Oil Change Mystery?

Jiles · Jun 20, 2015

I recycle all my used oil. I drain and store in a 15 gallon drum and sometimes find it is full.
In that situation, I drain oil and store in the 5qt. jug.
Why is it that there is never 5 qts. drained but it takes 5 qts. to fill? Engine showed to be full on dipstick before and after oil change, with engine cold. I have noticed this with different vehicles.
There seems to be over a pint less oil, but I have never measured it.

Bob · Jun 20, 2015

Crush the oil filter and catch what squeezes out.

Jiles · Jun 20, 2015

(quoted from post at 20:22:05 06/20/15) Crush the oil filter and catch what squeezes out.

I always drain oil filter overnight with it upside down and include that oil. Amount of oil contained in oil filter was there before and after oil change, so the small amount of oil still in filter is trivial to the amount I am discussing.

TomH in PA · Jun 20, 2015

Next time you fill it, hold back a pint and check the dipstick. Ten add the last pint and see if you see any difference. My guess is that it's just a round-off error

old · Jun 20, 2015

Very simple the oil filter holds some oil and even if you try to pour it out you do not get it all out.

Jiles · Jun 20, 2015

(quoted from post at 21:29:38 06/20/15) Very simple the oil filter holds some oil and even if you try to pour it out you do not get it all out.

"Very simple" here is the oil filter.

Bob Collins · Jun 20, 2015

After you have drained the filter overnight, punch a hole in it and see how much more comes out. It may surprise you.

Mark - IN. · Jun 20, 2015

That filter doesn't look like it holds 2 quarts to me.
Chevy

37chief · Jun 20, 2015

If you are like me, the missing oil is on my arm, or on my rug I use to slide under a vehicle. No mater how careful I am I always manage to spill some. Stan

cool hand · Jun 20, 2015

Surely, in several thousand miles of engine running, just a tiny bit of oil is escaping into the combustion chambers and burning?

Jiles · Jun 20, 2015

I change oil at 6K never been low. Exactly on the full mark with cold engine on level concrete. Newer engines are amazing, never thought I would see that!!
I measured, and it took 23oz. to fill to the level of new oil.
I think it is a combination of a couple of ounces of oil still in the old filter and maybe 20 oz. of oil would only raise the oil level a tiny amount.
Most engines today, don't hold 5 qts. of oil, so the oil pan has to be bigger. If engine held four quarts, 20 oz. would make a noticeable increase above full.
I am sure you know I am not going to loose any sleep over this, just curious.

old · Jun 20, 2015

Looks like it is new. I have had oil filters leak oil out of them 2 weeks after I had them off

showcrop · Jun 21, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:19:15 06/20/15)

(quoted from post at 21:29:38 06/20/15) Very simple the oil filter holds some oil and even if you try to pour it out you do not get it all out.

Click to expand...

"Very simple" here is the oil filter.

WOW! how do keep that huge pair of glasses on your head?? LOL.

Don-Wi · Jun 21, 2015

My wife drives a 2010 Town & Country-it burns about a quart of oil or a little more between oil changes. Asked several guys I know who have similar vehicles and they all say "yep, mine does that too"....

So not all new vehicles don't use any oil between changes. I know my 03 passat uses some, but not enough to worry about topping off.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Oil Change Mystery?

Jiles

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Bob

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Jiles

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TomH in PA

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old

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Jiles

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Bob Collins

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Mark - IN.

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37chief

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cool hand

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old

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