this forum. I am looking to hear opinions on dispstick reading of a warm engine and any advice for dealing with dealerships if necessary. This is my first new car experience.

I have a 2021 SR5 V6. i checked the oil after the 5k , 10k oil changes and did not check after the 15k. I just checked and am about 19.5k miles and this is the reading below. I was curious as the engine is a bit noisy but it always had been. Is this any concern? thanks for any help

 

You are mentioning a warm engine. How long has it sat, before you checked it?

 

Looks normal to me. Appears to be between the high and low marks.

 

Need to wait a bit to get an accurate reading on that stick. They're notoriously hard to read.

 

also check after an oil change, don't assume they filled all the way. A 1/4 quarter here and there creates profits or gets Luke the Luber a feebie at the end of the week.

 

Pic was only about 10min after shutting down. Checked again 1.5hrs later and it was the same however highest oil deposit was just above the low mark

 

As Chew mentioned, was it checked right after oil change? Never trust anyone but yourself.

 

Well like I said I checked the previous 2 oil changes and not this one. Until now 4.5k miles later. If i am I fact reading right and it is low is this a problem I’ll have to bring up with dealership ? If all is well I will not forget next time and make sure to check. I appreciate the replies !

 

use a scotch brite pad and clean the dipstick between min and max mark. clean off the dipstick and check again. Also change the oil every 5k, your engine will be happier in the long run

 

If you waited to check the oil until 4,500 miles AFTER the oil change....you dont know if they underfilled, or your engine is actually using a quart between changes. Nothing you can do about it now, but like many have already said.....dont drive it off the lot without checking the oil level.

 

If you had taken the truck to the dealer for the 15k service, it's likely that they didn't change the oil. 15K is rotation and inspection, no oil change.
I would just add a 1/2 quart and check it again. Should be up near the full mark.
Keep an eye on it after the 20K oil change and you'll learn whether it's burning oil over the next 10K interval.

 

Welcome to the forum

Even if you don't do your own work it is a good idea to check the oil (all the under hood fluids) on a regular schedule, the object being you check often enough to know what to expect before pulling the stick.

At the same time look at the belt, hoses, wiper blades, lights and tires too.

Once you develop a routine this will only take a few minutes and someday you might find a problem before it becomes a breakdown, a tow or an expensive repair.

Every 2 weeks is a good interval, set a reminder on your phone if needed.

As others have said the dipstick is famously difficult to read, gently scuffing the normal area with Scotch-Brite, steel wool or fine sandpaper makes it much easier to read.
No need to go crazy sanding, just dull down the shiny surface of the stick a bit.

 

Very good point!

 

Really no need to change the oil at 5k unless severe use. You want to see the oil between the high, and low marks on the dipstick when full. Some oils can evaporate quicker than others when driven due to their additive packages, so its not unusual it'd be on the low side.

 

You'll have to keep an eye on it for the duration of the oil change. Look for leaks, especially near the power steering pump on the front of the engine. If you have no leaks it is normal for engines nowadays to consume a little oil between changes. I drive alot of highway and usually consume between 1/4-1/2 a quart of oil between 10'000km oil changes and always have. I'm at 114'000kms. For the noise, these engines are quite noisy. I've been running 5w-30 or for cross country tows 5w-40 and both silence the engine. I don't recommend 5w40 as your casual oil as you will experience a slight fuel economy drop and loss of power unless you get the oil very warm from extended highway driving or towing/ hauling

 

toyota will only change the oil at 10k intervals. so they don't do it at the 15k service. i think that's just tire rotation. sometimes they don't even do that...

 

Check it on a flat surface with the engine cold. If it’s low, fill it up. Check it again in in 2,000 miles. Then 5,000 miles. If it continues to loose oil. You have an issue.
If not, great.

I would not worry about anything until I know for sure there is a problem.

 

Even if you check it before driving off the lot, if it's between the high and low marks, the dealer tells me "it's in spec" and wouldn't fill it. This was at my first "free" oil change. Ditto with the other fluids. A little here and a little there is a lot of money saved for a dealer doing a hundred oil changes a day.

 

I don’t believe the dealership does it intentionally. With in spec, is with in spec. The only reason there are 2 marks is to indicate what is “not enough” and what is “too much”.

 

I found the following method in another thread and it works well: After getting home, remove the dipstick, wipe clean, and leave out of the tube. Come back 15 minutes later and it will be much easier to read.