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Just performed first oil change in car...

XZeroII

XZeroII

Lifer
It's an 03 GrandAm. Book says it requires 5 quarts of oil. In order to get the dipstick up to full, I had to put in about 5.75 quarts. Is this unusual? Basically, I put the 5 in and after running it for 30 seconds, it would not register on the stick. I put another half quart in, ran again for 30 sec. Half full. Put another quarter quart in and ran it, now it's full. I know that the filter takes up some oil, but I thought that was figured into the 5 quarts. Once again, is this so unusual?
 
How long did you let it drain out? If you let it drain overnight, then it might take that extra 3/4 quart.... I can't imagine that you did this though..
 
How long did you wait after running the engine before checking the level?

You should wait at least five minutes after shutting the engine off before checking the oil level.
 
was the car still jacked up when you checked it? if it was on too much of an angle, it would skew the readout... also, too much oil in the engine is not good for it.
 
Originally posted by: Quixfire
How long did you wait after running the engine before checking the level?

You should wait at least five minutes after shutting the engine off before checking the oil level.
Click to expand...

That's what I've always gone by

 
w00t on you first oil change, you are now a man. Congrats!!! Here's your cookie!(4-6 weeks S&H).



Check oil when the car reaches normal operating temp.
 
What engine? Usually the book will tell you how much the motor takes, then add another 1/3 to 1/2 for the filter. But I dont know any 4 or 6cyl OHV car that requires 5+ quarts of oil.
 
If you replaced the filter too, then that's where the extra oil may have gone. But level surface is good.

Check the oil at operating temp? WTF?? That's applicable to the transmission fluid.
 
you'll be fine, but you would probably have made due at 5 even.....going by the book mine says 4quarts, i put in 4.5 after running it for a second or two, too much and it's harder for the pump to work and the filter doesn't do quite as good a job, but it's probably negligable, congrats!
 
I've changed oil before...this is just my car's first change 😉

Anyway, yes the car was level and the engine temp was half-way to normal. It was just odd that it would take so much to show full on the dipstick.
 
Doesen't sound too abnormal.

Just go by the dipstick. And yeah, always wait at least 5 minutes before checking the oil. It takes time for it to all get down into the sump.

Oh, and make sure you're on level ground.
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
What engine? Usually the book will tell you how much the motor takes, then add another 1/3 to 1/2 for the filter. But I dont know any 4 or 6cyl OHV car that requires 5+ quarts of oil.
Click to expand...

My 2000 ford taurus se (3.0L OHV V6) needs around 5.25 quarts to get it at the full mark, when the manual says either 4.5 or 4.75 quarts.

My car hasn't blown up yet, so don't worry about it.
 
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