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#192661 - 06/03/02 04:56 PM True oil capacity?
UTJMAC Offline
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Registered: 16/04/01
Posts: 1574
Loc: Nashville, TN
Ok. I know Nissan list the Xterra as taking 3and 1/8 quarts w/o the filter and 3 and 3/4 quart with the filter. Here's my question. Dont all dipsticks have a 1 quart variance? Meaning, if your truck falls below the hatched marks on the dipstick, you can add a full quart and you shouldnt be TOO full. Not that you can read the dipstick in the xterra, but where does the bottom hash begin (volume wise) and the top hash end?

The reason I ask is b/c I was at a nissan dealer today and brought 4 quarts of Mobil 1. I asked for half a quart back after the oil change. He said he put it all in, and if needed the X could take a little over 4 quarts. I wanted to call bulshit, but then thought about the leeway on the dipstick? Anyone know for the answer? What problems could arise from filling too full?
Thanks in advance for the responses.
John
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#192662 - 06/03/02 05:39 PM Re: True oil capacity?
PismoTaco Offline
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Registered: 24/12/01
Posts: 263
Loc: Bakersfield, CA
Why don't you pull out your dipstick and take a look?

If it's a hair over the high mark don't worry about it, but if it is more than that then it could cause problems as in foaming, pressure, and could leak/blow seals and such.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.
-Chris
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#192663 - 06/03/02 05:43 PM Re: True oil capacity?
ILUVMYX Offline
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Registered: 30/12/00
Posts: 5518
Loc: San Diego, CA
3 1/2 is correct, but a half a quart over isn't going to hurt anything.
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#192664 - 07/03/02 05:21 AM Re: True oil capacity?
UTJMAC Offline
Member

Registered: 16/04/01
Posts: 1574
Loc: Nashville, TN
Quote:
Originally posted by PismoTaco:
Why don't you pull out your dipstick and take a look?

If it's a hair over the high mark don't worry about it, but if it is more than that then it could cause problems as in foaming, pressure, and could leak/blow seals and such.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.
-Chris
Have you ever checked the oil on an Xterra? The dipstick sucks and is about impossible to read. It uses a small wire to snake its way into the engine and then a small inch and a half incicator on the end to tell oil level. The only problem is, with all that snakeing through the engine, the inidcator ussually gets oil on it, and its near impossible to tell level. I put 3 quarts in my X one oile change and the dipstick looked like it showed full(which it was not). On any other car, I'd agree with you. But the dipstick on the X is about useless.
John
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#192665 - 07/03/02 06:34 AM Re: True oil capacity?
ChuckH Offline
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Registered: 27/02/01
Posts: 5206
Loc: Seattle, WA
I gave up on reading mine about a year ago. Couldn't decide which of the four sides had the correct answer. Now I just figure if there's oil on it, I'm good! smile
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#192666 - 07/03/02 09:05 AM Re: True oil capacity?
PismoTaco Offline
Member

Registered: 24/12/01
Posts: 263
Loc: Bakersfield, CA
Quote:
Originally posted by UTJMAC:
Have you ever checked the oil on an Xterra? The dipstick sucks and is about impossible to read. It uses a small wire to snake its way into the engine and then a small inch and a half incicator on the end to tell oil level. The only problem is, with all that snakeing through the engine, the inidcator ussually gets oil on it, and its near impossible to tell level. I put 3 quarts in my X one oile change and the dipstick looked like it showed full(which it was not). On any other car, I'd agree with you. But the dipstick on the X is about useless.
John
Thanks for the info, I see what you mean now. wink
-Chris
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#192667 - 07/03/02 10:08 PM Re: True oil capacity?
Kerensky97 Offline
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Registered: 12/03/01
Posts: 3385
Loc: Utah
Quote:
Originally posted by UTJMAC:
The only problem is, with all that snakeing through the engine, the inidcator ussually gets oil on it, and its near impossible to tell level.
I never have any problem, just wipe the cross-hatched area clean and check there.

