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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "Oil change", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
Curious on how many quarts? On first oil change the one dealer charged me for 5 qts. Today on my second oil change the dealer used 7 qts. According to the OM the capacity is 6.4 qts with the filter. Did I just get a deal on my first oil change?
Also, this is my first toyota, I was surprised that the suspension components ie. tie rod ends, ball joints, etc don't have grease zerk. Is this just a car thing (I drive a truck)?
Highlander is a car based Vehicle. There are NO zerk fittings as in all Toyota Cars.
OM indicates 6.4Qts with filter change. Dealer is charging for the 7 qts. Theye round it out to the next full qt.This is par. Make sure your Dipstick is at the full mark, and yu'll be ok. Your first OCI with 5 qrts was just a typo on the reciept.
I doubt yu are charged by the qt. Most dealers don't do it this way. But some can. Most dealers use recycled bulk oil unless yu state to use Toyota Genuine bottled oil or bring your own...i.e. Synthetic, etc.( if it's your preference)
In the end, the only thing about The dealer doing the OCI is yu are getting a Toyota filter. Toyota OIL is extra charge.
6.4Q for the 2008 highlander.. Wow, looks like Japs are following Euro's with larger sump sizes.. Makes me wonder if large sumps really do the magic of low wear numbers.
Thanks...In both cases I specifically asked for Synthetic so that may be why they charged by the quart. I will have to see how the dealership is about me providing the oil.
Thanks...In both cases I specifically asked for Synthetic so that may be why they charged by the quart. I will have to see how the dealership is about me providing the oil.
If yu were not specific beyond just asking for "synthetic"...Toyota makes just one grade(5w20). Some dealers stock Mobil 1.
If yu bring your own Syn. A dealer usually charges yu the standard oil change fee, as if yu are getting the recycled bulk oil.
They usually don't deduct oil from the fee. Usually!
I remember going on a 2600 mile trip on vacation. I had a dealer do my OCI for the return trip home. I supplied the M1 oil. I asked for the 5 empty bottles back for the Mobil 1 rebates(needed the Bar codes).
It turns out they installed recycled bulk oil and never installed the TruckandSUV Mobil 1 I had given them.
The manager found 3 of the 5 quarts on a techs bench. Unused.
He offered to redo it. I said I wanted a full refund, which I got plus $12 for the two missing qrts. Then I found independant station to drop the oil and put in my M1.
Be careful. Always ask for your empties back. It will keep everyone honest.
Tell the dealer yu need the bottles for rebates. Just a thought if yu bring your own oil.
Again, it keeps everyone honest. Yu never really know what they put into the engine though. Unless yu do it yourself.
Curious on how many quarts? On first oil change the one dealer charged me for 5 qts. Today on my second oil change the dealer used 7 qts. According to the OM the capacity is 6.4 qts with the filter. Did I just get a deal on my first oil change?
The motor oil refill capacities listed in the owners manual are usually overly optimistic by 1/3 to 1/2 quart. In other words, it probably takes only 6.0 quarts to refill your Highlander engine up to the Full mark on the dipstick.
So if that is the case then you are being overcharged 1 quart. You could bring 6 quarts of your own oil next time and tell the dealer to install it. Then later check the oil level yourself. Bet it will be right at the Full mark.
The owners manual also says DO NOT FILL ABOVE THE FULL MARK or the engine could be damaged.
Funny how I have yet to see a dealer get the oil level right ON the Full mark when doing an OCI.
Maybe because They don't care if They damage Your engine.
Different model engines always vary as to exact quantities. (over or under published spec.) It is rarely exact. Depends also how much oil is actually drained during the OCI. Try draining a Cold engine of oil...there will end up being as much as 1/3 Qrt. of old oil remaining in the crank case and rest of oil gallery.
And, Dealers never warm up an engine when doing your OCI.
Kathyricks, could you explain to others what kind of damage will occur if one overfills the crank case with oil?
Couple of oil observations from a few years of vehicle ownership...
- Dipsticks are notoriously inaccurate. I found it best to drain oil from a warmed engine, replace the oil filter, then install the manufacturer's recommended oil quantity. Run the engine for a few minutes, switch it off, then let the oil settle. You'll then see the "true" full level of your particular engine and dip stick.
- If you grossly overfill an engine, the oil in the pan will touch the bottom of the crankshaft. This is the oil that has worked it's way down though the engine doing its lubrication magic. It is also oil that is waiting to pass through the filter, hence the risk of contaminate damage to the crankshaft components. The engine MIGHT be damaged from these contaminates.
- Every engine is designed differently, so there is no way of knowing how much of an excessive oil fill will touch a particular crankshaft.... We'd have to ask the engine's designer.
Dipsticks are notoriously inaccurate. I found it best to drain oil from a warmed engine, replace the oil filter, then install the manufacturer's recommended oil quantity.
