by "ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy" (bakeshake)
Published 09/28/2017 at 10:07
by "ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy" (bakeshake)
Published 09/28/2017 at 10:07
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As the title implies, when I’m doing my oil changes, I’m only getting 4.5 quarts out, but my engine calls for 6 quarts. This has been consistent for as long as I can remember (even though I change every 3k, I don’t put on a lot of miles), definitely at least for my last three changes, as I still have the jugs of old oil on my workbench.
I found out the hard way a couple of years ago that my engine burns oil, so I check it every time I get gas (about every two weeks) and try to keep it in the middle of the SAFE range on the dipstick. I know for sure that before I changed it last weekend, I was at least a quarter of the way into the SAFE range. After refilling the engine with 6 quarts of oil and letting it run a minute to fill the filter, the oil level is in the dead center of the SAFE range. So the dipstick is showing me less than a half-quart difference between pre-change and post-change levels (assuming the entire SAFE range on the dipstick is 1 quart).
However, as I’ve said, when changing the oil I only get 4.5 quarts out. Here’s what I do: I open the oil filter cap so the crankcase can ventilate, drain the engine until it’s a slow drip, change the filter (emptying it into the drain pan), and refill. Then, I pour the oil from my drain pan into the 5-qt jug the new oil came in, and this is where I lose my mind, as the level indicator on the side of the jug shows me only filling it to 4.5 quarts.
So, what the heck is going on? I know there will be residual oil in the engine, oil pump, filter housing, and drain pan itself, but will all that really add up to 1.5 qts?
Edit: I just had another thought. When I’m checking the oil while getting gas, the engine is completely hot, showing the oil level as high as it could possibly be. Then, after changing the oil and letting the engine run for just a minute to fill the filter, the engine isn’t hot at all, showing the oil level as low as it could possibly be. That probably has something to do with it, but still, 1.5 quarts?
"ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy" (bakeshake)
09/28/2017 at 10:12, STARS: 0
"Wacko" (wacko--)
09/28/2017 at 10:17, STARS: 0
when draining my oil I sometimes put the oilfiler cap back on, then just turn the key to let the engine turn over once or twice without actually starting the car.
then I add a bit of fresh oil to drain out the remaining oil in the engine. This tends to empty what was left in the oil pump.... then i remove the old filter.
"Gerry197" (Gerry197)
09/28/2017 at 10:26, STARS: 0
Probably a mixture of all those reason. The oil filter, unless you open it up, keeps residual oil in it, along with passages within the motor itself.
Also, when you check the oil, you need to drive the car for a few miles and then let it rest to allow the oil to fully drain into the pan to get an accurate check.
Fresh oil is really thick and just turning on the motor for a few minutes and checking wont’ be accurate since it stays in the upper parts of the motor. You have to drive it and get it hot to allow an accurate reading.
I’ve let oil set for hours on a fresh oil change and still not show an accurate level. But 10 minutes of driving and 15 minute wait will get you an accurate reading after an oil change.
"190octane" (admiralcb)
09/28/2017 at 10:33, STARS: 0
How did you get a Mercedes F1 car street legal?
"E92M3" (E46M3)
09/28/2017 at 10:37, STARS: 0
When oil is cold, it’s thicker and tends to stick to all the metal parts like syrup. After driving, it’s hot, thins out considerably, and drains off the parts much quicker back into the pan. I think that’s why you are seeing the level differences, but you are still losing oil somehow if you put 6 qts in, and are only getting 4.5 out next oil change.
"You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much" (youcantellafinn)
09/28/2017 at 10:45, STARS: 0
When you check the oil at a fill up, do you give it a minute to let the oil drain back to the pan? If you check the oil immediately after turning the engine off and again a couple minutes later you will definitely see more oil after it’s had a chance to drain back to the oil pan.
That being said, you are definitely losing some oil between changes which is normal. When I worked in the auto industry, basically all the manufacturers considered losing 1 qt / 1000 miles to be acceptable oil usage. Depending on the engine, when you drain the oil for a change you can leave almost a quart in the engine.
When refilling after an oil change, how much oil do you end up putting back in? I assume probably just the 5 quarts? If that is how it works, you’re draining 4.5 quarts, putting 5 quarts back in and ending up with a nearly full 6 quart oil system. Sounds like you’re leaving about a quart that doesn’t drain and losing about 1/2 quart between oil changes.
"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
09/28/2017 at 11:41, STARS: 0
Before your next oil change check the oil level on your engine completely warmed up. After, your next oil change break open the oil filter anti-drain valve and drain it overnight to see how much is left in the filter.
It could be: Drain 4.6qt+filter 0.5qt+burn 0.7qt+shop rags 0.1qt+measurement error 0.1qt = 6.o qt