I am confused.

The spec in the back of the user manual says a little bit less than 4.5 qts of oil. The instruction for oil change in the user manual says to fill it up to the second indicator in the dip stick. But... that is 5 qts right there.

does it matter?

 

It takes me around 5 qts. to get up to the top mark as well. Wouldn't worry about it.

 

Technically, I believe the number is 4.7 quarts (coming from an 04 manual) with oil filter change. I have found 5 puts me over the mark at cool down. So I hold onto the other .3 quarts for the 3000 mile check since I burn a bit.

 

My experience too. I find about 4 3/4 quarts fill it with filter change (05).

 

That's about how much I had to put in yesterday as well...

 

so... putting 5 qts in there should be fine. Thanks.

 

^^ What I'm reading is that 5 quarts is actually overfilling it. Put in 4.5 quarts, let it sit for 10 minutes, then check the level and add as necessary (keep in mind that the difference between the low and high mark on the dip stick is 1 quart).

 

I find, on my 04 that 5.00 quarts puts right at the top hole. That is after sitting all day and also right after shutdown when the engine oil is at operating temperature.

 

^^ similar here. I put 4.5 qts in and then ran the car for a while. The oil filter soaked up more than half the qt of oil. I let it seat for a while. The oil level was between the two marks but close to the bottom mark. So... I thought there might be something difference from the back of the user manual and the instruction.

 

The consensus seems to be between 4.5 and 5 qts. 4.5 is good, but I have also seen that Ive had to add oil after a couple thousand miles. 5 qts, also from personal experience, is the max. Id like to stick to 4.5 and just have to add.

I know this is off topic, but how can we agree on oil capacity without a standard way to check oil. Should we check when engine is 1) cold 2) hot after turning off engine for 15 minutes or 3) just hot. What do you guys think?

Here is a dumb example of me checking the oil too early one morning when I wasn't thinking. I checked oil when engine was cold and it was a couple millimeters below bottom dot. I foolishly added .75 qts, drove around for 10 minutes and rechecked after engine cooled for 15 minutes ( which I think is the correct way). Oil was a few millimeters above top dot!!! I read online that up to .5 qts overfill is acceptable, but not good. I left it alone bc I know it wasnt over .5 qts and Im sure it burned off. More opinions needed on this subject.

 

I always check my oil when the engine is cold in the morning. 5 quarts just about fills it to the top, if not (very) slightly over. Convenient, seeing as the M1 jugs come in 5qts.

 

I don't think a half a quart or even slightly more would affect the engine. The variation in the dip stick length alone will account for a different reading in different automobiles. This should be used more to gauge if your engine oil is low. In my 90 accord I let it go too far without checking it, it was off the dip stick and the low oil light hadn't indicated an issue.

As far as the question of when to take the oil reading. I usually will check it when it is cold just out of convenience (either in the morning or after work). The engine oil would expand when the oil heats up. However at the same time it will also be covering engine parts and being pumped through valves to control vtec, etc. I guess the maximum level would show when the engine is hot and the oil has drained down into the pan (10-15 min?).