I've never messed up any oil change, but somehow I'm ending up with too much oil this time.

After a long drive, about 30 minutes, I jacked her up and drained the hot oil / removed the old filter. After it all drained, I put on the new filter and put the drain bolt back in. I put in 4.25 quarts of Mobil1 syn. 5W-30.

I went out and drove the car, ran it up to normal temperate, then went home and let it sit for about 30 minutes to let the oil drip back down to the case.

Checked the oil and it was about 1 quart over the max line =( Kind like this:

--------------------------------
L XXXXXXXXX H...........|
-----------------------^-------
where the oil line stops.

So what I did was take the oil filter off, poured out all the oil (about a quart?) and put it back on. Then my dipstick looked like this:

--------------------------------
L XXXXXXXXX H|
---------------^----------------
...right on the money! So I thought I was good to go..... no!

Yesterday after driving home from school, another 25-30 minute drive and then letting it set for about 30 minutes, I checked the oil:

--------------------------------
L XXXXXXXXX H |
----------------^--------------
...just about 3 mm over for "Full line". What a weird oil change. Should I go ahead and drain the filter again to get it down into the acceptable level or should I leave it a little high how it is?

You didn't put in too much oil. At least, I doubt it.

The dipstick on our cars is always hard as hell to read. I don't think I've ever pulled it out without it being just smeared all over the indicator area. I just make sure I put in the proper 4.25 quarts each change and forgetabout trying to check it.

A little high is OK for most engines. Certainly better than a little low. There is some natural variation in the oil levels when you check. Maybe check again after letting it sit overnight in a level place and see what you've got.

Don't kill yourself over it. As long as you have 4.25 quart in the engine, you'll be fine. My dip stick reading changes constantly and it passes a bit over the FULL mark. No problem since I got the car.

ur fine.....ur being paranoid....its ok

nissan dipsticks are the stupidest most inaccurate pieces of crap compared to any other kind of cars. i used to change oil for a living and nissans always looked like they were way over filled and every once and a while it would have the right reading but most of the time there not accurate at all. Next time just do it up with 4.25 like always and leave it. -Ryan p.s. your engine wont ahve any real problems til u reach about 6 QT so dont sweat it

Also keep in mind how much oil came out? How long did you let it drain? If you were driving the car and decided to drain the oil right afterwards theres chances there was some oil stuck up in the heads. If its barely over the full line, I wouldnt worry about it at all.

And keep in mind that you can not drain every bit of oil out of the engine. I let mine drain for over an hour each time, and I only add 4 qts (with filter change). I'm always in the upper area of the cross-hatch marks. Works everytime.

Dave

how weird. This EXACT same thing happened to me a week ago when I changed the oil. I only added like 4 quarts after draining it (engine was still pretty warm)
The dipstick read WELL over the line. I must've rechecked the dipstick 10 more times the next day... I was stumped! Also, the oil was a tad darker than when I normally change it. (Usually it is sooo light that I can barely read it on the dipstick. This time it was a LOT darker) Someone earlier stated that oil could still be in the valve train/heads if the engine was still warm...
sounds good to me.
BTW, I HATE that dipstick. It is NOT user friendly.