Oil quantity for Turbo Engine

[And_44]

Ok, I'm running into some confusion. The manuals all say 4.6 quarts for engine oil. Well, I went and bought a 5 quarts jug of Mobil 1 at Wally World. When I drained the engine oil and put it in another old 5 quart container it just showed 4 quarts, BUT my oil level has always been right on the upper mark of the dip stick. So I thought that was weird so put in the 4.5 quarts anyway, let it sit and checked oil level, was over the 2nd mark...... Ended up draining just the .5 quart of oil to get it back to the upper mark. My question is what would cause me to loose .5 quart of oil storage in my engine? It's oil tight I don't leak or burn. During my 2.5k of oil usage my oil level stays constant and never changing. I've owned the car long enough for 2 oil changes and this has always been the case always 4 quarts. Should I put in the 4.6 quarts anyway and ignore the dip stick I do get mad lifter tick but have just been associating that with 20year old lifters finally showing their age.

 

[SrKegler]

If you put in 5 quarts, the oil level will be above the 2d mark. The new oil filter soaks up and holds about 1/2 quart once the car has been started.

Every engine burns oil. In your case, not much, seems like a new engine. You're using about 1/2 quart an oil change.

 

[And_44]

Sorry for confusion. I have had no oil useage. I was just curious and put in the 4.5 quarts according to the manuals to see where it would put me on my dipstick. Then drained just the .5quarts about 30 min after. Yea, I've had car for going onto 3 months now. Guy said it had a new head and turbo on it. Doesn't leak any oil or burn any. But after some more research and reading on this forum and dsmtalk.com found that the extra unaccounted oil is in my oil cooler. Not to concerned about changing out 100% of the oil now that I know that it at least is accounted for and just .5 quart out of the total 4.5quarts. 4 new quarts of oil should be enough to dilute that remaining .5. Being a 1990 I got the air cooled oil cooler. So when I go to clean my intercooler here in next few weeks probaly will see about flushing the oil cooler too to try and break up any sludge or what not.

 

[talontsi1225]

I cleaned my stock intercooler a little bit ago and it was super dirty! Def. helps!

 

[DSM1G90]

I buy the 5 quarts, but only put 4 in at the beginning of the oil change.

The level will be about inbetween the two marks on the stick.

Then when the level gets down to the "ADD", after a good hundreds of miles, then I shove in that 5th quart to bring it up to the top mark on the stick. A little bit easier to say than fussing over if I put in too much.

Just some old school tricks that I do once in a while.

-DSM

 

[And_44]

Well, 1 week later I check the oil level little under 1 quart low was just above the low mark;( Very weird. No oil leaks. The last week was getting some annoying lifter tick. Topped off the Beast with oil and now only noise is the leaky PoS exhaust manifold. Checked oil next day after topping it off and no change in oil level. So DSM1g90 your tip is now gonna be my standard oil change procedure for this beast. My usual routine is change oil put in what I thought goes in test drive let sit for 5-10min then recheck and call it good until my regular bi-weekly oil check. My VW is easier for oil changes, 5 quarts out 5 quarts in no problem. Only confusion I have is why my first oil change with 4 quarts never ever showed it low on oil but after my 2nd oil change I had the differnce in oil level only after driving for a few days. Was right at 2nd mark on the check I did after the test drive immediatly after change.