How much oil in 3.4's?
 

I just did my first change on the 3.4 and recalled the magic number of 5.5 qts. plus a bit. I used almost 6 and called it good at the advice of the man supervising and holding my beer.

Is that too much such that I should take some out?

Is that as much as most 2000 4-Runners are using?

Thanks for helping an old dog with a new trick.

5.5 for the 3.4

5.5 is the magic number for 3.0's also. At least they are consistant...

What does your dipstick say? Mine likes much closer to 6 quarts than 5.5 and I have heard that same thing from others.

The dipstick says it is dead on the nuts.

This dipstick was leery since it was the first go and that seemed like too much since it was .5 more than "suggested"

Mine is closer to 6 as well :drink:

i use about 6, sometimes a little over.. that's with a filter change. depends on what the dipstick tells me..

-Russell

I would be inclined to go with the dipstick reading. There's not too many ways they can come un-calibrated, unless you bash the bottom of your oil pan in.

However...

Here's what the factory service manual says;

Engine oil - API grade SH, Energy–Conserving II multigrade engine oil or ILSAC multigrade engine oil and recommended viscosity oil, with SAE 5W–30 being preferred engine oil.

Dry fill - 5.9 liters (6.2 US qts, 5.2 lmp. qts)
Drain and refill
w/ Oil filter change 5.2 liters (5.5 US qts, 4.6 lmp. qts)
w/o Oil filter change 4.9 liters (5.2 US qts, 4.3 lmp. qts)

So you are going to have to make the call for yourself.

Thanks Rob, that is hard info. It is just a new animal. The 3.4 is going to take some getting used to.

I swapped filters and put almost exactly 6, it reads fine and that is good by me.

Mine takes just short of 6 qts.

Yep pretty damned close to 6 for me...

six
 

I put an even 6qts in my 3.4 and the dip stick shows about 95% full i guess thats why my trusty mechanic at the dealer used to put 6.25qts in her.

Yep same here, I just throw in all 6 quarts.

I too use all 6. Mine reads right at the top of the high mark which is fine, its better to be slightly overfull than it is to be slightly underfull.

Conventional wisdom says otherwise. Overfull can cause blown seals and an assortment of other problems from excessive blow-by to bent rods. Most manufacturers, when pressed, prefer that you run at or ever so slightly below the full mark on the dipstick. Never above full.

Would you elaborate on which seals are at risk in instances of overfilling? I have heard this myself a few times, but nobody could explain which seals could be blown. From what I understand, the bad thing about overfilling the crankcase is that oil may come into contact with the rotating crankshaft and cause oil foaming. This foam won't lubricate the engine.

I can't speak to which seals are at risk, I have never overfilled my engines and thus never had the problem. But, that wisdom has been drilled into my for as long as I have been wrenching and I have no reason to believe it is incorrect. I have heard of the foaming issue as well, but forgot to mention it.

One online mechanic says the following;

"Minor problems include excess crankcase pressure which can blow out the oil seals or force the oil past the piston rings into the combustion chamber."

So, he is talking about the bottom rings on the pistons that keep the oil out of the combustion chamber.

These might help, at least a little;

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02mar25j.cfm
http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/maintain/l...n_answer3.html
http://www.csaa.com/global/articlede...7C2024,00.html
http://www.landroverclub.net/Club/HT...engine_oil.htm
http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/970228/f3022897.htm

...and many more all say without exception "DO NOT OVER FILL!"

Damn you beat me to it

:(

You obviously didnt pay attention to the whole "slightly" in my post. Everyone that has any engine knowledge knows overfilling is bad, but thats extreme overfilling. If you think running a 5.5 quart system at 5 quarts is any better or worse than running 6 quarts you're wrong, but once again this is one of those posts where you've been wrenching all your life and any overfill is bad. How about the guys that run courses in performance cars and SLIGHTLY overfill to keep constant oil flow, you think they blow out seals regularly, no. The manual says 5.5 quarts but its wrong, mine takes exactly 5.8-5.9 to reach full on the disptick therefore it gets the full 6. Most guys on bob is the oil guy running a 3.4 fill 6, but i guess since you have all those links stating overfilling is bad, we just dont know what we are talking about. :rolleyes:

ur all dipsticks :roll: