First time oil change

Hey all, so this is my first time doing an oil change on my Tundra. Based on the research I've done, its supposed to take just over 6 quarts of oil, but when I was filling it up, I barely got to 4 quarts and the dip stick showed full, which makes no sense.

Any ideas on what I should do? Maybe take it for a test drive?

 

I swear I've mentioned this before, I don't think anyone can factually answer your question because you haven't put adequate info in your truck info section. We don't need to know what color your truck is, but We DO need to know which engine you have, V6 or V8. That info, your cab type, and whether you're 2WD or 4WD needs to be saved into your "Vehicle One-Line Description" HERE.

Generally speaking, if you've fully drained all oil out, and removed the filter, and put a new filter on (swab a dab of old oil around the filter seal, and tighten it firmly by hand, no wrench needed), and you have the V8, put in 6.5 quarts, then start the engine.

Don't check the oil again until things have had time to drain after stopping the engine. Pull the dipstick. Wipe it off. Reinsert fully and pull again, then check on the 2nd pull.

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PS - Good job taking on the job of changing your oil. It's an essential thing everyone should know how to do, but I've met dozens of people in my lifetime who believe it's too difficult or intimidating. You obviously stepped up, and deserve some props for that.

 

Actually I prefer to do the job myself. Also I'm a university student, so I can't exactly afford to waste $50 a pop to let the local place change my oil, especially when I have the energy to do it. Also I do apologize for not putting the engine type on here. I do know that it's a V8, its one of those limited extended cab trucks. However, I'll go get the engine type and reply back. If anything, I should've updated that sooner & I'll take the blame on that.

 

The engine type is 2UZ-FE.

 

Hey shifty, just for reference I haven't started up the truck and the oil level is currently here. I'm guessing I'm fine since I used to have a Camry that was one of those oil eaters due to having the wrong pistons in it. However, I figured it's best to upload it just to make sure I'm all good.

 

Awesome. Follow that link up there. Find the 'Vehicle One-line Description" box. Update your truck to 2001 Red Tundra V8 AC then click the 'Save' button.

If you do it once, you never need to add it again, and nobody will need to ask you what engine type or cab type you have when trying to give you help. Everyone here wants to help, help us to help you by updating that field.

And if you wanted to add "2WD" or "4WD" after the "AC" part, that would be helpful too.

I can't read that dipstick as it is. Generally speaking, the 2UZ-FE takes 6.5 quarts of oil. You're not going to get an accurate reading until two things happens:

1. The oil circulates around in the engine for a minute or two
2. You turn off the engine, and give 5-10 minutes for the oil to drain down fully into the pan

At only 4 quarts you're not going to see an accurate reading, in fact, if you start the engine now, 4 quarts isn't even enough to actually register on the stick.

6 quarts will have you registering on the stick, but reading about half a quart low.
6.5 quarts should have you roughly center between the dots on the stick.

I can't reiterate the following important points enough:

• Never trust the reading the first time you pull the dipstick -- ALWAYS pull it, wipe it off, then reinsert ... read the second one.
• ALWAYS fill to the manufacturer spec, and run the engine for 1-2 minutes to allow the oil time to cycle through things.
• ALWAYS give the oil proper time to drain into the pan so you get an accurate reading when you take it, best to wait 5-10 minutes after shutdown.
• ALWAYS doublecheck the following:
  • The pan bolt is tight before calling it a day
  • Check the oil pan bolt head for drips after a couple trips
  • Check the oil level again within a few trips to confirm the level is still between the two dots
• It's also ideal to swap in a new oil pan bolt's gasket at least every 3rd or 4th oil change (here's the part number)

 

What's the other side of the dipstick read? It enters the oil at angle.

ETA if you keep checking the oil level, it's possible you're going to drag some oil up the dipstick tube and it may stick to the dipstick as you are dragging it out, especially at the 'bend'. That can make a side read higher. Give it time to drain again, then do the remove, wipe, insert, remove and read process again. Check both sides. They should be more similar, but if not, take the lower reading.

 

Ah I understand. I honestly didn't know that I was supposed to run the truck for a few minutes for the engine to register it. I guess I'm so used to running with my Prius that I'm mentally used to just getting in and going. Thanks for the heads up.

Also just fyi, I did try pulling the dipstick in & out 3x, but I never ran the engine. Now it totally makes sense why.

