How Much Oil after Oil and Filter Change?

[clevo]

I hate to ask such a basic question, but I would like to compare notes: How much oil do you put in your 3.4 L after an oil and filter change? I have 1995 Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4 L, and I swear I must have the wrong dipstick for that engine.

I just changed the oil using a NAPA 1036 oil filter (its almost 3" in diameter and nearly 5" high). Owner's manual says 5 quarts with oil and filter change. There are four holes in the dipstick, with fourth one being the "full" mark. After adding 61/4 quarts, the oil level still has one more hole to go to get to full. And this is after letting the car sit for 15 minutes. It was a used car, so who knows, I guess I could have the wrong dipstick.

Anyway how much oil does it take to get your 3.4 back to full after an oil and filter change?

[Lyle's GTP]

RE: How Much Oil after Oil and Filter Change?

That doesn't sound like my dipstick. Maybe go buy a new one for your car just to be sure. My car takes 6 quarts total. That is right after running to fill the filter. So, if I let it drain down for a while it is a little over full. But I'd rather do that then have a bunch of 1/4 full containers of oil.

Lyle

[clevo]

After I drain the oil and change the filter, I add oil and run the engine. Then let it drain and check the oil level. I ended putting 6 3/4 quarts in it to get to the "full" mark, which just seems like a lot of oil to me.

6 quarts sounds about right to me, too, not 6 3/4 quarts. As I said, I'm not the original owner, so I suppose it is possible the engine somehow ended up with the incorrect dipstick.

[series8217]

Its also possible for the dipstick tube to shift up out of the block if the bolt is loosened or someone just didnt knock it down all the way when they installed it.

[clevo]

series8217's idea about the dipstick tube might explain why the lower front of the engine from the starter back to the transmission pan is covered in a film of oil.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[clevo]

The engine has 63/4 quarts of oil in it. I bought another dipstick. Comparing the two, I find that:

Dipstick that came with the car (I bought the car used) shows oil at full mark
New dipstick from dealer: shows oil level is past the full mark

Assuming I've been running the engine with the crankcase overfilled by 3/4 quart, what kind of damage would this have caused to the engine?

[Scott205]

I don't know about a 95, but my 92 and 94 say 5 quarts without a filter and 5.5 with. Personally my 92 has always taken 6, and the 94 takes 5.75. I think the oil cooler adds some to the 92. Even the 92 with the brand new 96-97 take about 5.75.

[93Oldsdroptop]

Wife's 92 3.4: 6.5 qts (Has oil cooler)

My 93 3.4: 6 qts (No oil cooler)

[clevo]

Alldata.com says the car takes 5 quarts of oil, more if you change the filter. If that information is correct, then 6 3/4 quarts of oil seems like too much. But after reading 93Oldsdroptop's post, who knows?

The car does have a faint odor of oil burning (as in oil dripping on a hot manifold). I'm thinking if I go with the replacement dipstick, and reduce the amount of oil in the pan, the burning odor will go away. What do you guys think? And any ideas on if I could have damaged the engine by having too much oil in it?

[Kohburn]

excess oil can cause oil to go through the pcv system into the intake (or more so tha it does with most cars) it can potentially cause foaming - and it almost asuredly will cause a reduction in power..

but i doubt any permanent damage was done -

[sunny_8]

I have a 95 3.4L Olds and when doing oil and filter I only put in 5qts. Nothing more...the car manual says 5qts

[Scott205]

the new 96 motor actually took exactly 6 this morning when i changed it. I have to think anything more than 6.25 without an after market oil cooler is too much.