Engine Oil

[intrigued00]

Question: 2000 Intrigue 3.5L The other day i stopped to get gas, checked the oil after letting it sit about a minute or 2, and it was about a quart down, i feel like i let it sit long enough, so i put about 1/2 quart in making sure not to over fill it. Drove it home and checked it again, this time not letting it sit, simply turning it off getting out and checked it, and it looked a little high, i also noticed an air bubble on the dipstick, (very small but disturbing) now i may be stupid and simply never noticed a bubble on my dipstick before, Did i see a small bubble because i did not let it sit long enough or because i overfilled the oil and it is foaming. Now i have read that overfilling hurts seals and causes oil to foam, is that bubble the beginning of foaming? After placing the dipstick in and checking twice the oil was smooth with no bubbles so i don't know what to think. Do you think i hurt my engine, i have now driven it 200 miles and have not noticed anything, let me know your opinions? Can the crankcase hold a little bit over the 6 quart max? Thanks guys

[panzer dragoon]

my 2000 Intrigue uses about 1 to 1/2 quart of 5W30 every 3000 miles. The extra little bit of oil shouldn't hurt. But to much oil could blow a seal. Usually the engine will just smoke tremendously (78 Camaro 305) but with a fuel injected engine with sensors+injectors+computer it could cause alot more problems for you.

With the Intrigue be very careful with adding transmission fluid. Make sure you read the book for the proper procedure, otherwise it will look like you are 5-7 pints to high. I'm used to the older 2 and 3 speed transmissions (TH350 etc) and I was shocked that the fluid was that high. Then I read the book and everything was ok. People may not be putting enough fluid in (or taking enough time for the procedure) and that's why their are so many transmission problems with the Intrigue.

If you put too much transmission fluid in usually the transmission will blow a seal to release some of the pressure.

The 3.5L engine is very quiet and smooth. If at start-up thru warm-up the engine is noisy try some Castrol Synthetic motor oil (it's a electricly cracked motor oil and not a true synthetic). If you are a quart low try adding a quart next time. True synthetic motor oils are Mobile 1 and Amsoil.

[Burnout524]

Originally Posted by panzer dragoon

But to much oil could blow a seal. Usually the engine will just smoke tremendously

You should be fine. If the oil were foaming, then you would see more that just a few bubbles on the dipstick. As long as your engine isn't making funny noises or smoking like crazy your good. Believe me, we cracked a seal in our old Honda push mower and wow, after a minute or two of mowing the whole back yard (half acre) was completely in smoke.

[intrigued00]

Thanks for the insight, what do you guys think about changing to full synthetic oil, i have roughly 74K on the car. Any worries about leaks, i have heard that changing to synthetic will decrease the oil consumption a little?