[elliottrjohnson]

I recently took a trip in my 04 V6. When I went to check up on everything before getting on the road, I noticed the oil was a little below the bottom mark on the dipstick. I added a little at a time and waited, the final check showed a little under the top mark after I added a full quart of 5w30. Looked good to me.
After I got on the road I kept an eye on it, mostly when the engine was hot at fuel-up. Looked a little high, but that seemed ok as the engine was hot.
Vacation over, time to go home. I checked it cold on a fairly level surface and it looked a little high still. Well, I don't have any tools with me and I decided to just let it ride. When I got home, I parked in the garage (as level as I'm going to get), popped the hood, and let it sit overnight. This morning I checked it and it's about a 1/4 quart high.

My question is, how much oil over the top mark is enough to blow out the rear seal and/or whip the oil into a froth? I drove probably 500 miles total like this and I'm a little worried that I might have done some damage. This vehicle is 2 months new to me and this is the first time I've had to add oil. What do you guys think?

Edit: I think my original check showing the level a little under the top mark might have been off because the truck was sitting on a slight incline, nose high, tailgate low. Either that or I didn't wait long enough for it to settle. Or both.

 

[ShawnM]

A little over isnt going to hurt anything. There is a build in comfort zone there to prevent damage in case of a slight overfill. I would say half a quart to 1 quart overfull is pushing it. The only danger of overfilling is as you stated getting it whipped into a froth. The only way you can blow out seals is with an increase in oil pressure, but too much oil in the pan is not going to change oil pressure.

 

[TuRDle]

If you feel uncomfortable you can always drain a little but a little over won't hurt anything. Sawn's right.

 

[elliottrjohnson]

Thanks, I feel better now.
I am going to drain a little out when I get home.
My first oil change is coming up soon and I believe I will go to a premium synthetic after doing some research on this fine site.
Thanks again,
-Elliott

 

[hossmaster]

use an oil filter for the 4.0l v6 on your 3.4l v6 and it is 6qts to full.

 

[elliottrjohnson]

hossmaster:
so, use a bigger filter to increase oil capacity? (to clarify)

Looks like I drained about 22 oz., with the dipstick reading just under the top mark. I'll check again in the morning to see if the reading changes any, but I don't think it will.
My buddy said "if it's not running weird then it's fine, drain some and forget about it", and it's been running fine the whole time.
This my lesson to check my oil dead cold on a level surface, then add and wait.
Thanks for your advice, fellas.

 

[hossmaster]

hossmaster:
so, use a bigger filter to increase oil capacity? (to clarify)

i use that filter because it is a bit bigger, but mainly because it makes it 6qts even for me and that is easy to do

 

[TuRDle]

One of the things to remember is that the bigger the filter the longer it takes the oil to get into the engine after draindown. I read once that is why Toyota and whoever else started using smaller filters. Of course the other side of the coin says that the bigger the filter the more surface area of filtration you'd have so the oil would stay cleaner. I might opt for the smaller filter and change it more often. What do you think?

 

[Acehardly]

Pre-Pressure pump would be the best way to go. Then you have no low oil pressure while starting.

 

[hossmaster]

I am merely talking about .3 of a quart or so difference. I don't think it will cause an issue.