Oil levels?

ObiHann · **Posted:** Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:26 pm

So I changed the oil last week, put a 4L jug in it. I checked the oil this week and noticed it was just below the safe line on the dipstick so I put a 1L bottle in it. When I checked it again it was (obviously) above the safe level area... I should have 4.7L in it I believe, but now I have 5L..... Is this going to be a a big issue? I need to do a oil change in the next week or 2, since I still have my old filter so will it be ok for then?

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:15 pm

Pull the oil plug from the pan and drain it back out. Count to 3 seconds and put the plug back in [while the oil is still draining.] The oil level should never be above the upper safe range line.

You can have the oil level anywhere in the upper half of the hash mark and not do any damage to the engine.

ObiHann · **Posted:** Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:03 pm

Would running it a for a few days over full to any real damage? I will be doing a change this week? When I change it again, once I fill, will I be able to use the dipstick to measure it while I am filling? I mean, fill with the 4l and maybe half the 1l, than measure with the dipstick, than add if needed?

Liberty&Freedom · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:43 am

Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but oil change with no filter change is around 4.5qts, a full change with filter is 5qts.
If you didn't change the filter on your last oil change, you would be over because of that +/- 1/2 qt in the filter.

There is a safe range for a reason...high or low is not good. Drain some & be safe.

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:02 am

I'll drain tonight, thanks guys!

hooperswish · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:18 am

I would just throw a new oil filter on, as the old filter will hold a lot. It seems to me it would be hard to put the plug quickly back on as oil is shooting all over you...

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:24 am

hooperswish wrote:

I would just throw a new oil filter on, as the old filter will hold a lot. It seems to me it would be hard to put the plug quickly back on as oil is shooting all over you...

Swap the filter without draining the oil? Wouldn't that be a bigger mess than just pulling the plug?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:51 am

ObiHann wrote:

hooperswish wrote:

I would just throw a new oil filter on, as the old filter will hold a lot. It seems to me it would be hard to put the plug quickly back on as oil is shooting all over you...

Swap the filter without draining the oil? Wouldn't that be a bigger mess than just pulling the plug?

No, only the oil that drains from teh filter will come out. Trying to control the flow of oil from the drain plug could get messy. I would do the filter trick too. Or, pull the filter, drain it and reinstall. (if new anyway)

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:55 am

How does my dipstick get the measurement? Once I change the oil again, am I safe to use it to gauge if I need to add more or not, or do you need to drive around to get that figured out? Perhaps I will try to do a change tonight :S

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:01 pm

ObiHann wrote:

How does my dipstick get the measurement? Once I change the oil again, am I safe to use it to gauge if I need to add more or not, or do you need to drive around to get that figured out? Perhaps I will try to do a change tonight :S

it sits in teh oil that is in the pan. once it settles it will show the new level.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:26 pm

Typically you can check the oil level on the dipstick less than 30 seconds after the engine is shut down and get a accurate reading of the amount of oil in the engine. When the engine sits overnight, more oil can drain down into the pan and show a higher reading. I've always checked my oil hot.

Pulling the filter would work, that that will only drain 1/2 quart of oil.

Pulling the plug for 3 seconds (counted 1-one thousand, 2-onethousand, 3-onethousand) will drain out roughly 1 quart of oil from the pan. And trust me, putting the plug back in is not too difficult. Just make sure the oil isn't scolding hot and have your sleeve rolled up with a rag handy.

Once the plug makes contact with the hole, most of the oil stream stops. You'll only have a little dribbling out while you are threading the plug back in.

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:32 pm

I don't think I can get out tonight to do this (don't have my own garage :evil:

) so it "might" have to wait till thursday when I do my oil change... I hope I don't cause any damage

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:41 pm

drive to a quick lube shop and see if they'll pull the plug for you. Blame it on another shop

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:42 pm

If anyone is still open when I get home from work, I will have to try that

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:50 pm

Can you guess as to how high above the fill line you are? 1" or more? Less than 0.25"? Depending on how high over the line you really are, the damage could be minimal or it could be serious.

When I first read this I thought you had put an additional liter (quart in the states) into the crank case but now that I have re-read the message traffic, it appears as if you only have 5 liters (quarts), not 6 liters like I thought originally in the engine. 5 liters is about what I put in my KJ everytime I do an oil change. So if your not too far over the limit than you can survive short term. But if you are way overfull, than get it out as soon as you can.

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:53 pm

Total in the vehicle "should" be 5L. Wait, how does the filter work again, that holds 1L??? Here is a break down

I changed the oil last week but kept the old filter, I drained the engine, and added 4L of oil. I then added 1L on top of that a few days later, so, I added 5L after draining it. I would say it was about .5" above the line maybe a bit more.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:25 pm

Ah...

4 liters (new oil) in the pan
1 liter (old oil) in the old filter
1 extra liter in the pan

Total oil in your engine = 6 liters (roughly 6 quarts)

At 0.5" above the line, the crankcase pressure can cause advanced failure of the oil pan gasket, which would give you a leaky motor long term. Take it in and have them do the 3 count drop to get rid of that extra liter.

ObiHann · **Posted:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:53 pm

Took it to canadian tire and they drained some for me. I just hope it's not too low LOL.

Oil levels?

Who is online