Another Dealer Overfilled my Oil Thread!

I think you will be ok.I dont think it was overfull for enought time to do any damage. drain the oil to correct level.

 

Looks high to me - assuming I'm seeing the out of focus picture correctly

That was definitely taken with the car stood on the level? You can get away with half a cm or so but not a whole inch!

 

The issue with extreme overfilling, with any engine, is that the connecting rods could actually strike the oil in the sump, thus creating a froth that could overload the crankcase ventilation system or decrease oil pressure due to the inclusion of air in the oil. Oil pumps are positive displacement pumps which don't necessarily function well with compressive fluids, e.g., air.

 

It's hard to tell from your photos. Check the oil after the car has set for several hours or overnight. A lot of oil gets smeared on the dip stick when you check it to soon after it has been running.

If it is only an 1/8 inch over the max mark don't worry about it; if it is 3/4 to 1 inch over full you might consider draining some out. The book says it will take 4.4 quarts but since some actually stays in the pan and the engine it only takes about 4.3. If they put in 4.4 it might be 1/8 inch over the max mark. If on the other hand it really is an inch over max it would indicate they put 5 quarts in.

 

First time ever using a dealer for an oil replacement, I brought in my new CTh for the 10k service since it was free, and it was over filled LOL
To the dealership's credit they drained some oil without hassle.
At home I exposed the manifold through the air throttle and using a paper towel, sopped up some oil in excess of a thin film.

Admittedly I have never intended to have future oil services at the dealership, but if I was on the fence this experience would be a reason to stay away.

 

After the dealer oil change, my oil level was between the add and full mark, about 1/3 below the add mark. Does this mean that they added 4 quarts instead of 4.4? I'm assuming this is good.

I did have to argue with them to do the first change at 6,500 miles instead of 10,000. But they were nice about it.

 

Well, I've learned from numerous threads here...and from my own experience with my Honda Fit..

You want to check the Oil Level A.S.A.P. after the dealership changes it. You absolutely cannot trust them to get it right.

My Oil was overfilled after a dealership change. I caught it, and they rather begrudgingly drained some out.

Now I make a rather big deal about NOT wanting it overfilled when I bring it in. I warn them I will check.

So far? They have gotten it right since.....

Somewhere there is a thread where everyone reveals what devices they have been using to remove excess Oil.

I guess in this day and age, it's an investment those that do NOT change their own oil might need to make. Unfortunately....

 

In post #6 you finally got one shot with the dipstick in focus, lol.

I'd say you're fine. It looks to be about 3/16" beyond the top indent. That's an irritant, but not significant. The Prius dipstick can mislead: oil will smear along the edges, well above the true level. You need to do repeated tries, and look for a little blank space, that's the true top level.

My preference would be about that 3/16" amount below the top indent, but a few mm one side or the other are not going to sink your Prius.

I just recently did a change, myself. I put in 4 liters, then 0.2 liter additional, and ended up with level a few mm below top indent. I did let it drain thoroughly. I also let all the bottles of new oil drain thoroughly, when filling. 4.2 liters is equiv. (roughly to 4.4 qts).

My guess: they threw in 5 quarts. Does the invoice itemize number of quarts?

 

I'm wondering if you checked your tire inflation while cold, if you checked it after driving the car it could easily be 5 pounds high +- per tire.
If you have someone do service for you...you pays your monies and you's takes your chances...

 

This is true BUT....

I've read way too many threads similar to this one.

And often many people default to "Just Do It Yourself".

Which is great. BUT...there are many people who maybe physically just aren't able to do a DIY Oil Change.

Or simply do not want to do it themselves.

Let's be honest...especially if you don't have the tools...it isn't the easiest job. I'm thinking there are a lot of owners that simply don't really have the option of doing it themselves.

As an owner, I think you Pay Your Money...and have a right to expect that the service will be done correctly....

Especially at a Toyota Dealership service center. That one would presume does a high volume of Oil Changes for Prius.

Knowing how to correctly do them, should be a basic.

Sure mistakes can be made....but at a dealership, that not only has the tools...but lifts...and presumably the experience, the amount of times I read about Oil Change failures should be embarassing to the entire dealership industry.

The first time I brought my Honda in? I did not even mention "Don't Overfill" because I did not want to sound like an malcontent.

I also made the "bad" assumption that a certified dealership would have techs that knew how to do oil changes on one of their most popular models.

Well, after they overfilled it? Now I know better. I loudly warn that I will be checking...I verbally request that they be aware not to overfill...

I wish I did not have to...but that simply doesn't seem to be the reality.

 

Malcontents and whiners get better service, When they see you they say "Oh my God it's him again! we better get everything right or he'll bitch about it"

 

Checking it after it has recently been ran will give you an inaccurate reading. Let the oil settle, then check it. I found this out the hard way. When I was in high school (a loooong time ago), I would check the oil in my sister's cressida...always on a warm engine. It came up short all the time, so I kept filling it, and filling it until it blew the head gasket...lol!:bolt:

 

You can get a little oil out via the drain bolt, but not by pulling it completely out. Get some sort of mason jar with graduations on it, back out the bolt until it's almost loose, then just rock it slightly ajar, getting a small trickle going. I know, a little late now, lol.

Isn't it great: the BS the pros can put you through?