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ed11563


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Can Darwin Trust the Dipstick?
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Can Darwin Trust the Dipstick?

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Dear Car Talk

Aug 11, 2015 (Archives)

8 Comments

oil changes
Dear Car Talk:

My wife and I recently purchased a 2009 Pontiac Vibe with a 2.4-liter engine. For its first oil change, I bought a 5-quart jug of Mobile One oil. The owner's manual says the car takes 4.5 quarts of oil for an oil and filter change. So I measured out half a quart from the jug, and added 4.5 quarts to the engine. After starting the car and checking for leaks, I shut it off and checked the oil level. The dipstick read about a half-quart over full. My question: Should I re-mark the dipstick, or add less oil next time? Thanks for a great column and radio program.

-- Darwin

Add less oil next time, Darwin.

It's possible you didn't get out every bit of oil when you drained it. Maybe you didn't wait long enough. Or maybe the car was on a slight incline, and some of the oil pooled at one side of the pan.

In any case, it's nothing to worry about. An extra half a quart of oil in your crankcase is not going to do any harm to the engine.

If the crankcase were seriously overfilled -- say, more than a quart -- then the spinning crankshaft could come into contact with the liquid oil, and churn it up. Then you'd get oil foam.

The oil pump can't pump foam, so you could cook an engine that way.

What I'd suggest next time is to park the car on a flat surface and let the drain sit open for a good 10 minutes. Go have a coffee and a prosciutto cronut while it drains. And then start by putting 4 quarts of oil in the car.

Once you have 4 quarts in there, run the engine for a minute so the filter fills up. Then shut it off and let the oil drain down from the top of the engine into the oil pan. After it sits for a couple of minutes, check the dipstick. And if you still need more oil, add it. But definitely trust the dipstick, Darwin. Dipsticks don't lie.


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ed11563


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    George_San_Jose • 33 minutes ago

    I'd drain the extra 1/2 quart out. It won't help and might cause problems. Darwin could save the 1/2 quart he drained out and use towards the next oil change, and save a couple bucks in the process. I wouldn't run a modern car engine with the oil past the top fill mark myself. What does is take to make it right, 5 minutes effort?

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    alduane • 5 hours ago

    I have two dipsticks that aren't correct and have been remarked. I didn't notice whether Darwin changed his filter too and that would make at least a half quart difference. Do what Car Talk says and make sure you change the filter. After adding correct amount of oil mark the dipstick.

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    fanbelted • 5 hours ago

    The size of the filter can also make a big difference. If you have a smaller oil filter than the factory one, your total oil capacity will go down compared with the amount specified in the manual. I've found that this can change the oil capacity by 1/4 - 1/2 quart. It is possible to put different size filters on your car, as long as the threads and the rubber ring are the correct size. But it's the oil level in the pan that really matters, so listen to your dipstick!

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    Montego Murph • 6 hours ago

    With all due respect to the experts...

    May I suggest that Darwin somehow make sure he has the correct dipstick in the engine first by doing one of the following:

    Pull the dipstick and look for a part number. Look up the part number for a replacement dipstick and make sure it matches.

    Go to a used car lot selling a Vibe and compare dipsticks, either holding them together, or measure each from handle base to tip.

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      Cooldude61 Montego Murph • 5 hours ago

      Well if this isnt a recycled question, good point. It's 2015 and the previous bonehead owner might have lost his and got a salvage replacement. But here is something more likely; 1) the mass produced 5 quart container may have been over slightly and/or the subtraction measurement may have been off so more than 4.5 quarts went in. 2) the oil was checked IMMEDIATELY after shutdown causing a higher reading than was true. Also it may not have been a half quart over because some dipsticks are accurate in their measuring range, not beyond. It could have been only a few ounces. 3) Car talk guys could be right for the reason they gave or not. You could have not drained all the old oil out, or in a 6 year old car if the previous owner wasn't as good as you are with maintenance, you could have a half quart of sludge and dirt trapped in the engine that needs to be cleaned out with you can tell if the oil is unusually dirty after only a 1000 miles.opper maintenance that should take care of itself in the next few oil changes. Good luck with your new Vibe

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      Hedge36 Montego Murph • 5 hours ago

      Because dipsticks so often grow legs and need replacing? That's a Howard Hughes level of paranoia, right there.

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        Montego Murph Hedge36 • 4 hours ago

        I have seen more than one sitting on top of gas pumps. People must pull them out, go to the counter and buy a quart of oil, and then forget to replace the dipstick.
        Or, maybe the plastic handle broke off and they purchased the wrong replacement.

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        alduane Hedge36 • 5 hours ago

        Dipsticks don't grow legs, they start out wrong and stay that way. There have been several dipstick recalls.



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