Oil Change

[markymo01]

Ok good people,

Had the oil changed today. Checked level before I left the dealership and noticed the oil was about 1/2 inch above the fill line. Is this ok? I've read a lot of posts about over filling, I just want to make sure this is ok?

Thanks

Mark

[efusco]

Depends how much of a stickler you wanna be...
It's really not a problem if it's only 1/2". There could be a slight negative impact on FE...but you probably won't notice.

At the same time, if you want to establish yourself as a customer who gives a damn take it back to the dealer and make them drain it down below the max line.

Better yet, in the future, do your own changes.

[dogfriend]

I'm gonna say 1/2" above the top line is not ok. The manual is very clear that the level should be between the two marks on the dipstick. It can be up to the top mark, but not over.

[Prius 07]

Based on my own personal experience and what I've read on PC I would recommend that you check it (or have them show you the level) when they turn the car over to you. I even had the service manager look it the overfill and after a few visits they have learned not to overfill or I make them take it out.

I take my own Mobil1 and now pre-measure and only give them what I want them to put in 3.5 QTS. This will be just below the mark which they duly note and I can top it off myself.

You're the customer make sure they learn that.

[philobeddoe]

Originally Posted by markymo01

Ok good people,

Had the oil changed today. Checked level before I left the dealership and noticed the oil was about 1/2 inch above the fill line. Is this ok? I've read a lot of posts about over filling, I just want to make sure this is ok?

Thanks

Mark

its not ok

assuming you've left the dealer already
recheck the oil level while the car is cold
if the level is still too high, drain some oil and recheck the level

too much oil is not good

changing the oil in the prius is easy . . . if you're nearby, i'm happy to show you how . . . you're better off doing it right, and doing it yourself

[richard schumacher]

Always check the oil level yourself before driving away from every oil change. It's easy to do. Anyone can make a mistake, and checking can catch many mistakes before they become annoying or expensive.

That will catch mistakes. An option for *preventing* the overfill mistake is to buy three bottles of the proper oil yourself (at Target, etc.) and give them to the oil change people to use. Then there's no chance of an overfill, and that oil is as good or better than you get from an oil change place. Keep a fourth bottle and top off the oil yourself if you feel like it.

[Patrick Wong]

If the oil level is really 1/2" above the top dimple, then the engine probably has ~5 quarts of oil.

[maseace]

FWIW, I changed my own oil/filter, added 3.9 quarts, and my level is almost 1/2 inch above the upper mark.

[markymo01]

5 quarts?

This number seems very high Patrick? I was concerned about the 1/2, so I called my friend who has been a mechanic for 40 years and told him my concern. He has been doing oil changes on Prius's for over 8 years now and told me I had nothing to worry about at all. I trust him because he has been a friend of mine since kindergarten, and one of those kinds of guys you would trust with your life, let alone your car. Has anyone in this forum actually put in the 3.5 quarts of oil and checked the oil level after waiting an hour or so to make sure the oil has settled? I would be willing to bet that a 1/2 inch over amounts to maybe a 1/4 of a quart which will cause no damage at all. My friend told me when you’re a quart or more over bad things can start happening then. I’m a firm believer in scientific research and if someone told me this is wrong, it would be nice to see the proof!

Thanks

Mark

[dogfriend]

I have done several oil changes on my Prius now, having done the 25k service two days ago. I have changed it each time myself (except for the first service, where the dealership overfilled by about 1/4").

I measure out the oil because I use Mobil 1 in the 5 qt containers. I have found that 3.5 qts will put the level approx 1/4 in below the top mark; 3.7 qts will bring it to the top mark. This assumes that you allow 20 - 30 min for the old oil to drain and use a new filter.