How much is too much oil?

[ninja92]

Hello,

Did an oil change on the 5s-fe 97 camry with 205K on it and I got the 5 quart jug instead of the smaller quart bottles I normally use. I think I might of put in a bit to much oil. Its like a smidge above the F line on the dipstick. Maybe a quarter of the distance that E to F has. Runs fine, no smoke or anything. Should I be worried?

The engine burns a tiny bit of oil between the 5K changes.

Searched but nothing like this came up yet.

Thanks!

[hill8570]

You generally don't want to make a habit of it, but 1/4 quart shouldn't cause a problem. Next time, 'tho, better to underfill slightly and then top off a day or so later.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by ninja92

The engine burns a tiny bit of oil between the 5K changes.

with your car mileage I would rather stick to 3k dino change intervals, unless you are running synthetic with good filter.

just for future reference. empty engine (with new empty filter) takes 3.8 quarts of oil (OEM filter itself takes 0.2qt), i usually too like using small 1qt bottles instead of big jugs, but if you have to use one look at side of big jug, they usually have a scale on it which shows how much oil left.

[ninja92]

oh ok. will do

it was my dads car before. he did 80 miles a day all highway so thats why the 5K changes.

he used mobil clean 5000 5w-30, so i used the same today.

[ricamryman]

I always drain 1/2 quart from the 5 Qt containers that I buy from Walmart for my 93 3VZFE V6 which takes 4.5 Qts with filter right on the mark!

[Mike Gerber]

Like fenixus said, your 5SFE engine holds 3.8 quarts of oil. You would be safe using individual quarts and putting in 4 quarts of oil or use the markings on the side of the 5 quart jugs. I would never go more than 1/2 quart beyond the required refill amount. If you do, the crankshaft may be hitting the oil in the oil pan as it rotates and whipping the oil in to a foam. Foams contain air bubbles. The pure oil is made to be sprayed by the oil pump to vital engine components. Foaming oil with bubbles of air do not lubricate vital engine components properly.

Get in the habit of checking the oil more frequently rather than over filling the crankcase.

Mike

[Leviathan66610]

Here's what you do: buy the 5 quart jugs. After draining the oil and pulling the filter, pour oil into the crankcase and keep checking the oil level on the dipstick until it shows full. Start up the car, and then top off the oil level again. You should have some oil left which is best to keep especially if you have oil leaks. If you don't have any leaks, if you keep the remaining oil after about the third or fourth oil change it will be free because you'll have plenty of it.

[N35QU!K]

I usually just do 4qt's for my car, four 1 qt bottles.