2010 Oil Level on stick V.S. Owners Manual 4.4 Quarts specs

One suggestion would be to remove and replace the filter. The empty filter usually takes up to 1/2 quart to fill. Then you could recheck the dipstick and find out how much oil, if any, you may need to add back.

There was a discussion on here about changing the filter without losing oil. Someone on here had done this and verified that the filter was above the level in the oil pan.

 

I figured it would be easier to just drain the oil since I don't have a filter and would probably order some and then have to wait.

 

If you leave the car set on a level place for several hours you can check the oil buy pulling out the stick and looking before you reinsert it, no smears.

If you don't want to take it back and have a little removed you can drain some out of the filter as JD suggests. You don't have to remove the filter just loosen it until the oil starts running out one of one of the slots. There are two slots in the filter cap and when the cap is out far enough the oil will drain out of the filter housing through them when they are on the bottom.

It will only drain what is in the housing, about 1/2 quart or less. No need to replace the filter or even completely remove it. Torque for the filter cap is only 18 ft lbs.

Another idea would be to buy one of those suction pumps they sell in auto parts stores that suck the oil out through the dip stick tube. Some people actually change their oil that way.

 

I have one and it's useful. Just be sure one will work on your car before you buy one. It worked like a champ on my VW, on my Corvette, the dipstick tube is configured so that you can't fit a useful sized tube down it.

 

Why would you want it to the top dot anyway. That is the extreme max amount of oil. I had mine 1/4 inch above the dot and lowered it to the dot and both gave me inferior fuel economy. Removed additional oil down to the midpoint between min and max and now get excellent fuel economy. You decide.

 

I did check with the twist action that someone described earlier. It is not over but right at the top, from what I am reading that is still really too much. I will have to buy the filter tool and all the other jive to go the filter route but it does seem like it would be easy and would probably put it perfect.

 

It's relatively easy to remove any amount you want through the drain bolt. Just back it out, over a pan for insurance, and then when it's almost threaded out back it out really slow, till you're able to rock it and get a thin trickle. Just keep it pressed in there. Drain into an old pickle jar or similar, something with gradations on the side.

Once you get as much out as you want screw it back in and torque. Don't sweat re-using the washer.

I would also not sweat if the oil level is right at the full mark. IMHO that will do until next fill if your ideal is to have it a little lower.

 

Just came back from the dealer and they put in 4.04 L (4.27 Quarts) of oil which makes it at the high mark or just a smidge above the high mark on the dipstick.

They gave me the the 5th bottle with about 0.74 L of oil left.

I don't believe this is a cause for concern. I'll see how my car behaves as far as MPG is concerned.

 

Should the second paragraph say 0.74 quart left?

I found after recently doing oil-and-filter change (myself) with 4.0 liters, the level on the dipstick was about 1/4" below high mark.

Also, how the heck are you gleaning these 1/100'ths of a liter/quart measurements, LOL.

 

OK wait I have a small math error, but here goes the correct and full calculation:

4 * 946 mL + (946 mL - 740 mL) = 3990 mL = 3.99 L filled

0.74 L is by eyeballing the level in the bottle. There is a translucent portion where you can see the level against the marks/graduation. They have both fluid ounces and deciliter intervals. It's easier to read the metric units. I can see it is 4/10ths between the 7 and 8.

The dipstick is high, which means they did not drain the pan fully.

[In the interest of thoroughness, not all the bottles were emptied 100%, so the actual amount filled is slightly less than 3.99 Liters.]

 

I'm not a metallurgist, but I know that the purpose of oil in the crankcase is to provide lubrication and engine cooling. As it is, the Prius uses the lowest viscosity oil you can buy -- 0W20. I ran my old VW on Castrol 20W50! With the oil having such low viscosity already, I don't agree with your ideas of keeping the crankcase at less than full. If you're concerned about longevity and taking the best care of your car, sacrifice 0.01 MPG and use the recommended amount of oil, which is the top mark on the dipstick.

(This concludes this week's sermon).

 

The "recommended" oil level is somewhere close to the middle between the two marks, preferably a bit closer to the top, assuming some oil consumption.

 

I keep pretty close track of mine when I change the oil. If I let it drain for a while I find it takes about 4.3 quarts to bring it up to within an 1/8 inch or so of the top mark. If it were only half way between the marks I would add a little.

Owner's manual lists the oil capacity as 4.4 U.S quarts or 4.2 liters for refill with filter change.

 

The accuracy of dipsticks should be taken into consideration before getting too concerned about rated oil capacities vs dipstick markings.
.

Considering the things that get involved with dipstick indicated oil level.

Tolerances:
Location of dipstick marking on the stick
Location of the stopper on the dipstick
Length of dipstick tube
Depth of tube hole in block
Location of tube hole in block
Volume of oil pan
Depth of oil pan
Amount of oil left in the engine when it was drained.
Slope of ground when oil level is checked.
How much oil ran back into the engine before the level was checked.

I find it rather remarkable that dipsticks usually agree within about 1/4 quart.

 

OT-

If I remember correctly you too have the Primacy MXV4 tires. I am getting the exact same mileage right now on the highway as you are. It's just the way it is with these tires. 40 in town, 45 on the highway.

I've had my oil overfilled before, and I've tried slightly under the full mark, and have yet to notice any difference in fuel economy.

They are supposed to bill out 5 quarts because they charging by quarts. I've seen some shops charge by pint but that is not common.

Even if you fill the oil to the full mark, or a hair below, it is not uncommon for it to smear in the way that you describe if you do not pull the dipstick out straight enough.

 

Ditto here on mpg with the Primacy MXV4 tires. Great tires in every other way except mpg.

I keep my oil level about halfway between the two dimples and use only 4 quarts on refills.

 

If I am not mistaken, there are threads on PriusChat about various oil levels and its effect on MPG. From studying these threads I have used 4.25 quarts since new and that leaves the oil level a .25 inch below full. I think for my Prius this seems to work well as the MPG since I purchased it is 55.1(52.2 measured). It is a V with 17" rims. I remember reading that overfill is going to hurt MPG. Probably 4 quarts would be enough oil, but I have elected to use 4.25 with great results.

 

Hi rebound. There's plenty of reserve capacity in the sump, it's not all being used for lubrication at any given time. So there's no difference between how well the engine is being lubricated whether the oil is at the top mark or whether its about half way. Think of it like your gas tank. Your engine doesn't start starving for fuel just because your gas tank is only half full does it. You still get exactly the same amount of fuel delivered to where it's needed whether the tank is full or only half full.

Having said that I have to admit that I prefer to be near the full mark on the dipstick. It's just a matter of safety for me, you never know when you could get a slow oil leak so more oil buys you more time to notice it. But we shouldn't obsess over whether it's on the mark or whether its a 1/4 of an inch below, it's basically irrelevant. Anyway, it's better to be 1/4" under the full mark than 1/4" over, especially given the tolerances that xs650 refers to.

 

Are these 4 qts in addition to the new filter pre-filled with oil before installation? The dealer overfilled my Camry Hybrid by a quart of a quart but I want to just give him 4 qts for the Prius at the next OCI.

 

^ I'd say no. Actually, I can't see how you'd prefill the filter on a Prius, the casing is horizontal. I've never bothered with this, with various vehicles. Put in fresh oil, start engine, oil pressure warning light (if present) goes out in a matter of seconds. 4 Quarts will likely get you mid-way between the marks, depending on how fanatically you drained, levelness, and so on. FWIW, it always seems a little lower for me, fresh after changing oil. But after a day or so, rechecking shows it a bit higher.

Last change I did 4 liters, then maybe 4 oz more, and it was just under full line a day or two later.