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Oil Capacity - This is Strange?

CrazyCooter

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I've been an automotive tech for almost 30 years and always filled at least to the top side of the OK area on the stick.

I did an oil change on a client's JT last week and 5qts put it at the "Add" mark......of course I put in another 1/2 qt since it wasn't leaving my shop on the "Add" line.

Wtf FCA? Can't make a proper dipstick?
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ShadowsPapa

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LOL - so much concern over someone wanting the oil level to be exactly on the full mark of their dipstick after they change the oil. Even to the point of calling them foolish for wanting it on the full mark. I think I'll go out and add 2 more ounces just to piss someone off.
Imagine if it was something important or that may actually make a bit of difference.
 

ShadowsPapa

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I've been an automotive tech for almost 30 years and always filled at least to the top side of the OK area on the stick.

I did an oil change on a client's JT last week and 5qts put it at the "Add" mark......of course I put in another 1/2 qt since it wasn't leaving my shop on the "Add" line.

Wtf FCA? Can't make a proper dipstick?
Yup - I want it exactly on the mark. The book tells the capacity as close as possible, fill to the mark if you wish, what's the big deal, eh?
The problem in part is the viscosity of the oil, the temperature of the oil, the oil remaining in the filter (and that can vary with old style can filters) and other factors.
I'd bet the FCA number is more typical or average.
 

ShadowsPapa

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I hope all reading this thread understand that the 3.6 in any and all JT's or JL's, per FCA, takes exactly 5 quarts of oil.

IF you pour in exactly 5 quarts of oil and you know you poured in exactly 5 quarts of oil, then there is no reason to, nor would it be prudent to, pour in additional oil. 5 qts. in, is 5 qts. in there, whether your vehicle is on uneven terrain or whatever...

Does not matter if you are a dealership tech, the vehicle owner, a Nurse, Ditch digger, Mechanical Engineer, Farmer, unemployed or whatever and you think you know better... the JT/JL calls for 5 qts. of oil..

Sure, no harm will come to your JT/JL if you throw in an additional .2 qts. of oil or whatever but why would you..
What is that now, 2 or 3 times? You want to be sure everyone does it your way and no other way?
I say the book number is typical, or for those who go buy oil by the quart. It's not a scientific measurement.
I base my comments on 50 years experience on hundreds if not thousands of engines worked on.
 

CrazyCooter

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Maybe they leave a little error in there so when a Canadian does his oil change, he has none left over after installing 5L? :facepalm:
 

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ShadowsPapa

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Yes, I always buy at least 1 more quart, actually, I buy it by the gallon lately. I change the oil, run it, let it sit a couple of hours, check, and if it's not exactly on full, I may add more. This way I know exactly what level it's at and in the coming weeks or months if I check it and it's not on that line, I know it's used some and can more easily track it. If it's down a bit, I bring it back up to the line.

Why so much concern over how people do oil changes and how much they put in as long as they don't over-fill it?

BTW - the dealer ONLY does my JT (I have free changes coming............). I have three other vehicles I service myself.

The shops I worked in we put in by the book - and if it wasn't on the mark, depending on how far it missed the mark, we'd sometimes add a bit more. You don't want customers checking the oil that evening and seeing it down, they'll wonder why you charge them for 5 quarts but it's not full.
 
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CrazyCooter

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I hope all reading this thread understand that the 3.6 in any and all JT's or JL's, per FCA, takes exactly 5 quarts of oil.

IF you pour in exactly 5 quarts of oil and you know you poured in exactly 5 quarts of oil, then there is no reason to, nor would it be prudent to, pour in additional oil. 5 qts. in, is 5 qts. in there, whether your vehicle is on uneven terrain or whatever...

Does not matter if you are a dealership tech, the vehicle owner, a Nurse, Ditch digger, Mechanical Engineer, Farmer, worked on engines for a 100 yrs.. ,unemployed or whatever and you think you know better... the JT/JL calls for 5 qts. of oil..

Sure, no harm will come to your JT/JL if you throw in an additional .2 qts. of oil or whatever but why would you.. why spend more $ then necessary...
You convinced me.......Im throwing my dipstick away! The transmission doesn't need one, why the engine?
 

ShadowsPapa

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LOL - and some wonder where I'd been........
 

jimbom

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This way I know exactly what level it's at and in the coming weeks or months if I check it and it's not on that line, I know it's used some and can more easily track it. If it's down a bit, I bring it back up to the line.
What Papa said here. If you don't fill it up to "a" line, then you have no real reference whether or not it has used oil since the last change ... which really IS the only purpose of the oil stick in the first place. If you choose to use the minimum oil line, well, that's just stupid.
 

jimbom

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LOL - and some wonder where I'd been........
Good to have you back, Papa. You gave us all a scare and had half of us reading the Bumfuck obits daily. ;)
 

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ShadowsPapa

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What Papa said here. If you don't fill it up to "a" line, then you have no real reference whether or not it has used oil since the last change ... which really IS the only purpose of the oil stick in the first place. If you choose to use the minimum oil line, well, that's just stupid.
Well, we could have a system like my 1936 F20 had (sold it a few years ago). Valves on the side of the pan. Make sure it's above the bottom valve but not above the top valve. After a few hours of operation - especially if burning kerosene, and because of the fact you manually lube the valves with a squirt oil can every few hours, you may end up with too much in the pan. In that case, open the top valve and let the excess run out.
 

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Drain, change filter, pour in 5 quarts from a 5 quart jug.

Drive.

Check in a week or so.

If 4.8 or 5.2 bothered anything, there would be a dead pentastar on every corner.

The general public which includes dealers and jiffy lubes is not composed of maintenance lunatics like us who debate this crap on a jeep forum at midnight on a friday.

Most dont give a rip and yet there are still jeeps on the road without blown engines. Its a miracle.

I count myself as a maintenance nut but have realized that these vehicles are designed well and arent so fragile as to warrant the splitting of hairs.

Any one of the recommendations by anyone who has posted to this thread will work brilliantly and is likely a far cry better that what the other 99% of jeeps in the world will ever see.

Of course those owners get more sleep than we do.

Now, lets all have a beer and argue about something important like cigars or scotch.
 

ShadowsPapa

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Drain, change filter, pour in 5 quarts from a 5 quart jug.

Drive.

Check in a week or so.

If 4.8 or 5.2 bothered anything, there would be a dead pentastar on every corner.

The general public which includes dealers and jiffy lubes is not composed of maintenance lunatics like us who debate this crap on a jeep forum at midnight on a friday.

Most dont give a rip and yet there are still jeeps on the road without blown engines. Its a miracle.

I count myself as a maintenance nut but have realized that these vehicles are designed well and arent so fragile as to warrant the splitting of hairs.

Any one of the recommendations by anyone who has posted to this thread will work brilliantly and is likely a far cry better that what the other 99% of jeeps in the world will ever see.

Of course those owners get more sleep than we do.

Now, lets all have a beer and argue about something important like cigars or scotch.
Can I use a gallon and a quart or does it have to be a 5 quart jug?
J/K!!!!!!!!

(had to stay up until 11 to take my next dose of whatever that stuff is - can't take alcohol with it, sorry)
 

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You can use a gallon and a quart. But what will you do with all that lost time?

Opening 2 containers is just too much damn work.
 

Vtur

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I think FCA 5qt is on the safe side. Considered some drains while the oil is hot vs cold and some even let it drains over night as well.

I blew a head gasket on mine first car from overfilled, been filling to between the low and high marks since lol.
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