Vehicle: 2013 Lexus ES350 125,000 miles
Just had my engine oil changed out at the shop. I brought 7 quarts of Toyota OW-20 SAE fluid and requested the empty bottles back. The shop returned to me 6 empty quart bottles. I drove home, 7 miles (13 minutes) and checked my oil dipstick. I was surprised because there isn't any oil level showing on the dipstick. I rechecked the dipstick and it's still the same - no oil level. What happened? Why isn't there any oil level showing on the dipstick? Appreciate your expertise on this matter!
Are you sure you just can't see it? When I first put my oil in, it is almost invisible because it has no dirt or grime in it.
Use a paper towel to clean the dipstick, then put in back and and pull it right out, then..lay the dipstick sideways on the paper towel and flip it to both sides, if that makes sense, and you may see the oil on the paper towel.
I don't know, I'm not Scotty.
Scotty is not always right. He has been wrong before in the past. And/or he has contradicted himself. I still love the guy, but no one is perfect.
To each their own. I definitely won't check the oil after it's been sitting overnight. The vast majority of oil will go to the sump after 30 minutes. I stick to it.
Did you check it while the car is running? If you did, it's because the oil is in the engine, where it should be. Turn it off on a level surface and wait a half hour to let the oil fully drain, then check it.
No I didn't check it while the car is running. I'll do what you said and recheck it. Thank you.
Your engine would do some serious knocking if the oil drained out while it was running, and the check oil light would be on.
The service manual for my 3 cars just indicate to check the engine oil when it is warm. They mention to wait a few minutes after engine is shut off (so oil can drain back to oil pan) before checking it, not half an hour.
Scotty says to check it after a half hour. It's still plenty warm after a half hour.
30 minutes is nonsense.
Scotty says to check it after a half hour
"can't see the oil level on the dipstick after oil change" .. who has not experienced this?
Why does Scotty suggest waiting 30 minutes? Once an engine is warm, oil can't settle to pan in 5 minutes?
I don't know, I'm not Scotty.
the oil level is showing alittle above max. Is that a problem?
it depends on what "a little" means. We invented measurements for a reason.
I'm estimating the oil level to be about 1/6 inch above the max line (cold). How do I adjust the oil level to the max line?
I'm estimating the oil level to be about 1/6 inch above the max line (cold)
that's the first time I've ever seen somebody use a sixth of an inch.
How do I adjust the oil level to the max line?
crack the drain plug and let some seep out
@mmj “one sixth of an inch”
Yeah, that’s approximately two fifths of a centimeter😁
Your vehicle requires 6.4 quarts of oil to refill when performing an oil change with filter. So assuming that the shop allowed sufficient time for the oil to adequately drain from a warmed engine and then added at least 6 quarts of the oil you provided (returning to used 6 empty bottles, you did not state whether a portion of the 7th quart was used) then the oil level on the dipstick should be at least a bit above halfway between the minimum fill mark and the maximum fill mark, because the maximum fill mark would indicate the presence of 6.4 quarts and the minimum line would indicate a quart lower or 5.4 quarts. If they returned to you the 7th quart unused, then perhaps they rushed the draining process allowing a greater volume of oil to remain in the engine and the oil pan and only 6 quarts was needed reach the max fill mark. Either way there should be fresh oil appearing on the fully inserted dipstick with your car on a level surface whether you check it 2-3 minutes or 30 minutes later, or even cold the next morning.
As @nlord responded, it can be very difficult to see fresh clean oil on the dipstick following an oil change. When I changed the oil in my car recently, I was having such a difficult time seeing the oil level on the dipstick, I used a pair of my wife's reading glasses and voila...there it was!
If you somehow lost enough oil for it not to register on the dipstick from it leaking out, then as @justishepherd said , you would have heard some serious engine knocking when driving home.
Thank you for everyone's feedback. I did check the dipstick later and also the next day - the oil level is showing alittle above max. Is that a problem?
The oil level should not exceed the maximum fill line on the dipstick. I have used a large plastic syringe (60/100ml) with flexible tubing to correct an overfill by inserting the tubing into the dipstick opening until it immerses in the oil, then siphon as needed. Available online at Amazon, Walmart...
I tried to post a link to the product but it would not post. Just search for large plastic syringe with tubing and you should find.