 

Yeah, with the 2UZ just make sure you don't run it with less than 5-6 quarts installed.

 

Hey shifty, so a small update: so I wanna say it took maybe around 30 minutes for the engine to finally run all the oil through. I say this because I had to go to work last night with my truck. Now thankfully the truck was able to handle the load all night. I was able to put more in earlier today, but the idea of having to wait so long isn't really ideal when it comes to topping it off. I mean I still have a little bit left in the 5 quart jug, but gonna finish it tonight & then get more at the store tomorrow.

 

Yeah, I mean ... Maybe I mispoke.

If I had the 2UZ-FE in my truck (ok, I do...) when fully drained, using the normal-capacity OEM oil filter (which I use), I usually put in a full 6 quarts at first, it's easier to add a quart than remove it. I don't bother reading the dipstick because I know it'll be wrong.

Then and only then I'll drive on it. Then I'll give it time to drain. I wouldn't drive on it if it had only 5 quarts (or even worse, only 4qt) of oil installed. Even if you had the wrong sized filter (i.e. too small) it's not reducing your overall capacity by a fraction of a quart, so at least 6 is appropriate still.

I don't think you'll get a valid reading on the dipstick even with 5qt of oil. This snapshot is from your owners manual.

1st pic: Clearly. The engine oil capacity in quarts of your engine is 6.5 quarts with the filter installed, straight outta Toyota's mouth.
2nd pic: Steps 1-4 tell you the process to check oil. NOTE: They clearly tell you the space between the low/high dots on the dipstick is 1.6qt total but they don't tell you what the high or low dots are, volume-wise. But, say the high dot is 6.5qt, that means the low dot is 4.9qt so 5qt would barely be up to the low dot *IF* that's the case. 6qt, per my last half dozen oil changes, 6qt will put you about 1/4 - 1/3 above the low mark, so maybe 6.5 is the high.

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Which oil pan did you drain It should be between the dots on the dip stick. You are way high on that dip stick.

Did you use a 14mm or an allen/hex wrench to drain it?

 

I actually read that excerpt from the owners manual as 1.6 quarts between the low and high dots. 1.3 UK quarts with their 20 ounce pints (and slightly smaller fluid ounces), or 1.6 US quarts. Still I wouldn't drive it with less than 5 quarts of oil.

ETA Not even a full 5 quarts.

 

I was thinking it, but almost scared to ask.

 

Shit you're right, stupid part is, I actually circled the 1.6 the first time and got confused when I saw another qt next to the close-parens, so I changed it. Reverting.

Thanks!

 

I've been doing it this way since new in 2001. Warm it up, scooch under the truck on flat ground, remove the skid plate, drain the engine oil and then spin the filter off, when all oil is drained, replace the drain plug with a new OEM gasket and OEM filter. Next pour 6 quarts of oil in the engine, look under the truck to make sure you're not making a puddle. All good, start it up and look for oil pressure. All good, leave it on flat ground overnight and read the dipstick, in my experience it will be slightly low, add oil, 2 oz at a time until you've added up to 1/2 quart which should be at the top mark. Read the front side of the dipstick if the back side is high, it can drag some up the dipstick tube on the back of the stick. Remember YMMV.

 

Which is what (to me) the original reading pic above looks like, because the oil is favoring one side or the other, alternating. (pic in reply #6)

 

I wipe my dipstick after an oil change and insert it in the tube, and the first pull the next morning will look good on both sides, because I guess everything has drained down, including what's clinging to the inside of dipstick tube. The more times you pull it, the more oil gets deposited on the tube walls. My theory at least, but you can't go wrong following the published specs. 6 - 6 1/2 quarts is good. I just like it to the top mark, OCD, sigh.

 

I usually try to get it to just above the middle, knowing 200-300 miles before my next OC, I'll be adding Seafoam in the crankcase. Like you, I always go on a 10-15 minute drive, usually down to the interstate, on the interstate at 7 for 10 minutes at-speed, then back to the house. Figure that's enough to get any sludge into suspension, and have it drain out with the oil. I don't have any science to prove it, but I like the thought anyway.

