How to determine amount of oil to use?

[roughrider119]

I have a 2004 Honda CRV and a 2004 Honda Civic Si.

I talked to a mechanic in the service department at a local Honda dealer. He said for the CRV and Si, the manual says to use 4.4 quarts. Is there a problem with putting 5 complete quarts in?


Do you guys determine the amount of oil by checking the dipstick during the oil change? Do you follow the factory recommendations? etc.

 

[unDummy]

Yep, I still use the oil dipstick.

 

[BigDenCCMD]

I would follow factory recommendations. The dipstick is not a precise measuring instrument. Unless you're more than a 1/4 inch or so above fill mark don't sweat it.

 

[JDP]

I guess that I may be slightly more *nal about this than some others but if the manual says 4.4 then I put in 4.4... I pour the excess from a 5L jug into a washed, drained and dried 1 liter bottle that I can see the graduations and oil level at the same time and use that for top up between oil changes.

The crankcases of the small engines today are full enough without adding extra oil.

Extra oil in the pan may set up a situation where the oil is whipped into a froth and air in not a lubricant. It also hastens the oxidation of the oil.

I just don't like to take the chance.

JD

 

[jorton]

On these models is the engine oil also the transmission oil? If so, 5 sounds ok. If not, you should pour in only 4 1/2 quarts.

 

[automated1]

I have also found that 4.4qts in my Acura RSX with the 2.0 vtech same as ur civic si likes to take 5 full quarts. If i only put 4.4 even after running it is at the bottom full line. But if i put the full 5 the level comes up to the top of the fill line. I dont think its a problem putting the 5 quarts in. Maybe the 4.4 quarts is without a filter change and 5 quarts with?

 

[Pablo]

An extra .6qt won't hurt anything. That amount of oil in the pan and throughout the engine while running won't churn or foam via crank contact.

I believe keeping oil systems at their max is a good thing in general.

This does not mean 5.5, 6 or 8 qts is even better, though!

 

[doitmyself]

Some vehicles seem to be more prone to "off" dipstick readings if measured while parked on a grade (hill).

My driveway has very tiny grade. When measured here, the dipstick reads almost 1/4" low.

Moved onto my level garage floor, the stick reads exactly full.

Moral of the story. Read and adjust your oil with the vehicle level.