The cross-hatches keep the oil in the same place so you can tell more easily.
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#192668 - 07/03/02 10:27 PM Re: True oil capacity?
OffroadX Offline
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Registered: 17/08/00
Posts: 13692
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Quote:
Originally posted by UTJMAC:
[QBThe only problem is, with all that snakeing through the engine, the inidcator ussually gets oil on it, and its near impossible to tell level.[/QB]
How would the dipstick get any oil on it other than down in the pan where it's supposed to get oil on it? Oil doesn't flow up into the tube it snakes through. You might drag a drop or two up into it as you pull it out to wipe clean, but it won't be enough to screw up the reading when you re-insert to get the reading.

Brent
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#192669 - 08/03/02 06:06 AM Re: True oil capacity?
UTJMAC Offline
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Registered: 16/04/01
Posts: 1574
Loc: Nashville, TN
Quote:
Originally posted by OffroadX:
How would the dipstick get any oil on it other than down in the pan where it's supposed to get oil on it? Oil doesn't flow up into the tube it snakes through. You might drag a drop or two up into it as you pull it out to wipe clean, but it won't be enough to screw up the reading when you re-insert to get the reading.

Brent[/QB]
I have no clue. But the times I try to read my oil level, it is a damn guess in my opinion. I just want to make sure I dont overfill. Like I said earlier, I put in 3 quarts after draining it, and it seemed like it was too full already by looking at the dipstick.
John
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#192670 - 08/03/02 08:52 AM Re: True oil capacity?
kandacarlson Offline
Member

Registered: 03/02/01
Posts: 280
Loc: United States
I always change my own oil, and 3.5 quarts always gets it pretty close to perfect with the filter change.

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#192671 - 08/03/02 11:21 AM Re: True oil capacity?
Griffin2020 Offline
Member

Registered: 17/04/01
Posts: 1328
Loc: D/FW Metroplex, TX
Quote:
Originally posted by kandacarlson:
I always change my own oil, and 3.5 quarts always gets it pretty close to perfect with the filter change.
As do I , and the only reason I pull the dipstick after filling and checking for leaks is to see the pretty, clean Mobil1 on it.....
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#192672 - 08/03/02 01:22 PM Re: True oil capacity?
OffroadX Offline
Member

Registered: 17/08/00
Posts: 13692
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Quote:
Originally posted by UTJMAC:
I put in 3 quarts after draining it, and it seemed like it was too full already by looking at the dipstick.
John
Change the oil and filter, dump in 3.5 quarts of oil, run the engine a short while, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes. The level shown on the dipstick is your target, regardless of what the markings say. If the dipstick is 1/4" too long for some reason, it will read higher, but that doesn't mean you have too much oil in the crankcase now does it?

Brent
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#192673 - 08/03/02 03:49 PM Re: True oil capacity?
silverxglider Offline
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Registered: 16/08/00
Posts: 1673
Loc: Andes, NY
Also, if you're not parked really level, the dipstick reading may be a bit off one way or the other. I wouldn't get too crazy about it.
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#192674 - 04/04/02 09:56 PM Re: True oil capacity?
Bruce Amacker Offline
Member

Registered: 03/02/02
Posts: 24
Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
It's not a good idea to overfill it. My '91 3.0 Pathy (same engine family as my X) will tick on startup when it gets a 4 quart oil change. It's 3.5 for me.
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#192675 - 05/04/02 07:54 AM Re: True oil capacity?
Cygnus-X1 Offline
Member

Registered: 15/02/01
Posts: 1976
Loc: Alexandria, Virginia
Quote:
Originally posted by OffroadX:
Change the oil and filter, dump in 3.5 quarts of oil, run the engine a short while, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
Brent
Where'd the 30 minutes come from???? The oil will drain back down into the pan in like 2-3 minutes. No need stand around for 1/2 an hour just to check your oil.

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#192676 - 05/04/02 09:47 AM Re: True oil capacity?
OffroadX Offline
Member

Registered: 17/08/00
Posts: 13692
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Can't hurt now can it?

Brent
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