Oil Level Question on Tundra V-8

[Will]

The Toyota dealer recently performed my first oil change and I noticed 7 quarts on the invoice. Five minutes after shutting down the motor the dipstick reads a 1/4" above the top mark (full). The owners manual indicates it gets 6.5 quarts with a filter change.

I returned to the dealer and was told they always invoice whole quarts. Okay... I then expressed concern that I may have too much oil in the engine. After taking my truck to the service bay and returning, the lube technician (w/two years experience) said my oil level was right where it ought to be. I said show me. Again it checked 1/4" over the full mark just after parking it.

??? He said the motor had a check valve which let's a portion of the oil run out of the filter, thereby causing the higher reading. I find this very strange, and if it's true, I feel Toyota should have taken it into account when placing marks on a dipstick.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE.... Will

[CJ]

...to explain how he can prove the therory of gravity is incorrect. I would like to be a part of this fantasticly great moment in history and watch this tech prove this. See buddy, you're oil filter is located on the bottom of the engine and thusly, so far proven, gravity forces the oil in the crankcase to flow DOWN into the oil filter. Check vavle or not, the filter is full.

Yes, the specifications for oil filter w/ oil filter change is 6.5 US quarts, W/ out filter change is 6.0 quarts, and a DRY fill (new engine/rebuilt engine) if 7.5 quarts.

Toyota also says that the oil level reading should be between the L and F marks on the dipstick. They don't, however strangely, mention anything about your oil tech's professional opinion on his misinformation about the check valve.

CJ

[Will]

You're right CJ.

It's kinda hard to get around that gravity thing. Also, based on the position of the oil filter, I can't see how very much oil could run out even if a check valve was letting oil back into the pan, as he indicated.

The original tech either pumped the oil in according to what he dialed up (6.5 qts. I hope) or his equipment may need to be calibrated.

Looks like I'll have to resort to doing it myself next time to solve this one.

Thanks for the post...... Will

[KLS]

But...a 1/4" above F on the dipstick isn't a big deal. The fact that you drove without splashing oil everywhere or doing engine damage proves this point. Don't worry.


Ken

[akauth]

Originally posted by Will
The Toyota dealer recently performed my first oil change and I noticed 7 quarts on the invoice. Five minutes after shutting down the motor the dipstick reads a 1/4" above the top mark (full). The owners manual indicates it gets 6.5 quarts with a filter change.

I returned to the dealer and was told they always invoice whole quarts. Okay... I then expressed concern that I may have too much oil in the engine. After taking my truck to the service bay and returning, the lube technician (w/two years experience) said my oil level was right where it ought to be. I said show me. Again it checked 1/4" over the full mark just after parking it.

??? He said the motor had a check valve which let's a portion of the oil run out of the filter, thereby causing the higher reading. I find this very strange, and if it's true, I feel Toyota should have taken it into account when placing marks on a dipstick.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR CONCERNS. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE.... Will

I usually *do* put a full 7 quarts in mine (too, though, I usually run oversized filters). With the old shorter dipsticks you could put a little less than 8 quarts in and it would still be in the ballpark. Toyota stated that the previous dipstick would not be detrimental, just that they were shorter then they were designed to be. If that is true, then your level is fine as it's at the same level as the original 1999/2000 dipsticks because that old one allowed you to put as much as 8 quarts in if you changed the filter.

Alan

[johtil]

My Lilred1 always gets 7 Qt. w/ 90915-20004 Toy. Filter, This has worked for Me ever since we changed out to the longer DipSticks;
She used to get 8 Ot. @ a change w/ filter. LilRed now has 66,677 mi. on her & she is Running Stronger & Better and the fuel mileage is continueing to inprove slightly.

Good Luck with Your New Tundra. (I Like Mine a Lot)
JT.