Added 7 quarts of engine oil and it still doesn't show on the dipstick

[Pacman1171]

So I was changing the oil and oil filter in my 2001 TJ 4.0. I used valvoline full synthetic high mileage 10W-30. I added 5 quarts of oil and checked the dip stick and it barley showed any oil. I proceeded to add another quart and it was still way below the add line. I then added another half a quart and it still wasn’t rising enough. I added the last half (now 7 quarts) and it’s still below the add line. Is there something I’m missing? There’s no oil leaking out anywhere. Has anyone else had this issue and know how to fix it?

 

[Chris]

Either you have some sort of gigantic aftermarket oil pan, or something is wrong with your dipstick.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Your 4.0 engine holds 6 quarts. Measure only when the Jeep is on level ground and give the oil time to make it down to the pan.

 

[Pacman1171]

Your 4.0 engine holds 6 quarts. Measure only when the Jeep is on level ground and give the oil time to make it down to the pan.

So I let it sit about 2 hours before I added the extra quart. (I should have mentioned that) is that not long enough?

 

[AndyG]

What hole are you pouring it in?

 

[pagrey]

Put in 6qts. Run the engine. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Read the dipstick. That is full. If oil doesn't appear on the dipstick, the dipstick is broken.

 

[Tomcat]

Question, is this the first time you've ever changed the oil? I'm thinking not, so what happened last time?

 

[Goatman]

Could the dipstick tube have partially pulled up? Happened on a Chevy truck to me and it took a words till I found it.

 

[Hog]

Aftermarket dipstick or parked on a hill?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

So I let it sit about 2 hours before I added the extra quart. (I should have mentioned that) is that not long enough?

Two hours is plenty long and about 115 minutes longer than necessary.

There's lots of potential reasons for 7 quarts to be needed to show up on the dipstick. The only one not mentioned here is almost never happens on water cooled engines, someone added an oil cooler.

 

[AndyG]

I once left my drain plug out . Man it takes a lot of oil when you do that , seems to never fill up.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Did you also change the filter? That’s got to get filled too but you’ve got to run the engine first. I once heard about a guy putting gas into his boat but was using one of the built in rod holder holes. Not too good.

 

[BobK]

I once left my drain plug out . Man it takes a lot of oil when you do that , seems to never fill up.

I hate to hijack the thread, but this comment reminded me of my good old days in college. A girl I was dating told me that she would make dinner for me if I changed her oil. She had already bought five quarts of oil and the filter. So I show up at her house, drain the oil into a dishpan, remove and replace the filter, and insert five quarts of oil before I checked the dipstick. Not a trace of oil to be found. I check the owners manual and sure enough the engine takes five quarts. It was at this point that I looked under the car to see a five quart oil stain, luckily where it was parked the oil flowed out into the woods. I then told her that I had to run to the store for one more quart, which was a total lie, I needed all five quarts. So a totally broke college student had to go run to the grocery store (Sunday night, everything else was closed) and purchase overly priced oil to make up for my mistake of not putting the drain plug back in... I didn't admit to it at the dinner but I've never made that mistake twice.

 

[Mighty Max]

I once left my drain plug out . Man it takes a lot of oil when you do that , seems to never fill up.

hahaha you just made my day thanks

 

[mrblaine]

I didn't admit to it at the dinner but I've never made that mistake twice.

Admitting to things during dinner or forgetting to put the drain plug back in?

 

[jbjenkins]

My uncle told me one of his friends drained the transmission and added oil to engine. Back to your question; If oil plug is in and you put oil in correct hole the dipstick must be wrong/ broken if 4.0 engine.

 

[mrblaine]

Did you also change the filter? That’s got to get filled too but you’ve got to run the engine first.

You do understand that would produce the opposite problem? The level on the dipstick would read higher than it should until started and the filter filled.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Hadn’t thought of that but your right. Metric quarts?

 

[mrblaine]

Hadn’t thought of that but your right. Metric quarts?

He would still be slightly over a half quart over full.

 

[qslim]

I was working at a shop in the late 90's with oil fill hoses that hung down from the ceiling. A kid pulled in the parts delivery truck and said he was told to top off the oil. I said pull it in and use that hose hanging down over the bay. I took a car on a quick test drive and when I came back ten minutes later this kid was still standing over the engine pumping oil into the fill cap (it was a little Mazda B series if I remember correctly). I asked him how much oil he was putting in there and he said "until it's full".

He was pumping oil into the fill cap until it was literally "topped off". I put it up in the air and must have drained 20 quarts, I was surprised how much that little thing could hold