6.5 quarts of oil in a 3.4?

I just had my oil changed. I bring along 6 quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30, and a new OEM oil filter for my 2002 3.4. The shop I go to charges just little enough ($20..) that it's worth it for me to take it there and not deal with doing it myself. But today they told me it needed 6.5 quarts of oil?

Has anyone ever had to put 6.5 quarts of oil in their 3.4? I can't figure out how they needed 6.5.

Last time they rotated my tires they lost one of my lug nuts and put a rusty one on in its place. I might be over this place.

 

A 3.4 (4x4) should only need 5.5 qts. with a new filter.

 

5.5 quarts, check the dipstick

 

Hey Smirk,
I have '03 Tacoma PreRunner with the 3.4 (135,000 miles). I've changed the oil/filter on it since new and I've never put more that 6 quarts in.
Like they said above..about 5.5 quarts

 

I know it's 5.5 from first hand experience. Can't figure out how they needed an extra quart. I haven't checked the dipstick yet ...

 

Ask then how they came to determine this. If it with the dipstick level, you can verify for yourself if it is reading low.

FWIW, the owners manual says 5.5 but 6 will not over fill it. I always put the full 6 in. 6.5 would put it over the full mark on my dipstick.

 

they just want an extra quart of oil for free

 

No way, manual calls for 5.5 but I put the full 6 in, brings it right up to the full mark. I can't stand it being below that like it is with 5.5 lol and it's never hurt anything dumping the whole 6 in but I'm pretty sure 6.5 would be a bad idea in the long run for your head gaskets.

 

They actually gave me the remaining half of the 7th quart ...

And the results are in. .. drumroll please:

The all-telling dipstick confirms there is an extra quart of oil in my truck.

What do I do now? Take it back to the shop?

Stick a hose down in the pan and pull a quart out with a syringe? And then maybe take the extra quart back to the shop?

 

Take it back and show the guy that said it needed 6.5. He will proabably tell you it is fine and wont hurt anything.

I would get a little messy pulling the plug and putting it back in a couple seconds later. Then top off as needed and never go back to that place.

 

you may be able to get a syringe in the dip stick tube and pull some out. just need a thin tube.

or you could stick an air hose in your filler cap and blow some extra oil out the tube

 

Sounds like they lost some of your oil as well. Hopefully they didn't putrusty oil in its place.

 

I'm going to stick some 1/8" clear tube down that hole, use my lungs to pull a siphon/vacuum, and drain a quart into a bucket.

 

Find another shop. The folks at the one to which you went only give a shit about your money. I wouldn't even bother wasting my time to talk to them 'cause it won't do any good.

 

Get a shop vac, put a rag over the hose and have someone hold suction where you add oil. As they are doing this pull the drain plug, have them remove the vacuum for 8 seconds, put the vacuum back on the filler, then put the plug back in. No mess.

 

I did an oil change on a 3.4 Taco recently and if I recall correctly I think I used 6 quarts to fill it to the full mark. It seemed a bit weird to me because the capacities chart indicated 5.5, but it filled it to the full mark so I wasn't going to argue with physical indications. Most likely the filter took the other .5 quarts in my case. Anyways, 6.5 sounds like its over. Depending where it marks on the dipstick, if its a bit over you will be okay. As long as you aren't like 3 or 4 quarts over the full level it won't come gushing out from your seals. Lol. Check the level and do what you feel you must if it bothers you. Best of luck.

 

Mine takes 6 quarts flat. If for some reason, they went a little over (spill, etc) and had to crack a new bottle, they would round up and charge a half quart, even if they only used .10 quarts.

Even so, it's much easier to do it yourself, then deal with a rusty lugnut or begin overcharged. And then, you don't have to worry about anything and your neighbors think you are cool because you're crawling around under your truck looking manly.

 

5.5 quarts fills it perfectly with new yzzd3 filter, no ifs ands or butts about it

 

I've owned 4 different 3.4L Tacomas (4x4). 5.5 has always shown on the low side (though still in range). 5.9 is perfect but I just put in 6 and call it done. It's still shows in the target range. I only use Toyota filters.

Not disputing people, just reporting my experience.

The FSM isn't always correct. For example, it says an Auto Trans drain and fill will yield 2.5 quarts. However my own experience and countless threads on the subject have found it's 3.9 or 4 Quarts. Sometimes things are just printed wrong.