How much oil do you add when you change your oil and filter?

[Jeremy Fitch]

I always use the Mobil 1 five quart jug, and always put in the whole jug. Engine runs quiet and no lifter noise at all.

Even before I switched to moble 1 I used Castrol GTX and also used 5 quarts then.


Also I just checked my Haynes manuel and it does say 4.5 qts with filter change for 95-2001 models. But this will not be the first time I have seen info in this manual be wrong.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by BlazerBoyLT98

So when I drain the oil, put on a new filter, then refill with synthetic Mobil 1 out of the 5 quart jug, am I doing something wrong? I am getting so confused!

Nope, you are doing it PERFECT.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by drdd

well I don't have a chilton's ... only a Haynes ... Haynes says 4.5 clearly for Blazer and Jimmy 1995 - 2001. Again, owners manual is vague. However, both clearly stated that capactities are approximate ...

Are you saying you have been overfilling and 4.5 is better?

thoughts? seems to me, an overfilled crank will begin to uneccessarily wear on the seals ... its the next thing vertically "up" after overflowing the pan ...

the owners manual (in so many words) DOES say that "a little bit" over the min mark on the dipstick is satisfactory ... no need to fill to the max ..,

It is vague.

When they went to the newer engines in 1996+, it went from 4.5 to 5.0.

[drdd]

ghg

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

I have that exact Haynes manual to and do you notice that it doesn't break down the difference for the years much?

Well, in 1996+ 4.3L , the capacity went from 4.5qts to 5.0qts. This is going by the Chilton's repair manual which breaks it down year to year. This was also verified by a fried who is a GM mechanic and looked it up for me.

[drdd]

so maybe there's the REAL question ...

do we trust Chilton's, Haynes, the Owner's Manual, or the dipstick ??

seems like Hayne's and the Owner's Manual have at least left themselves an "out" my making things vague ...

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

It is vague.

When they went to the newer engines in 1996+, it went from 4.5 to 5.0.

[BlazerLT]

You trust the one that is more specific.

My owner's manual states the amount to use with a filter and yours should too.

You have to look more closely. They all have the recommended amount when changing the oil and filter.

[drdd]

so are you saying you've been overfilling and 4.5 is best?

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

You trust the one that is more specific.

My owner's manual states the amount to use with a filter and yours should too.

You have to look more closely. They all have the recommended amount when changing the oil and filter.

[BlazerLT]

I was overfilling and putting over 5 qts in to bring it up to the full mark on the dipstick.

4.5qts is the required amount for anything 1995 and older if it is a VIN W.

If it is a VIN Z and older than 95, it requires 5 qts.

[blazee]

My owner's manual and haynes manual both say 4.5 quarts. For those that can't find it, it is page 6-65 in the owner's manual.

When I change my oil I use a NAPA gold filter and a 5 quart jug of Mobil1. After draining the old oil, I pour about 1/4 of a quart of the new oil through to flush it. I then put on the filter and refill with the remaining 4.75 quarts, this puts it right on the full mark.

[gserve]

2000 Blazer LT. Had oil changed by GM Chevy dealer. 4.5 qts dipstick does not read full.

[blazee]

The dip stick isn't suppose to read full with 4.5 quarts. The optimal oil level for an engine isn't an exact number, it is a range. That is why there is such a large cross hatch area. The optimal range is probably about 4.25 - 4.75, so GM recommends 4.5 quarts because this is in the middle. The dip stick has to leave room to gauge the high side of the range as well the low side of the range.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by blazee

The dip stick isn't suppose to read full with 4.5 quarts. The optimal oil level for an engine isn't an exact number, it is a range. That is why there is such a large cross hatch area. The optimal range is probably about 4.25 - 4.75, so GM recommends 4.5 quarts because this is in the middle. The dip stick has to leave room to gauge the high side of the range as well the low side of the range.

Blazee, scan that page fro your manual and post it.

[blazee]

[Fractured1]

Doesn't the oil level change when the engine is hot, as it expands,not sure if this would make much of a difference though...

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by blazee

Ah, that is crankcase only which doesn't include the filter.

5.0 qts is right with filter.