Oil change mystery

Last Sunday I changed my engine oil in my 2018 5.7 lit Tundra. I changed it like I always do in my driveway up on my ramps. I drained the oil, changed the oil filter, put in 8.5 qts of oil. My driveway is on an upward incline, and I face the truck forward up on ramps, meaning the front end is higher than the rear end. After finishing, I drove the tundra down the road to a level place to check the dip stick. It was way over full, like two inches above the full mark! I brought the truck home and drained about 5 quarts of oil out to get the level at the full mark!
I couldn't believe it, this didnt make any sense.
The only thing I did different for this oil change from the others was I didn't let the motor warm up. It hadn't been run in a day, so I simply drove the truck up my ramps and then proceeded to change the oil.
Does this overfilling make sense to anyone? I'm stumped.

 

So you had the nose of the truck way up. Between the ramps and the incline there must have been a lot of oil trapped inside the engine. Since you've done this same procedure before, that's not likely.

Or, heaven forbid, you drained the transmission fluid. That's been done more than once.

 

Curious too if maybe you accidently initially drained the trans fluid instead of the oil. Hope that's not the case.

 

Is it possible you were misreading the dip stick? I've found the dipstick on the 5.7s tends to have oil drops well up the dipstick above the actual oil level. This effect seems worse when checking it after the motor has been running, but still doesn't seem to correct itself fully even with the motor sitting overnight. I'll typically wipe the dipstick, check it again, and perhaps repeat that 2-3 times. This seems to remove most of the stray oil drops further up the dipstick (as the dipstick seems to pick up more stray drops from the tube the first and second time I check the oil) and helps me tell where the true oil level sits at.

My theory about this phenomenon is that something about the orientation or positioning of the 5.7's dipstick/dipstick tube causes turbulent oil in the pan to splash up the tube on the dipstick (above the actual oil level in the pan) and then the angle of the dipstick when inserted isn't vertical enough for all those drops to run back down.

 

You're right, it doesn't make sense. How much did you take out?
My old driveway was on an incline so I backed my truck up the driveway so when on the ramps it was almost level.

 

Don’t drive the truck until you check the transmission fluid level. This has happened to several members here before.

 

Assuming that you did indeed originally drain the engine oil and fill the engine oil.

You drained 5 quarts out of it? DO NOT DRIVE that truck.

If it was me I would get the truck reasonably level (using jacks) and drain the engine oil. All of it. And while it's reasonably level dump in 8.0 quarts. Warm the engine up. Drive around for ten minutes. Get on LEVEL GROUND, turn off the engine and let it sit for a good ten minutes so the engine oil settles and check the dip stick. If it is like my 2017 you should need just under 0.5 additional quarts to get it right snug up to the upper full line.

Meanwhile >>>>>

 

I’ve never understood the add some oil, then check it, then add the rest. If it calls for 8.5qts, put 8.5qts in and be done. If it’s a smidge under or over the full mark it’s fine.

 

8 always puts me 2/3 up between low and full. Good enough for me.

 

The first time I changed the oil I checked the level and then wrote the required amount on the white board in my garage. Now I just put in the same amount.

 

That's ^^^ what I do. 8.5 goes in. The cap goes on. And I drive on for 5,000 miles. I never even check it.

OP appears to need some guardrails to get it right.

 

I had a senior moment once when I thought the jugs of Royal Purple were 4 quarts so I poured both of them in for a total of 10 quarts.

 

A mechanic told me that a quantity of oil is contained up in the upper portion of the engine, to avoid a dry start in that portion of the system. But the 5 quarts over, is crazy...thx

 

Nope, it was the crank case oil. thx

 

I know exactly what you are talking about, it wasnt that. I literally had to dump out 5 quarts of oil to bring the level down to the full bubble on the stick. thx

 

I literally measured 5 qts of oil that i dumped to bring the level to the last bubble on the stick. thx

 

I definitely learned my lesson about doing this on level ground and warming up the truck first. This is the first time that I really didn't warm the engine. thx

 

Question for all of you who just blindly put in 8.5 qts, do you measure how much comes out when you drain it? Because, if you're not getting the same amount out then you are gradually over time going to be over full.

 

Great point, easy to make that mistake... I buy the 5 quart jugs from walmart. I put in one full jug and all but 1.5 qts from the second jug. thx

 

I've never measured oil coming out ... I normally short fill between 1-2 quarts then start her for a minute, shut it off and add as required. I also check the oil level first thing in the morning afterwards.

 

Vehicles can "use" Oil over the period of time between oil changes. Some gets ingested through the PCV system. Some burns off as cylinder lubrication, some may be leaking out. The proper level is to the top of the dipstick. Doesn't matter if less came out than goes in.

 

Then my question does not apply to you. This is only directed towards people who just blindly put in 8.5 qts.

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. But, for example, if you drain your oil on a less than level surface and then just blindly pour 8.5 qts in, what if you only removed 6 quarts? Now you're over full. Or what if you're burning .5 qt per oil change but only getting 7 quarts out and then still adding 8.5 qts. Over time you will be over full.

 

The. Dipstick.

 

Dude you’re not paying attention. There are people on this thread saying they just pour in 8.5 qts without ever looking at the dipstick.

 

I dump 8.5qts in, check it to make sure it’s where I want it, and then drive it. +/- .5qt ain’t gonna hurt it. It’s just an oil change. Don’t overthink it.

 

My experience with the Tundra and Sequoia is that both are quite sensitve to being level for accurate readings. Depending on how I park on our driveway, it can swing from full to low.

However, 5 quarts simply does not make any sense. I think the difference in low vs full is around 1.5 quarts.

I start with 8 quarts, then will run the truck a bit, turn it off and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then recheck level. Sometimes I'll need to add a little bit.

 

any update to the mystery ? @marconewt

 

I came to using 8.25 qts and oil is right at center of lines on dipstick yesterday. Pretty OCD about that.
No jacks, just worm my old ass under.