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

[AndyG]

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

That's what I was thinking we need to do on this thread... Just bring in a tanker truck.

 

[Fitzpatrick]

About 12 years ago I owned a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. Had done several of my own oil changes. Prior but one day I went to change my oil wasn’t paying enough attention and drained the transmission. The 2 plugs are literally a few inches apart on a tacoma of that year. Still having not known what I just had done began to put oil in and started to realize there was an abundance of oil. Only at this point did I wonder what th F##K was going on get back under the truck and sure enough transmission fluid in the drain pan not engine oil. So I pull the oil plug drain out the ton of oil in it and find out I can’t get Toyota’s special tranny fluid delivered to my house “hazmat” so they say and no toyota dealer near me. So I have to borrow a car trailer from a friend tow it to the nearest dealer 2 hours away to get the tranny serviced. That was the most expensive oil change ever. $300 bucks later and I went under the truck with a marker and drew arrows and marks to which plug was oil. I never felt so stupid. And my wife just laughs at me.

 

[cliffish]

The current Subaru outbacks and crosstreks are like that. The Tranny drain plug actually looks more like what an oil drain plug should look like. Likely a trip on a tow truck for most people to refill the cvt tranny.....kind of tricky.

 

[GEEP4ME]

I was surprised how much that little thing could hold

Early 90's my brother was in highschool, driving a '74 Bug. Hadn't had it long, and I had already rebuilt the engine, as it was smoking when he got it. No big deal. $200 JC Whitney kit and it was all good.

Several months go by, middle of the school year or so, and one day he complained about it running sluggish. I go outside and fire it up, rev it up a couple times and yes, it was slow to climb the revs. Left it running, and opened the engine cover. Zinged it up once or twice, and noticed oil coming out of the peashooters. Not smoke, not watery goo, oil. Actual liquid oil, dripping on the ground, almost running on the ground. I shut it off, pulled out the dipstick and it was full to the top. Being a horizontally opposed engine, the pistons were laying in oil. Pumping oil past the rings, right out the exhaust. Amazing it ran at all. Engine is only supposed to have something like 3 quarts in it and I drained 4 or 5 out before it got down to the correct level.

 

[Jcraig]

Aftermarket dipstick or parked on a hill?

Aftermarket dipstick or parked on a hill?

Believe you nailed it. There are a variety of dipsticks for sale for Chrysler products for the year 2006 some are not the right length for TJs. Perhaps the dipstick has been replaced and is the problem. I had a similar problem with a hill reading but with the opposite effect of over fill. Oil change this time was spot on with 6 quarts on level ground and the same dipstick that gave an inaccurate reading before.

 

[Paparock1]

A turbine engine always finds it own level. I put that theory into most everything...… well on occasion at least

 

[bohuggabee]

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?

Go by spec of oil volume. Mine is 6 . Start engine. Let it run. Shut it off. Check oil... otherwise you have some really scary leak and corrosion. Have you checked your coolant lately? If your coolant isnt neon yellow, orange, or green, then... worrry!

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Go by spec of oil volume. Mine is 6 . Start engine. Let it run. Shut it off. Check oil... otherwise you have some really scary leak and corrosion. Have you checked your coolant lately? If your coolant isnt neon yellow, orange, or green, then... worrry!

I’m guessing that six years later, the OP has figured it out.

 

[BlueC]

I’m guessing that six years later, the OP has figured it out.

Maybe, but do we know for sure? There's a chance he's been adding a 1/2 qt then checking it this whole time.

 

[John Cooper]

I’m guessing that six years later, the OP has figured it out.

Some folks just beg for attention, other's just show off their stupidity

 

[Head Lice]

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.

The unasked question here is . . . did you get your oil changed later that evening? Well, did ya'?