Hi Gang:
I want to ask a question that's been bugging me since I bought my Maxima in 1995. I learned at the first oil change that the specified refill for oil and filter change of 4 5/8 US quarts puts upwards of 1/4 to 1/2 the distance between the L and H mark on the dipstick ABOVE the H line. So, for 22 years now, I have filled it just to the H mark during oil changes and make sure it is at that point when the engine is stone cold. Filling to this point requires about 4 qt or so - although it may even be 3.9 (I need to measure carefully next time). Now I will also add that the manual, like I know has been discussed here, in my case specifies to check oil after engine up to operating temperature and waiting more than five minutes but I have done the experiment suggested in other threads of checking stone cold vs. following these directions and have found basically no difference in dipstick level. Therefore, it doesn't seem that this would account for the 5/8+ US quart difference in specified oil. Finally, nothing has ever gone wrong with the engine - the oil light has never come on even with the level approaching L. Any thoughts about this? The dipstick appears to be in perfect condition (not slipping up or down in the grommet base, unless there has always been something wrong with it). Could the refill oil + filter spec in my owner's manual be a misprint and perhaps indicate what one might have to add to a completely drained engine (if in fact draining the oil through the drain plug would leave behind 5/8 qt.)
I want to ask a question that's been bugging me since I bought my Maxima in 1995. I learned at the first oil change that the specified refill for oil and filter change of 4 5/8 US quarts puts upwards of 1/4 to 1/2 the distance between the L and H mark on the dipstick ABOVE the H line. So, for 22 years now, I have filled it just to the H mark during oil changes and make sure it is at that point when the engine is stone cold. Filling to this point requires about 4 qt or so - although it may even be 3.9 (I need to measure carefully next time). Now I will also add that the manual, like I know has been discussed here, in my case specifies to check oil after engine up to operating temperature and waiting more than five minutes but I have done the experiment suggested in other threads of checking stone cold vs. following these directions and have found basically no difference in dipstick level. Therefore, it doesn't seem that this would account for the 5/8+ US quart difference in specified oil. Finally, nothing has ever gone wrong with the engine - the oil light has never come on even with the level approaching L. Any thoughts about this? The dipstick appears to be in perfect condition (not slipping up or down in the grommet base, unless there has always been something wrong with it). Could the refill oil + filter spec in my owner's manual be a misprint and perhaps indicate what one might have to add to a completely drained engine (if in fact draining the oil through the drain plug would leave behind 5/8 qt.)