ocd here. Oil level high. OK to leave it?

Hello gents. First dealer oil change. Roughly 6k miles. Factory fill was a bit high. Was hoping for your opinions. Dealer changed the oil (I guess the color is indicative of it having been done... this is with 50 miles on new oil) and I checked the level this morning when oil was cold. Good half inch over the top line. Can I leave it here or should I be revisiting the dealer to let them know? Thank you!

 

Well, if you don’t mind them screwing something else up I guess you could take it in.

 

Warm engine. Turn off. Wait 5 min. Check oil level.

 

I dunno if its just me but it doesn't look overfilled to me.

Or I'm just going blind.

 

Anywhere between those two dots are the acceptable range. I tend to stay in the upper half personally. As for that oil above the dot, the more you check it the more oil will drag up into the dipstick tube making it harder to see where it's really at. I tend to wait a few hours for it all to settle before checking.

 

Yeah thats why I am hoping to hear that amount is ok. If it is too much though, have to bring their error to their attention.

Thanks. Read your post and initially went "oh crap". Just did it right and the outcome is near identical.

Its a half inch over the top line. Lasik is great though, so no worries!

I got a clean reading. That was first pull. 2nd was identical as well. No smear and its that much over.

 

The trouble with this dilemma is you are never going to be able to trust yourself (or the dealer) if you just drain some of the oil. The only way, IMO, to know for sure and appease your OCDemon is to do another oil change yourself. Total drain, new filter, then add 6.6 q exactly, check where it is on the dipstick after you run the engine to fill the filter, and remember that spot on the dipstick to reference to for future changes.

 

If the person who changed it didn't allow enough time for a good drain, you're probably a few ounces over the full mark. A few ounces won't hurt anything. If it was a quart or better then it should be rectified. Next time you take it in for an oil change bring this incident to the service writers attention, and ask him to monitor.



EDIT: 6/7/21 https://www.vehiclescene.com/too-much-oil-in-car-engine/

Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you now understand what happens if you put too much oil in your car.

Again, bear in mind that several ounces worth shouldn’t do any harm, especially when it only happens so infrequently. However, one or more quarts of oil could have major ramifications, especially if it happens too often.

 

its not overfilled. i think it is just leftover from the constant checking. leave it for a ew hours, check once.
also, i think at the dealers, now they pump the exact amount of oil by car - preset, they no longer have to do it manually.

 

Got Lasik. I agree its the best thing ever. Almost got to 15/20 but doc just listed 20/20 since I had a hard time reading everything.

But oil smears above my top dot all the time which it kinda looks like.

 

The dipstick on the 1GR has never been good.

 

This happened to me once. My first non-dealer oil change by an independent mechanic. He said it took the whole 7 quarts of oil (that I supplied to him).

After a taking my own multiple readings it looked like yours. I drained about 1/2 quart, took another dip stick reading to verify it was below the top dot. Then added a little to the dot.

I now do all my own oil changes.

 

With a warm engine, take dipstick out and leave out for 5-10 min then re-insert and check.

 

This is the answer I feared. I want to let this one "go" if the level is acceptable. But if it isn't, I got to hold them accountable before I rectify it myself. Damn it!

Thanks! You think the half inch or so on dipstick equates to just a few ounces? Also, with a username like that I feel like you're an Omega Speedmaster type of man.

I actually checked it when it was settled and only rechecked once after. Each time getting a clean reading. Do you think the amount shown, with a clear reading, is acceptable?

That's interesting. I wonder if he didn't completely drain it then.

I actually think its a pretty clean mark a half inch over the top. Just not sure how much that it means its over. Hopefully its "ok".

Yessir.

Thanks. 1/2 quart or so over. Argh. Having the dealer do the work to not run into a back and forth about warranty stuff later sure is a pain. I guess I don't need to be worried about the overfill.. right? Insert nervous smile

 

Will do now. Thank you.

 

Same reading. Am I ok (oil level not me me. Preemptive defensive strategy before I get owned for asking if I'm ok)?

 

They overfilled my Corolla acouple times. I could taste it on my tongue...

 

with a brand new vehicle, I would not be ok, especially this one that i want to keep forever. too much oil can blow seals
if you are a bit handy, just drain it a bit from the plug and go on your way.
next on the list, threaded (or missing) screws on the skid plates, overtightened oil filters !
this thread is just another reason I do my own oil changes

 

Correct. Haven’t done it on the 4Runner yet but on both my Tacomas I would scuff the dipstick pretty heavily with Emory cloth or a coarse ScotchBrite pad. It helps keep the oil on the stick to get a proper reading

 

Take it back and have them correct the problem or if you have an extractor that fits the dipstick tube you can take care of it. But do not leave the level above the maximum.

 

Tried on my Tacoma but haven't on the runner. Still marginal at best.

I wish Lokar or someone made something better.

 

From
https://www.vehiclescene.com/too-much-oil-in-car-engine/

“... Surplus lubricant can get agitated by the crankshaft and other moving parts. This can only happen if the oil levels in your vehicle are too high.

Eventually, the viscous fluid will be transformed into a frothy foam, and the lightweight froth won’t be effective as a lubricant or a dispersant...”

Who knows how much is too much for our engines?
I wouldn’t leave that overfill as is.

1. Get to know your 4R: remove cover plate, put on gloves, loosen plug drain 1/2 qt. Top off with clean oil as needed.

2. Or go back to dealer and complain, have them drain some and correct it for you. This may be the proper course so they “re-train” their novice “tech”.

 

What EB said. It's not the amount (could be a cup or a quart) but how close it is to the crank. That's why HP engines have windage trays. Not that these are high performance by any means. LOL! But they sure are reliable.

 

I get that feeling completely. I agree with you. Thank you.

Thank you for this. I already booked a revisit. Appreciate the straight to the point post.

Perfect post. Appreciate the quote and link. Thanks a ton. I made an appointment and will get this rectified. I felt like I was being a real annoying prick for complaining but seems like its a valid concern. Thank you.

 

Gotcha. Thank you. I guess I didn't really know about how bad it could be for things. Now that I know, there is no question in my mind. Back it goes. Thanks!

 

I get the concern and I think you're 100% right...I'm OCD myself.
But, being realistic....they're just going to say 'ok whatever" and keep on doing things the same way and/or jack up something else. I hope I'm wrong, but such is my faith in my fellow meat puppets.

 

Everyone has their opinion personally I wouldn't worry about "a little" over it's not going to do anything. I do agree the 4R is a PITA to check oil on. I pull the dipstick out clean it and wait 15-20 minutes and I get a perfect reading. You do not have to wait hours or check it 6 times it isn't going to change any from the first check. I'm not a mechanic but in 40 years of driving I've had many vehicles maybe 1/3 quart over after a change and I've gotten all the use out of the vehicles I've ever wanted. If correcting the level makes you sleep at night go for it let a little out of the pan, tighten it up and call it a day. I wouldn't go back over that but that's just me...

 

I agree with both of these. It's not worth the trip back to a dealer that can't get something as simple as an oil change right. I gave up on my 'free' Toyotacare, as the visits to a dealership give me more angst than paying someone I trust to do it right does.

If that extra oil on the dipstick is causing sleepless nights, just drain some out. Say you get the dealership to own up to doing it wrong, and get an apology. Does that make you feel better about having them do it again?

 

Oil threads have a longer shelf life than the product itself.

 

This one had its own particular twist - you don't usually hear complaints about getting too much of something.