My experience, which is Toyota specific experience, including ownership of two or more identical models, is that Toyota dipsticks are highly accurate. The owners manuals of all major carmakers advise monitoring the oil level by what the dipstick says, not by the refill capacities.
My experience, which is Toyota specific experience, including ownership of two or more identical models, is that Toyota dipsticks are highly accurate. The owners manuals of all major carmakers advise monitoring the oil level by what the dipstick says, not by the refill capacities.
I agree .....always go with the dipstick reading at the FULL mark line.
If yu carefully assess what quantity that went into the engine to bring it exactly at this FULL mark, yu have the exact amount of oil for reference.
The Dipstick IS accurate and when inserted completely, that Full line sits exactly in the oil pan where the correct oil level height is supposed to be.
If your oil level is too far up the dipstick(or any where above the FULL line, this is where oil MAY touch the crankshaft and the oil will foam up, and also an cause an affect called "windage" , which is counter productive to cranshaft rotation. Foaming is bad for oil pressure, and wears out the oils TBN at a faster rate also affecting viscosity.
Some will say that the marked area between Low and Full marks represents approximately 1 quart. This is a general rule, but but it may also represent more than one quart on larger capacity engines. Trial and error will determine if this is true on your specific engine.
When doing your OCI yu can verify this as yu put each quart of oil in.
How much oil over the Full mark is Bad for the engine is a moot point because we truly cannot see where this full line sits in relation to the crankshaft and/or baffle in the Oil pan. Just stay at the Full line.
FYI, The 3.3 V6 engine in my HL takes exactly 5 quarts shown with the Full mark dead on the money. And this is the published amount in Toyota's manual.
When adding filling oil during an OCI, put in 1 quart less than total documented amount, then start engine for several minutes, shut off, then wait 10 minutes for oil to settle, then top off to Full mark as needed. This is the proper procedure for any OCI.
My experience, which is Toyota specific experience, including ownership of two or more identical models, is that Toyota dipsticks are highly accurate. The owners manuals of all major carmakers advise monitoring the oil level by what the dipstick says, not by the refill capacities.
Here are some of my recent experiences with the vehicles that I own....
- 03 Mustang Cobra - This 4.6L engine has a stated capacity of 6 quarts. When I drain the oil from this warmed engine, and replace the oil filter, 6 quarts brings the oil level on the dipstick half way between the minimum and maximum marks.
So, if I add another half quart (approx) to bring the dipstick reading to the full mark, I will be exceeding the manufacturer's stated capacity. I would not be comfortable doing this.
The Ford owners manual states that "if the oil level is anywhere between the min and max marks, the oil level is acceptable. Do not add oil."
- 07 Highlander Hybrid - This 3.3L engine's capacity is 5 quarts. When I do my oil changes, 5 quarts does bring the oil level to the full mark on the dipstick.
The Toyota manual states to add oil if the level is "below or only slightly above the low level". It also states that the level is OK if it is within the correct range, and that it takes 1.6 quarts to go between min and max.
- 00 Subaru Legacy - This 4 cylinder engine's capacity. is 4.2 quarts. A complete oil/filter change results in a an oil dipstick level 3/4 between min and max. The owners manual says to maintain the level within the dipstck's range.
- 02 Lexus IS300 - This 6 cylinder engine takes 5.4 quarts. An oil change also results in a dip stick reading below the max mark. The manual has a similiar oil range statement as the Highlander's manual above.
- I also have an 04 Maxima in the family with the most difficult dipstick I ever had to read. An oil change brings this reading to the full mark.
I would trust the stated oil capacity of an engine over its dipstick reading. The Cobra scenario I mentioned was also seen by other owners in a forum that I participate in. I would think that if you're adding a half quart or more over spec to get to the full mark, you are probably over filling the crankcase.
"If you grossly overfill an engine, the oil in the pan will touch the bottom of the crankshaft. "
If you grossly grossly overfill an engine, like... say.... two people both adding 6 quarts of oil to a Chevy Siverado not knowing each other did it... then the oil level is over the crakshaft, and leaks out of that seal at an alarming rate. So I'm lucky enough to know firsthand how much of a problem this can be, and even more lucky it wasn't my Silverado (or hand adding oil).
But getting within a 16th or so of the full mark certainly isn't hard to do, even for a first timer, so I'm not sure what all the discussion is about. If I check on it mid cycle and it's more than 1/4 the way down, I add, but this hasn't been a problem on the HL.
I've done two oil changes on my 08 H/L w/ filter - yes - cartridge element and - yes - 6.4 Qts is what is required. I go with 6 and 1/4 or so to get 1/8" below the full line just to reduce the possibility of windage as that was the hot tip on Prius's for max mpg.
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Last edited by mr08highlander; 03-31-2008 at 04:32 PM.
Oil change
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