How much oil?

[sebaz]

I've been changing my car's oil for the past year or so, and I always thought that the one gallon bottle they sell at stores was good enough, but that's 4 quarts and I remember hearing something about 5 quarts. Which one is it? I have a 94 LeSabre.

[Scotty89]

I have noticed that most cars take 4 1/2 quarts with a filter change. From what i have read it takes 4 quarts without a filter change. You figure another half quart for the filter

[spinne1]

Don't worry so much about how many quarts it is and rather just worry about whether it is full but not overfull on the dipstick. Once you have this you'll know exactly how much it will take to fill for future reference.

[BNaylor]

4 quart (1 gal) containers only? Are you referring to typical auto parts stores? I get all my dino oil from Walmart. They sell 5 quart containers in Castrol and other brands at a reasonable cost.

[sebaz]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

4 quart (1 gal) containers only? Are you referring to typical auto parts stores? I get all my dino oil from Walmart. They sell 5 quart containers in Castrol and other brands at a reasonable cost.

I bought this at Walmart, and it's the typical bottle you see for all brands and types of engine oils. I was sure that they came with 5 quarts, ready to fill a car, but then I saw the bottle and it was 1 gallon. I don't get it, why would they sell a 4 quart bottle if everybody needs 5?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by sebaz

I don't get it, why would they sell a 4 quart bottle if everybody needs 5?

Just like everything else, the bottles are shrinking! In addition, you get a barging price on 4-quarts and make up the difference when you buy the additional quart! I usually buy the 4- quart bottle of Mobil-1 EL @ Wallymart and an additional quart. I use 4 1/2 quarts with filter change, and use the rest in my lawn mower! It burns oil bad!

[BNaylor]

Thats about right Bo. IMO psychological marketing gimmick and then hitting you up on the separate quart you have to buy.

But Walmart does have the 5 quart containers. Here is the one I bought a few weeks ago. I've been using Castrol for as long as I can remember for dino oil and not about to charge brands either.

[sebaz]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Thats about right Bo. IMO psychological marketing gimmick and then hitting you up on the separate quart you have to buy.

But Walmart does have the 5 quart containers. Here is the one I bought a few weeks ago. I've been using Castrol for as long as I can remember for dino oil and not about to charge brands either.

Good to know. I thought all those big bottles were enough for a regular car. I've been using them for a year now, since I started changing my oil myself. Since I use high mileage oil, I'm not sure if the 5 quart bottles are available for my type of oil, but I'll check next time.

[Blue Bowtie]

Mobil 1 in all varieties is also in 5 quart jugs at WalMart. It's the only place I've found them (probably a marketing agreement) and the only thing I buy there. I lower myself a couple times a year and walk out with a couple Franklins worth of lube, hoping that not much of it ends up in Bentonville, China.

Say, Mr. Naylor? Is that your GPS system hanging on the wall there?

[BNaylor]

Yeah the high mileage oils may be hard to come by in 5 qts. I stopped using the high mileage blended oils. In my opinion they soften and condition the various engine seals and gaskets in a less than desirable way. In a '98 LeSabre we developed an oil leak at the crank harmonic balancer seal and oil pan gasket. Switched back to the regular stuff and it went away. Same is applicable if you use full synthetic like Mobil 1 in a high mileage engine. I use Mobil 1 syn in my GTP but the supercharger can generate high heat in certain driving conditions which I won't mention so it is better safe than sorry.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

Say, Mr. Naylor? Is that your GPS system hanging on the wall there?

Nope! Just my time zone map. Definitely not red versus blue state map. GPS is too hot of a commodity item for thieves so I have not taken the plunge yet. I still use the good ole military or geological survey maps where you have to figure in the angle of declanation.

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Switched back to the regular stuff and it went away. Same is applicable if you use full synthetic like Mobil 1 in a high mileage engine.

On my LeSabre my dad ran regular oil. I got it and switched to synthetic (Bought the 5 quart at wal-mart) around 135,000.
I'm now at 150,000 with oil leak from the pan. If I switch back to regular oil, do you think it will stop leaking?
The synthetic sure cleans up inside. Wish I could get it dirty like it was without going another 135.000.

Thanks,
Chris.

[Whoaru99]

Originally Posted by happydog500

On my LeSabre my dad ran regular oil. I got it and switched to synthetic (Bought the 5 quart at wal-mart) around 135,000.
I'm now at 150,000 with oil leak from the pan. If I switch back to regular oil, do you think it will stop leaking?
The synthetic sure cleans up inside. Wish I could get it dirty like it was without going another 135.000.

Thanks,
Chris.

I doubt the leak will stop, and I doubt it was caused by changing to synthetic. Just my opinion you understand...

[Whoaru99]

Originally Posted by sebaz

I've been changing my car's oil for the past year or so, and I always thought that the one gallon bottle they sell at stores was good enough, but that's 4 quarts and I remember hearing something about 5 quarts. Which one is it? I have a 94 LeSabre.

The right amount is when the level is anywhere between "Add" and "Full" on the dipstick.

My 94 takes about 4.5 quarts to get near the "Full" mark.

Also, it's generally not recommended to continually top-up the oil. Some cars are funny this way. You may continually top up the oil to try to keep at the "Full" mark and the car tries to fight back by using oil quickly. But, if you wait until the oil level gets down to the "Add" mark, you may find that the level of oil drop/consumption seems to drop off quite a bit at a some level below full.

So, maybe it blows out/leaks/burns up the first 1/2 quart, but then the level stabilizes at 1/2 way, or some other point between "Add" and "Full".

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Thats about right Bo. IMO psychological marketing gimmick and then hitting you up on the separate quart you have to buy.

Or you can play them at your own game if they start "downsizing the containers . If you figure it right it will take the purchase of (5) one gallon containers to complete.
here's how you can figure it out:
Start by buying 2 one gallon containers. Change your oil and use 5 qts. You will have 3 qts. remaining. Purchasing another gallon gives you 7 qts total. Change oil again leaving 2 qts left in a bottle. Purchase another gallon, that gives you 6 qts. After the next oil change you are left with one quart , and purchasing just one more gallon container will give you the amount you need for the next oil change. Of course not many people would probably do that, ( I would though just to save money ) And it also depends on how much the difference in prices are between the containers and their respective sizes, ( unit cost). And if you have the ability and desire, along with the discipline to follow that schedule.