My new maxima has 900 miles on it......just checked the oil for the first time Sunday, and it was half way up. Perhaps I'm old school, but I have always filled to the top line. I see capacity is 4.9 quarts w/filter.......where does that register on the dipstick? A friend of mine jut bought a 2012, put 2000 miles on it and it also shows between L & H on the stick? Normal?....

 

Nope. Not normal. The description alone sounds like it shouldn't be like that. Try taking a pic of dipstick and posting. But I know that does not sound normal.

 

4-7/8 qts with filter and 4-1/2 without the filter. These amounts are for reference only. Use the dip stick to determine the correct amount of oil in the engine. Half way between the L and H on the stick is correct amount. If the oil is reading above the H or below the L you risk engine damage. Make sure the car is on a level surface and the engine has been off for 10 minutes or wait 10 minutes after fill so all the oil can drain back into the pan.

 

So every oil change with 4.9 qts if oil and a new oil filter will read in the middle of the L& H spot in the stick (checked properly)?

 

Maybe, maybe not. There are a lot of variables that do not add up to very much but they are variables. How much oil is left in the engine after draining, is the car level, air temperature, barametric pressure, hot/cold engine and the list can go on. That is why there is a dip stick, and thats why the owners manual says the capacities are for reference only. When I was changing oil on my cars I would fill it up a 1/2 quart short, run the engine, let it sit and take a reading and then add some more to get the mark in the middle of the L&H. I don't think anyone here would pour in 4.9 qts and call it good with reading the stick.

 

Thanks