08 V6 oil change problem

[gator_TX]

I have been doing my own oil changes for 30 years, but first time on 08 Camry V6.

I drained the oil then drained and removed the filter (per the posted instructions), put it back together and poured in a little over 6 quarts. Ran the engine for a minute, no problem.

However, when I poured my drain pan into a 5 quart container it filled it full, but I did not have anymore to drain into a second container! Only 5 quarts drained out, including from the filter.

Now I am concerned that I somehow left a 1.4 quarts or so in the crankcase and have since overfilled it.

Reading the dipstick with clean oil is a problem I have encountered. After letting it sit several hours, when I pull the dipstick out to read it there is enough residual oil sticking to the dipstick from the dipstick tube that I cannot tell what the oil level really is - there is no clear line of wetted surface.

I can't imaging that 1-1.4 quarts of oil could remain in the oilpan. Before the change I could easily read the level between the dots on the dipstick because the dirty oil is easier to see. Now all I know is I have at least 6.1 quarts, but it could be as high as 7.4 quarts.

Has enyone else had this problem? What danger do I have of running it overfilled by 1 quart? No warning light is on.

[LXS-mode]

i think my dad only puts about 4.5 quarts.. and he has the car sitting for 3 hours to drain.

[gator_TX]

The V6 requires a voluminous 6.4 quarts. The I4 is quite a bit less.

[LXS-mode]

Originally Posted by gator_TX

The V6 requires a voluminous 6.4 quarts. The I4 is quite a bit less.

ohh my bad.. neglected to look over.

[gdanaher]

I have a V6 so I feel your pain. It might not be a problem. You can't say with certainty what the fill was before you drained the oil. There is in fact no guarantee that the marks on the dipstick are dead on either. (I had a 99 I4 that showed a 3/4 quart overfill when changed.) Let the car sit on level ground for 10 minutes, pull and wipe the stick and reinsert it quickly, sit briefly and then pull quickly. I know it will tend to collect a little oil from the tube but it hasn't been such a problem for me that I couldn't see where the high point was. Part of the problem could be the thin oils being used these days. They just don't adhere like straight 30 used to do.

[CharmCityES]

alot of the new toyotas have this issue...the dipsticks are increasingly hard to read...id just put in what toyota specifies for the vehicle and go with it....i have a list pinned to my toolbox at work with all the oil capacities for each vehicle, and i just set my oil gun to that exact amount and check after, and its usually fine.

[fdexclpl]

Take some sandpaper or a file and rough up the section of the dipstick from just above the full mark to the end. It will help the oil stick to the dipstick and make it easier to read.

[gator_TX]

Originally Posted by fdexclpl

Take some sandpaper or a file and rough up the section of the dipstick from just above the full mark to the end. It will help the oil stick to the dipstick and make it easier to read.

That sounds like good advice, although rather permanant. Might it give a false full reading up to the top of the roughed up area even when the oil is low? I wonder instead if any kind of silicone spray on the dipstick above the top line will help the oil that gets up there to not adhere to the dipstick?

Thanks to the input from others as well.
I feel like such a "dipstick" when I can't read the dipstick.

The weird thing is that only 5 quarts drained out with the engine hot, drained for 10 minutes. I do not know if a lot stayed in the crankcase or if it was low to begin with.

I am tempted to pay someone else to do it for me again for a few dollars more - to save the time and the mess, but how well will those geniuses do the job? I know they will over-torque the drain plug, the filter housing and the filter housing cap. When I tried to remove the cap it wouldn't budge, but the whole housing turned. I had to put the housing in a vice to hold it to remove the end cap, and it took about 40 ft-lbs. The torque spec is 9.5 Ft-Lbs.

[bandit]

As you stated, this is your first time doing it on the Camry. As someone mentioned, you dont know how much oil was put in prior to you draining the oil. The person who put in oil, probably didnt even put 6 quarts of it. They could of put 5 quarts.

I dont measure how much oil is drained from my car. Once it stop flowing and its been like that for about 30 mins, I put everything back and fill it up with new oil. In other words, I dont count or measure every ounce that is drained.

I still havent done my first oil change but since I got 3 free oil change, I'll let the dealership do the first oil change so they can loosen the filter as like any new car, the filter is tightened by Robocop.

[Paul3637]

Originally Posted by gator_TX

I have been doing my own oil changes for 30 years, but first time on 08 Camry V6.

I drained the oil then drained and removed the filter (per the posted instructions), put it back together and poured in a little over 6 quarts. Ran the engine for a minute, no problem.

However, when I poured my drain pan into a 5 quart container it filled it full, but I did not have anymore to drain into a second container! Only 5 quarts drained out, including from the filter.

Now I am concerned that I somehow left a 1.4 quarts or so in the crankcase and have since overfilled it.

Reading the dipstick with clean oil is a problem I have encountered. After letting it sit several hours, when I pull the dipstick out to read it there is enough residual oil sticking to the dipstick from the dipstick tube that I cannot tell what the oil level really is - there is no clear line of wetted surface.

I can't imaging that 1-1.4 quarts of oil could remain in the oilpan. Before the change I could easily read the level between the dots on the dipstick because the dirty oil is easier to see. Now all I know is I have at least 6.1 quarts, but it could be as high as 7.4 quarts.

Has enyone else had this problem? What danger do I have of running it overfilled by 1 quart? No warning light is on.

You were at least a quart over full. The potential problem is "oil foaming" which can damage the engine due to improper lubrication. My 2009 camry v6 had a dealer oil change at 4000 miles and and I watched them do it to make sure they drained out all the oil. With a 6.4 quart fill, the dipstick went 1/4 inch over the full mark so the real capactiy is closer to 6 quarts.

As for the impossible to read dipstick, the only way I can get a good read when the oil is clean is to let the car sit overnight and use magnifier glasses to see where it hits. When the car was new, it was exactly on the full and never moved over the first 4,000 miles before it was changed. I do 50/50 city highway driving and get 30mpg using premium fuel. I use 5W30 Pennzoil.