jlm4rb

Hey guys I have a 2007 SL and I have heard a lot of different things about oil issues so what is the amount you put in your engine. I know to check but what would be a reasonable amount to put in to stay out of trouble.

Manual says 4.2 L but what would you say??

Kyle00

iTrader: (5)

4.2 liters?

betep

Mine takes about 4.5qts to the top level, but my mechanic says, that most japanese car makers save on oil, that's Y most jap cars don't take a lot.
German cars usually take 50% more oil, so there would not be an oil starvation.That's Y he recommended me to put extra 1/2-1qt. I put 5qts in there.

jlm4rb

Sorry i meant 4.2 Quarts

SLOW2KMAX

iTrader: (2)

If it calls for 4.5 qts why use 5. Your not gonna save nething by adding an extra quart unless your burning the oil. I would consult a 2nd mechanic for a 2nd opinion.I'm not saying hes wrong but it doesn't sound right to me.

Fastmax05

iTrader: (17)

ya dont put in more that it calls for... i chaNGed my oil yesterday and used 4.5 qtrs of mob1 tri synth and mob1 filter ...

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Oil capacity has to do with sump size and block size/height, not where it was made or financial reasons.

nismology

iTrader: (8)

The max oil capacity is 4 1/4 quarts for all VQ's, 95-07. Putting more than this doesn't make any sense.

SLOW2KMAX

iTrader: (2)

You need a new mechanic imo.

Rezmax

4 1/4. Depending on how much more you use, it may increase oil pressure and create oil leaks.

Compusmurf

Nismology, my 07 manual calls for 4.5 q.

ah 4.5 qt if you change your filter
4.25 qt if you don't change your filter.

lol, yes, it says 4.2l if you change your filter
4.0l if you don't change your filter.

What a hoot!

nismology

iTrader: (8)

You're right. I just checked and it seems the 07 FWD VQ's have a different upper oil pan part number. This probably accounts for the increase in oil capacity.

4 1/2 quarts w/ filter change
4 1/4 quarts w/ no filter change


The 4 1/4 quart capacity applies to 95-06 FWD VQ's then.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

I've worked on engines and 4.5 quarts with a filter is what the 6th Gen calls for but if you add an extra half to make it an even 5 your not gonna cause any damage, when the engine is running the pickup is sucking the oil out of the pan and spraying the engine, thats the only time all the oil is in the pan after that maybe half is in the pan.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

The german cars that take more oil also have longer intervals and you can void your warranty by not using specific long life oil of specific weight and as much as I like the idea of leaving the oil for 15k their are several threads floating around the interweb of BMW owners that are unhappy with the oil anaylsis after leaving the oil for so long

nismology

iTrader: (8)

The 04-06 VQ's take 4 1/4 quarts. The baffle in the oil pan is too keep oil from flowing back down to the lower oil pan too quickly. If there's too much oil, the crank and bottom ends of the rods can whip the oil up and aerate it (cavitation) depending on how much the crankcase is overfilled. For all intents and purposes there is no reason for overfilling unless you road race and/or autocross and the pick-up tube starts to suck air.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

correct but 4 1/4 is with no filter and I don't know anyone who changes just the oil and not the filter

nismology

iTrader: (8)

I find it very strange. Nissan changed oil capacities in 05. At least in the 2004 FSM the capacity is 4 1/4 with a filter change, and 3 7/8 with no filter change. It changed to what you're saying from 05-07. Interesting.


I stand corrected.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

good to know

Compusmurf

I dunno about you all, but Nissan calls for 4.5qt in mine, I'm putting in 4.5qt. No more, no less. I assume they built the darn engine, they probably know a bit more about it than me.

bb700092

So you guys do your own oil change? Maybe thats why so much confusion

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Please. Oil capacity is trivial compared what I know about the VQ, inside and out. I don't have a 6th gen, so I tend not to spend as much time thumbing through the 04-07 FSM's.

lightonthehill

Post # 15 above in this thread (Nismology post) mentioned a VERY important point. If the level of the oil reaches the bottom of moving parts, a churning or aeration effect takes place, and the oil becomes filled with tiny bubbles, and can no longer be mechanically sprayed by the oil injectors onto critical engine parts. Engines have been destroyed by this aeration/churning caused by overfilling.

At NO TIME and under NO CONDITIONS should the oil level be allowed to get more than very slightly higher than the 'full' mark on the dipstick.

SilverMax_04

That is true if you use the OEM oil filter. I use the Mobil 1 - 110 filter which is bigger. To get the oil level in my VQ to the full mark requires about 1/2 quart more oil than "the book's 4.5 quarts." But I'm careful not to overfill the engine. I put in 4.5 quarts when I first fill the engine after changing the oil. Then I wait a day to see where the oil level is on the dipstick. I then add the other half quart -- or as much as the dipstick says is needed. The difference between the low and the high mark on the dipstick is about 1 quart. The level on the day after (for me) is always in this range.

It is OK to run the engine below the full mark, but you should not run it below the low mark. Also, "light" above is correct with his advice.

lightonthehill

I should also have included in my post above what SilverMax_04 said about rechecking the oil after the engine has been run. The initial reading after installing the oil will change as the engine is run, the filter fills up and oil is moving throughout the engine. The reading can also change slightly again overnight as the oil drains off engine parts into the crankcase.

Since he won't have the car to recheck, and in an apparent effort to allow for all this, my dealer always leaves a little 'cushion'; after he changes my oil, the level eventually settles to a point about 3/4s of the way from 'add' to 'full', which, since my car uses almost no oil, works great.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

Not that it matters but I noticed that Nissan and Toyota always add the extra half quart on the oil change, my V8 4Runner (6.5) they put in 7, my fathers ES300 (5.5) they put in 6, and now my fathers ES350 (6.4) they put 7

betep

BMWs, BTW use regular Castrol Synthetic oil, nothing special as was mentioned before, I had a BMW with a 4.4 V8 which took about 8qts and a 3.0 which took 6.5. Our engines are 3.5L and take only 4.5qts, which might be enough, but it's right on the border. If You have a ECU upgrade with redline moved to 7100, You do need more oil in there since the oil pump, than suck oil from oil pan is mechanically driven by the engine and depends on the rpms, and if You floor it to the 7100 redline the pump migh grab some air instead of oil...............

nismology

iTrader: (8)

Please direct me to the convention that says that X engine displacement = Y ideal oil capacity no questions asked.


Also, higher revs doesn't necessarily mean you need to add more oil. How many VQ's that rev past that stock redline have had trouble due to insufficient oil? The greater the volume of oil pumped into the engine the greater the amount that returns to the sump. It's not like oil disappears at higher engine speeds.