cheekoo

Hello! Changed oil on my 2000Tl for frst time by myself on Sunday.
Noticed this as soon as I slid down under...Is it oil leaking?

Also, i poured the oil into a 5Qt can, and was surprised to see <4 QT oil. Was it less coz of leak or my frndly neighborhood mechanic was acting cheap and using less oil?

Advise pls? I have never seen oil drops where i park my car.. And yes, the oil valve was tight as bitch!

JohnieG87

Seems like something is seeping oil.Check rear valve cover as well as your oil pan gasket.

brnm8brn

would just keep an eye on it making sure your not losing oil after your sure it is full, but does look suspicous

01tl4tl

thats a very normal place to get old oil,,when the filter is removed it drips a lot onto the control arm there,,,then you drive and it gets spread over the pan

ck the top of that arm and it will have old oil on it--carb cleaner on a rag will fix that
Happens at many shops that dont bother to wipe everything down when finished
Young guys who are spinning off the old filter and putting the new one on way too tight,,
not thinking of any mess the create

01tl4tl

you measured the old oil at 4 qts? thats a place that doesnt know the TL needs 4.7 but its ok to run 5

general note: many of those `5 qt` oil jugs are actual 5 litres,,a bit over 5 qts
So dont pour the full amount in,,thats excess in the engine,
read contents amount carefully

cheekoo

i poured the whole jug in. It was castrol 5.1 QT sized - checked now on receipt.
Next time will take care. Thanks 01tl04tl! Not worried now, but will check the level after 15-20 days.

01tl4tl

you can drain a little out to be back in range!

cheekoo

Actually your suggestion makes a lot of sense, but will it cause any harm? If not, I will let it stay there.

01tl4tl

its not a huge deal where its at, .4 qts over indicated full level,,many of us run 5 normally/.3 over
(some years may call for 4.6 qts/then .5 over)

but if you are taking a long trip- drop it back down to full to avoid any chance of frothing
disclosure: I wasnt reading the 5qt jugs until the last change, when I learned it was 5.1 qts,,,ooops
my car has run fine like that

if the atf was over,, I would be fixing that before next drive!