OIL - help! What is the correct way to check?

The correct way to read the engine oil level is to run the engine until the oil is hot (which usually requires an extended period of driving, not just sitting in your driveway), then turn the car off and wait at least 5 minutes. Or if you like, you can check the engine oil level in the morning, before you start the engine. In any event it appears your engine oil level is excessively high, and you should arrange to have the excess removed.

I'm not aware of a software update required for your car, so pls take a look at the service invoice and see what it says regarding that service.

Regarding your mpg decline, I suggest that you check your tire pressure, as well as having the excess engine oil removed.

 

If the excess oil registers just "a bit", maybe you don't have to worry about it.

If you wish, you can get the excess oil out yourself, if you can remove the oil drain plug. However it will be messy when you try to reinstall the drain plug while oil is flowing out of the hole. An alternative approach would be to purchase a pump that requires inserting a tube into the dipstick hole, to suction out the oil.

I don't see any mention of a software update in the text that you provided above. All that was done was to remove the bottom portion of the accelerator pedal.

 

Between the marks. That's where you want it. Got any tools?
It's easy enough to drain a little out, and then smack the
dealership upside the head for assuming "4 quarts is good enough
for anybody".
.
_H*

 

From the Book of Maintenances, Chapter 2, verses 19-21: And the LORD spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Fillercap, then shalt thou quart to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt quart, and the number of thy quarting shall be three. Four shalt thou not quart, neither quart thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then stoppest thou thy quarting of the Wholly Motor Oil into thine engine, which then being neither empty nor overflowing on thy dipstick sight, shall suffice it." Amen.

 

3.5 works in mine.

 

Too bad fractions hadn't been invented at the time this Holy Book was written...

As with my Prius.

 

I give the tech 3 quarts exactly (synthetic) to put in the engine. I tell him I'll check it later after it's run a bit (and I do). It almost always shows slightly more than half-way between the upper and lower marks.

 

So with 3.5 quarts, what will the dipstick read? Up to the second dot exactly? Or in between the dots? I'm getting confused here.

 

~ 1/8" below the top dimple.

The reason I use 3.5 qt (vs. 3.7 qt which would hit the top dimple) is because when using quart containers, it is easy to pour out 0.5 qt, then save the remaining 0.5 qt for the next oil change.

 

Why not, if you have a hand-operated siphon that will work with the tubing.

 

I believe you can remove the oil filter to empty enough out without draining the sump since the filter is above the pan. Always remember, ..."LESS OIL"...Ask BP. That will be their motto for the upcoming years..

 

An Internet to you, sir.

 

What a coincidence, I just did the exact same thing
you did on the exact same day! In my case, my 2009
had had one previous oil change with dino oil under the
previous owner.

From numerous prior threads on this topic, I surmised
that the diligence of Toyota dealers' mechanics can
be somewhat variable. That is, some will just dump in
4 qts, even though the spec is 3.8 qts. Therefore,
even though the Toyota dealer I use said that they
would fill it precisely to full per the dipstick, and that
they offer Mobil 1 synthetic, I decided to provide my
own. I bought a one gallon container of Mobil 1 5W/30,
removed .2 qt (about 6 oz), and provided that to the
dealer. The Toyota Service Advisor had no issues at
all with this. In fact, he even asked me if I wanted to
provide my own filter (which I did not).

By the way, this turned out to be good economics,
too, as you can see from these dealer prices:

Dino oil/filter change: $32
...using Toyota 0W/20: $42 [not correct oil for 2009]
...using dealer's Mobil 1: $75
...using my Mobil 1: $23 (+$22 for 1 Gal Mobil 1)

What did you pay for your oil change?

I was offered this recall as well, but I declined it.
They made me sign a waiver stating that I would
not hold them liable for a future accident that
might be attributable to the original floormat/pedal.
The recall was not described to me as including
any software update.

--

My prior MPG over lots of miles as displayed on the
MFD was 51.0.

I have only driven the car 70 miles since the change,
but it is showing 52.7 mpg.