Is this oil mark on the stick too high? (photo)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Sep 9 2007, 09:34 AM) [snapback]509488[/snapback]</div>

1/2 to 3/4 of the way between the two dots is best. It takes about 3.5 qts to do this in my 2004 Prius.

JeffD

 

I wouldn't worry about it, I believe they come from the factory a thad over like that.

 

Page 12 of the Changing Oil document...



The ideal level is 1/4†(one-quarter inch) below the full mark.

That is between the D and the E on the photo above.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Sep 9 2007, 07:15 PM) [snapback]509743[/snapback]</div>

If it's at the FULL mark you're fine. Stop worrying about a little below, a little above the fulll mark, etc. Enjoy the car and don't worry so much!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Sep 9 2007, 09:27 PM) [snapback]509792[/snapback]</div>

This issue about the dipstick isn't hurting your MPG and certainly isn't hurting the car either. To confirm by another source, ask any certified Toyota tech or any other tech certified and specializing in Japanese cars. Happy motoring!

 

as DH has noted before, a lot of the oil that's in the pan while the engine is not running, is not there when it is. it gets sent up to the rest of the engine, and the level is far lower when oil is circulating.

frothing would occur if one was stupid enough to put maybe 5-6 qts in one's car. we see that bigmahma is not.

this whole MPG thing... again, dubious. possibly, if there was enough overfill for the oil to have run through the PCV system and into the throttle body, the bit of oil in there would have an effect, though small.

relax, it's full, and that's just fine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Sep 9 2007, 07:15 PM) [snapback]509743[/snapback]</div>

Sorry, but the car is fine as built. Toyota really does know how to figure out how much oil to put into the engines that they build. The full mark is the full mark. Really.

And if you're going to show people how to change oil, PLEASE don't have them checking oil levels while the front of the car is still jacked up. Check it with the car on the ground. That's just common sense.

To the original poster: It is possible to get an incorrect reading if you don't take care. In a perfect world, the engine will be warm, but will have been off for about five minutes. Naturally, the vehicle needs to be on a level surface (see above). Take the dipstick out, wipe it clean, insert it slowly, wait about five seconds, then pull it out and measure.

Folks often get poor readings (including different readings in the same session) when they rush through the procedure.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 10 2007, 03:03 AM) [snapback]509930[/snapback]</div>

Sorry, but to find hostility in my post, you will have to read something into it. Disagreement is not hostility. It may threaten the status quo, but I'm more interested in accurate information.

I stated my opinion, based on experience. I said "please" when I asked that people not recommend checking oil levels when a car is jacked up. I stated that it's common sense to do so, and it is. Looks like you agree.

Many myths have been uncovered and explained on Priuschat forums, and that's good. However, many more myths have been intitiated in these forums. I have no problem pointing those out when I see them, and if some members are uncomfortable with that, then so be it.

 

The oil companies put more than 1 Qt in the quart bottles, and more than 5 Qts in the 5 Qt bottles. I think so that the consumer does not feel cheated.

I actually measured 4 Qts using a measuring cup and the level on the dipstick was 1/4 inch from the top as in the picture. Before I didn't measure and always ended up with a level higher than the "max" on the dipstick.

I have read several times where PC members counted only 3.5 Qts to fill up their cars. It is because there is too much oil in the bottles.

 

This is a picture of a Prius engine in cross section.
Here you can see that the oil level when at the full make is well below the crank shaft which is the only thing you need to worry about. As long as the oil isn't interfering with the movement of the crankshaft it can't affect fuel economy. There is a windage tray to prevent the air mavement caused by the crankshaft lifting the oil so just leave it, it isn't worth messing about with.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(patsparks @ Oct 11 2007, 04:07 AM) [snapback]524078[/snapback]</div>

Nicely done Patsparks...nicely done

 

That is a drawing showing the level of the oil in an engine sitting level . . . not on an uphill, downhill, or while experiencing G-forces or sitting on a banked curve.

So, should we be guessing that Toyota specified exactly 3.9 quarts (and not rounded up to four) and put the dot in that exact location on the dipstick just to be a royal pain in the nice person? I think not.

If it made no difference, why did Toyota specify 3.9?

 

Because it's 3.7 litres and Japan uses metric. Why is the cooling system capacity for the engine 5.3 litres? Why is the cooling system for the electric motors and inverter 2.7 litres? I have no idea. I don't think they deliberately made the oil capacity a bees appendage under 4 quarts just to be difficult. I have found in practice not all the oil comes out when you drain it and you can rarely get all of the specified oil in the engine.

the oil level on the dipstick is a range, it isn't rocket science. We are talking about some oil in a container at the bottom of an engine. From this container the oil is pumped around the engine, it isn't splashed or dipped with a dipper. The dipstick gives a range where the oil level is OK, and it isn't critical. The sump isn't a massive expanse of oil, it's relatively small. Accelerating or braking won't cause the oil to slosh onto the crankshaft and very hard cornering may cause it but the windage tray and baffles in the sump will reduce it. If you are really driving a car hard the more oil in the sump the better. The deeper the oil the longer air has to rise our of the oil before it is picked up by the pump to do another lap through the system. Also the more oil in the sump the less work each molecule has to do in lubricating, cleaning and holding gunk.

Worst case of over filling I have ever seen actually it happened a few times, was when people who have no idea take the filler cap off the engine, can't see any oil so they start topping up. We had one car, towed in because oil was leaking from the engine and they just had to put a lot of oil in it. The oil was running out the dipstick hole, the owner had put 10 litres of oil in it at a top up! Don't do that.

 

Adding three US quarts during an oil change is plenty. There's no need to fool around with partial bottles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Oct 12 2007, 09:29 AM) [snapback]524679[/snapback]</div>

With or without a filer change?

and does that three quarts hold true for someone driving around Death Valley in 124 degrees all day long?

Might that 0.9 be helpful.