I am an idiot, I know this. Please bear with me.

At 4000 miles I switched over to a synthetic grade oil and with out looking up the number of quarts recommended by the manufacturer, I put in five quats. After driving about 500 miles I realized what I have done and repeated the oil change. The engine was in the garage (relatively warm), so I dropped the oil, I let it drip for about a half hour, changed the filter and added 4.25 quats. My dipstick is still showing that I am over the fill line. I do not understand why. I am on level ground and allowed the engine to idle so that the oil filter would fill. Any suggestions to where I should go from here? Please HELP!

 

Drain out the oil until it is in the cross hatched area. Simple solution. Watch as this gets 47 replies saying the same thing.

 

I was going to suggest letting the car sit for 10 mins before checking the level. the dipstick design sucks as is and syn runs off the dipstick like water (exaggeration) making it even harder to read. I've thought I was over the line, but only to check later and see it was right on.

 

I am aware of that solution, but what I am afraid of is the fact of why, if I put in 4.25 quarts, the ol level should appear in the hatched area. I am afraid if I drain some out, I will take chance running the engine with not enough oil.

 

How many quarts did you put in. After ten minutes if it still looks the same what do you recommend. I think I might leave it because I know I put 4.25 quarts in and that is the recommended amount.
Thanks

 

Listen to TimW then, otherwise,

 

I guess this might work IF YOU KNOW IF THE FACTORY DIPSTICK IS ACCURATE. To check the accuracy of the factory dipstick...
1) Make sure the car is on level ground.
2) Jack the car up to allow access to the drain plug and to allow ALL the oil to drain out of the pan.
3) Verify the correct amount of oil w/ and w/o filter for your car w/ the owner's manual or service manual.
4) Reinstall plug and pour the correct amount of oil in.
5) Lower car back down, start car for 30 seconds and let sit for 1/2 hour or so.
6) Take dipstick out and wip clean. Put it back in all the way and then take it out again. Note where the oil level is. This is your new correct reference for xxx amount of oil in the car.

 

You did not say how far above the cross-hatched area your oil mark was -- 1/8 of an inch above, for instance, is no sweat. If you drained the oil and replaced the filter and assuming a flat surface, 4.25 quarts of oil should put you right at the top or 1/10 of an inch or so ABOVE the cross-hatched area. Remember, this is the reading AFTER you have started your engine after the oil change to fill the filter.

 

I've researched this and this is what I found out.
A bone dry motor at the factory takes 4.5 quarts. In the manual they rounded it down to 4.25 as it is impossible to get all the oil out.
I found that 4.0 quarts with a filter shows full on the dipstick, plus I don't have to screw with the 1/4 guart.
So, keep it simple, just use 4 quarts and forget about it.

 

How bad is it if I put in 4.25 quarts plus whatever may be in there. I really don't want to drain anymore because I am afraid of running not enough. Can I get away with what I have in there now. It is Mobile1 5W-30.

 

No. 4.25 quarts is the required amount of oil. Drain the oil for 10 minutes on a flat surface and change the oil filter - then drop your 4.25 quarts in. 4 quarts works if you are not changing the filter. Check your oil level when the Max has been sitting for at least a couple of hours. Since new oil is almost clear on the dipstick, you might have to look at the oil mark at a number of angles to see the mark clearly.

 

I've seen this statement more than once here. I can see changing the filter but not the oil(ie.. Amsoil extended drain interval program) But for the life of me, I cannot fathom putting new oil in w/o changing the oil filter. It just doesn't make any sense. It's either you change only the filter or filter and oil. Are we talking about remote filter installations or something??

Not a flame in anyway but seeing this statement more than once here on .org worries me.

 

Good point. I certainly do not recommend NOT changing the filter w/ a routine oil change. In this case, an overfill/dipstick 'read' problem is the concern, so the filter should be 'near new' at 500+ miles. In this rare case, I would just drain and refill the oil & go with a straight oil & filter change every 3 to 4 thousand miles.

 

Getting back to our origin. I replaced the oil and oil filter. i added EXACTLY 4.25 quarts of oil. This should be perfect because after letting the old oil drain for a half hour, according to the manufacturer there should be a quarter of a quart left. Bringing us to a complete 4.5 quarts. My dipstick is where the problem occurrs. Is it possible oil got in the dipstick tube from over pressurization and now that the correct amount is in, it is not giving me an accurate reading because it is picking up the oil that is in the tube..

 

Did you pour oil into the oil filter before installing it?
Did you start the car before letting it sit and drain back?

If no to any or both, start car for about 30 sec to confirm there are no oil leaks and then let it sit for 1/2 hour or so. Then check the oil level again. Be sure to take the measurement on a flat/level surface.

 

Plus -- If the reading taken with the above procedure is still abnormal, please describe the reading to us. 1/2" above the cross-hatch area, etc.

 

It seems to be a 1/8 th of an inch solid above hatched area, but it is splashed about an 1.25 inches above the hatched area.

 

You're set! Don't sweat the 1/8 of an inch. The 'splash' effect is common in a number of vehicles, so just look at the lowest SOLID reading around the dipstick after the Max. has sat for 30 min or more. Troublefree oil level readings are best taken in the morning before the first start of the day. You should not see any splash effect then.

 

trust me, listen to what the manual says. After running your car at normal operating temperature, park it exactly where you will do the oil change. Let it sit there for 20-30 min so that all of the oil can drain into the pan, then do the oil change. You'll use 4-4.5 quarts of oil. Happy driving.