 

Hey all, so I've been adding a little bit at a time, but overall not trying to like overfill it. Later on today ill finish adding the remainder of the 5 qt jug & then ill go to Autozone & get another qt of oil. But thankfully, the engine has continued to be a tank. If anything, my next focus is doing a radiator flush, but I still need to check the belt to ensure that it's fine.

 

It just shouldn't work like that. You add the recommended amount of oil, check it, top off as necessary and you're done. 5 Qts should have take you to barely the first dot, 6qts is comfortable and 6.5 should take you to full. The whole process from start to finish is 30 minutes tops.

You haven't answered some important questions.
1) Did you look at BOTH sides of the dipstick. You need to take the reading from the side that reads the lowest.
2) Did you drain the right oil? Did you use a 14mm or an allen/hex wrench to drain it? We want to make sure you did not accidentally drain the transmission pan. Though I would expect you to run into shifting issues if you had done that. But we need to verify.

The only other question I can think of is did you remove any bolts at all, or maybe just the oil filter? Oh, and maybe how much oil came out when you drained it? You should have put it into a container for proper disposal, right?

You're running a risk of potentially doing some long term damage to your engine. Or, if you drained the wrong oil, your transmission AND your engine.

 

Oh, and maybe a picture of your oil pressure gauge when the engine is running.

 

I guess I’ll ask the bigger question:

Is there a reason you don’t trust the manufacturer actually knows the oil capacity of the engine? Do you believe they’re lying to you when they say the volume of oil to fill the 2UZ-FE engine is 6.2 quarts without a filter, and 6.5 quarts when using the proper OEM filter?

If you don’t trust the quantity of oil they’re telling you is needed to fill the engine, why in the world would you trust anything that’s in their Factory Service Manual or any other manual?

Furthermore, why ask a forum of strangers for advice, why would you trust us over the manufacturer? Or, when you know many of us change our oil 1-2x per year, why bother to doubt what we’re saying, when you’re asking for help?

Oh wait. I know why.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long for it to click, but it would seem you’re out to troll us all. It explains a lot of the prior threads, replies, behavior.

FWIW, I checked my Haynes and my Chiltons manuals, and both are listing the same volume in quarts that Toyota does.

 

Whether it’s on a Tundra or any other vehicle, changing oil and putting proper amount in has not changed in my life time.

Have been asking myself, has @avoice217 ever changed oil in any vehicle. If not or wasn’t taught properly, I can see his predicament.

While it is basic to many of us, some don’t know that you pull dipstick, wipe dipstick, slowly put back and slowly pull it out. Yes, it sometimes hard to see the level but sunlight helps and trying again may give better results. It’s a basic function but not basic if one has not been taught properly.

Back to peanut gallery

 

OP,

I didn't read everyone's responses like I should have. I also have this problem, over and over again.

When I get a new-2-me car or truck, I buy a notebook preferably with a cover the same color as the vehicle. I keep a log of all maintenance and repairs with date and mileage reading in that notebook. This is a great reference and really helps when it comes time to sale. I make notes on the inside cover: oil brand and type, air filter stock numbers, etc. What size lug nut socket to use, etc.

When I do an oil change, the stated capacity is NEVER correct. Say a truck takes 6 quarts of oil. I put on the new filter, put in 5 quarts. Start and run the engine for a couple of minutes. Turn off and let the oil settle in the pan. Then I check and top off. Then I record the number of quarts I put in.

This may change the next oil change as it depends on what oil filter the store has in stock. Different filters will fit and their capacity may vary a bit. I do oil changes at a 3K interval, maybe up to 5K, and this seems to work for me.

I never fill up the oil based on a set capacity. I always do the "add and check" method to top it off. Come to think of it, I actually drive it a few hundred yards as my garage floor is not level and neither is my driveway. However the local church's lot is flat and if raining I go over to a gas station, park under their cover, ask permission to top off my oil there, and then do the "add and check" method. Asking permission first make a good impression.

I also put a Valvomax oil drain plug onto all vehicles and this seems to speed up the oil change.

ValvoMax Oil Drain System

 

The dipstick on my first Gen has never worked well. Especially with fresh oil. Empty it, change the filter, and throw 6.5 qts in. Don't overthink it.

Also, don't run around town with 5 qts in it

 

I don’t know if I’ve ever posted this on here, but this is what 19 years worth of my truck’s records look like

 

That’s an impressive stack of money right there.

 

That's beautiful