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Another Oil Dipstick Mystery

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grey01
  • Start date Start date Jan 4, 2004
G

Grey01

New Member
Dec 8, 2002
72
0
0
alabama
Jan 4, 2004
#1
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #1
Here's another one!

Changed my oil today on my 2001 GT. Heated the old oil up real well before draining by taking a nice drive. Let the oil drain until it stopped dripping. Changed oil filter. Replaced pan plug. Added 4 quarts of Mobil 1 0W20 oil. I am going to run the car at the track with 4 quarts to see if it would pick up performance from the reduced oil sloshing interaction with the crank. But this is another subject.

Anyways, I started the car up, ran it at idle for some few minutes while I checked for leaks and proper oil pressure, then I pulled it into the garage. Some hours later this evening, I went out and checked the oil level on the dipstick. Instead of the level being at the bottom of the crosshatching at the add mark, it was half way up the crosshatching. The way I have thought the stick read, this would indicate I was only 1/2 quart low.

Is this because the filter only holds about 1/2 quart and the 5 quart fill requirement in the owner's manual takes into account a larger filter? Are we really filling our cars about 1/2 quart overfull when we change oil? What do you guys think?
 

GoBabyVroommm

Active Member
Mar 22, 2003
1,156
0
36
Chicago, For Realss???!!!
Jan 4, 2004
#2
  • Jan 4, 2004
  • #2
All i know is that you have to add more oil because of that damn filter.
 
L

lizard-jd

New Member
Dec 4, 2003
42
0
0
WPB, FL
Jan 5, 2004
#3
  • Jan 5, 2004
  • #3
My 02 vert GT always takes 4 3/4 quarts for oil changes. If I put more than that, after I run it and it sits, it will be above the "full" crosshatch.
 

GTblack_00

New Member
Mar 23, 2003
494
0
0
Tampa Bay Area, FL
Jan 5, 2004
#4
  • Jan 5, 2004
  • #4
I have always thought that you level the oil off with the engine hot and almost immediately from turning it off( a minute or two after ). This way you have the right level in the pan while the motor is running, mine usually takes about 5 1/4. I let the filter drain and the plug drain untill it stops while hot.
 
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