Overfilled Oil?

Did my first DIY oil change. Drained the oil, drained filter, changed filter, put drain plug back in, added 6.2 quarts fresh oil. From what I've read online, 6.2 may actually be too much. I checked the dipstick several times but the stick is super annoying to use. I can't get a good read on it. Should I drain a few ounces out just to be safe?

 

Take your dipstick out. Get fine sandpaper, like 600 grit. Sand the stick from the tip to the area that shows oil level. All you have to do is scuff it really.
Then, wipe off the stick and put it back and check your oil! You will be able to see the level clearly as the stick will not be too slick.

 

Warm engine. Let it sit 5 minutes. Pull stick and wipe. Reinsert and pull out. Lay sideways on blue or other paper towel. You will be able to see the oil mark on the paper towel next the unmoved dip stick.

Hope this helps on your gen 3. I use this method on three other rigs at new oil change include my 2014.

ETA: I like the above and will experiment with this next time.

 

I got a used 21 TRD off road with 3K miles a few days ago. I checked all fluids at dealer and of course the dip stick was hard to read. As soon as I got home I scuffed the stick. Works as intended. Takes 30 seconds.

 

Didnt have anything close to 600 handy so I did this with a green Scotchbrite pad . Then wiped the entire stick clean. Works as it should now.

 

What's with all the dipstick talk? The engine has a very specific amount of oil it needs (6.2 qt as per owners manual).

You put the correct amount in.

 

That's the capacity but when you drain there is always oil left in that you can't get out.

 

Uh oh, your first DIY oil change and then trouble reading the dipstick...is there any way possible that you drained tranny fluid instead? It's happened before..

 

There's no need to drain any out. While it's true that overfilling can be bad, that amount would be in quarts not in fractions of a quart. You don't need to be that exacting. There's a reason there's something like a quart and a half difference between the "add" and "full" marks on the stick.

And before someone freaks out, no, I wouldn't let my oil level get anywhere near the add mark before topping it off.

Edit: "Freaks out", does anyone use that expression anymore? Did I just date myself?

 

Ruined...must sell as soon as possible. Preferably at 50% market value as the engine is ruined. By the way I buy ruined vehicles.

 

To get an accurate reading pull the dipstick and wipe it clean. Wait a few minutes, then insert it all the way down. Pull it back out, as straight as you can.
Lay the dipstick flat on a paper towel and drag it towards you. It will leave oil residue on the paper towel (or toilet paper).
This will indicate how far up the dipstick the oil is.
Make sure you wipe the dipstick clean before re-inserting it (no paper towel residue).

 

And that sounds like a PIA. Why not just pull it out....look at it, if it's close.... Good enough. A dipstick is not a precise measuring tool.

 

Read OP's original post. With clean oil it is hard to see the level. I have the same issue after an oil change.

 

2 oz overfilled!!!! Everyone assume the crash position!

 

I did. It's not rocket science. Yes it's sometimes difficult to see. Move it around in the light. If all else fails stick it in your mouth and if it tastes like oil then GTG.

 

With a new engine yes. But when changing oil you never get all of the old oil out. If it calls for 6.2 quarts, I'd put in 6. Start the engine and drive it for a short distance, stop engine and give the oil a few minutes to settle then recheck. You have 2 lines on your dipstick. If the oil level is anywhere between those marks, you're good-to-go.

No reason to add a partial quart. If 6 quarts is at, or below the minimum mark then add a full quart, that will get you up to the maximum level. If anywhere in between drive it and wait until it reaches the minimum level then add another full quart.

If you're over the maximum level mark on the dipstick you might want to consider draining some out. It really depends on how much you're over. If less than 1/8" I'd not worry about it. If the oil on the dipstick is 1/4" or more above the max fill line I'd drain some out.

 

0.2 quarts is ~6 oz. I am pretty sure if you're +/- 6oz out of a total of ~6 quarts you're safe.

 

Try this. Scuff the stick as recommended above. Pull the stick out at night and leave it out all night. That lets the oil in the dipstick tube drain completely. That way it doesn't smear the meniscus and skew the stick reading the next morning. I've owned vehicles since 1972. This dipstick arrangement is the worst among all of them. Why, back in the old days when I was a kid, we pulled the dipstick ONE TIME...and by God, THAT was the reading. You hear me?! None of this finagling around, checking and re-checking oil levels like on these new fancy-schmancy dip sticks. No we didn't! And oil wudn't clear either! It was amber, and it looked like...oil. And we didn't have no fancy phone apps at $2.99/month to check our oil for us while we played Grand Theft Minecraft or whatever like you young whipper-snappers do today. No sir. We did it the hard way. The way it was meant to be! We did it ourselves! With a red shop rag that shoulda' been thrown away last week! Can you believe that?! And you know WHUT? WE LIKED IT THAT WAY! And then we'd go poke ourselves in the eye with a sharp stick! And you know whut? We liked that TOO!

And our oil only had one number on it. Becuz one number WAS ENOUGH!

And back then, sex was safe and racing was dangerous. And your grandma DAMN SURE LIKED IT THAT WAY!

 

I'm sure you are used to sticking things in your mouth. But that doesn't help OP.