oil changes and dip sticks

[Applejack]

when you change you oil to you go by what the dipstick says or by the amount of oil that you know you are supposed to put in. I know I should put in 5.4 quarts but my dipstick always shows it about a qt low.

 

[corax]

I always go by the dipstick. Are you taking in account the amount of oil that it takes to fill the oil filter?

 

[tanglefoot]

I usually fill 'till the dipstick shows the top of the "OK" range. Then after starting it and letting it fill the filter, it ends up in the middle of the range.

 

[1911]

Dipstick. You will never drain out all the old oil due to surface tension.

 

[CA-RJ]

I always start with 5.5 quarts. Usually I check the dipstick but sometimes I forget to when I'm finished. I do check the oil frequently doing the oil change interval, so if for some reason I am a little low I catch it before it becomes a problem.

 

[4xdog]

Reported capacities are a starting guideline. For me, the dipstick is a direct measurement and therefore preferred.

Of course, if there's a big deviation I double back and check everything to resolve what's up.

 

[Lynn]

Of course, if there's a big deviation I double back and check everything to resolve what's up.

Like my buddy who put 8 quarts 'in' and it still wasn't showing on the dip stick? (forgot to put the plug back in)

 

[sardi55]

If your run the larger 4.7 2uzfe filter you can fit another .25 of a quart in the motor.