Changed the oil...this was kinda strange

[JD Larue]

I changed the oil and filter in the Tahoe the other day and according to the manual it takes 6 qts. of oil with the filter change. So I dump in 6 qts. of oil per the manual and check the level on the dipstick after driving it and warming it up and guess what...it's a 1/2 quart over the max. line on the dipstick. What gives? Is the manual wrong or is the dipstick wrong?

Anybody know?

:confused2:

 

[JD Larue]

AND...do you think I should drain out a half quart or will it be OK? I called the dealership and they said, "Awwwww, don't worry about it. They all do that." Mmmmmmm Hmmmmmmmm. I'd like to have a dollar for every time the dealer has said that.

 

[Black Dog]

I don't know about that but I do know that dealers, for how expert they SHOULD be, don't really know squat. I know that overfill is bad, but more so in high rev/ high RPM engines, where it can froth up and aerate. At the least it can cause a little more drag resistance which could rob some power. Both of these scenarios are if it is so much extra that the crankshaft is actually partially submerged, which I don't know if 1/2 a quart will do. A very high force, sustained turn could cause it to hit the crank on the side opposite the turn, without a windage tray/ baffle. Interested to see the answer to your situation, though- I thought it was 6 quarts too. For me, I would drain some or pump it out the dipstick tube, if you have a gear oil pump and some extra tubing. But I might leave it just on the high side of the fill line.

 

[aaron72]

The system takes 6 quarts, but when you drain the oil, all of it does not come out. And I would drain out the amount that you ar over filled.

What I do when changing the oil, is pre-fill the filter then add oil until I've used 4 1/2 quarts. I then check the dipstick and add until I get just over the full line. I then run the truck and then let it set and then check again and the oil level is then right at the full line usually.

 

[JD Larue]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[randyfaz]

Hey Guys, I'd like to kind of hijack this thread a little. Since we're on the subject of changing the oil. I have this tool that siphons the oil from the dipstick tube. I bought this thing because that is how Mercedes recoomends changing the oil for her car. There was no drain hole on the oil pan in the benz. I think they use a sump. Anyway wondering if anyone uses this to change their oil. Here is a picture

 

[freeforme]

I used one of those on my boat which didn't have a drain plug. It worked great. But I think it is easier (but messier) to just take out the drain plug.