Miamicarfan

I believe the owners manual says the oil capacity of the Acura TSX is 4.7 quarts.

I have several questions:

1) If you change the oil and filter yourself, would putting the ENTIRE 5 quarts of oil in the car constitute harmful overfilling of the car?

2) When you change the oil AND oil filter, would putting in exactly 4.7 quarts mean that when you check the oil level after the change, the oil level would be at exactly the second (top) mark on the oil dipstick??

JTso

iTrader: (2)

It depends on how much oil is left inside the crankcase, the size of the filter, and the design of the anti-drainback valve inside the filter. The easily way is to use the dipstick to check for the proper level. Just put in whatever amount it requires for the oil level to reach between the two dots. Btw, this has been covered extensively in many existing threads.

DuckDodgers

Actually, the answer is 4.2 qts for a change, 4.4 qts with a filter change.

5 qts, bad unless rebuilding.

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Actually, 4.2 is the specification on paper, which is always subject to change. I've found specification errors in the service manual, as well as the info received by dealers. There's even a TSB to correct the oil type used in the TSX because the dealer can't read the oil cap. Just keep things simple by using the dipstick. It's there for a reason.

ba_reefer

iTrader: (1)

i usually just check my dip stick

icemiko

iTrader: (2)

check your dip stick but you can actually put 5 quarts in the tsx

endlesswinterco

after checking my dipstick everytime, i usually get about 4.7 quarts in each oil/filter change.

Luded

I just did an oil change and used an OEM S2000 filter. This filter is slightly larger than the stock OEM TSX filter. I ended up putting in 5 Liters in total.

Just as other have mentioned use the dipstick to check where your at and add as much as needed til your at the top dot on the dipstick.

DuckDodgers

I'll clarify...I've found 4.4 after a filter change to be about .2 too low, but I make sure and leave it draining a long while and I'm using synthetic. I believe that the dipstick is always the gold standard, but that, in general, I'd never toss in more than about 4.4 with a filter change until I've done a start cycle to check for leaks and then checked the level via the dipstick.

Itchytoe

I always change the filter and use 5 quarts of oil. The oil level is just below the upper hole, which is right where I want it. I also don't seem to burn any oil so that's always a plus

Tsx6363

does extra oil really affect the car? i've heard it doesn't matter if you add a little more..

DuckDodgers

The extra oil question is a matter of avoiding a potentially engine killing condition. Most cars use a wet sump system, that is the sump (the oil pan) is where the oil collects from the bottom of the engine to be repumped to the top. These systems have a couple of issues:

1) Possibility of oil starvation due to exposure of the oil pump pick-up during turns or other high G activies. This is combated via baffling in the sump and sump design.

2) Possibility of the surface of the oil making contact with the spinning crankshaft. This results in foaming of the oil with predictable results. It hurts the crank (drag during its rotation...and can destory it) and the oil supply (causing bubbles in your oil) plus putting unplanned pressures on some seals and gaskets.

Dry sump systems avoid these issues by using a sump separated from the crank with a scavenger pump moving the oil to the tank for distribution from there.

Miamicarfan

DuckDodgers:

I take it the TSX has a wet sump system?

Arent the only cars that have dry sump systems mainly expensive high performance cars? Does any economy or regular production and reasonably affordable car have a dry system?

Miamicarfan

So can too much oil be as destructive as too little oil or no oil?

Or no oil will always be more destructive?

I would think that if you have no oil in your car, you wont get far before that engine seizes up. But if you have too much oil, this would be a condition that would eventually lead to engine damage but not as sudden and quick as the no oil scenario.

Itchytoe

Too much oil is bad. Too little oil is bad. Half a quart either way won't have any acute or cronic effect on your engine. Your car will be fine anywhere from about 4.25 to 5.25.

ChingTSX

4.7 quarts. That's quite an odd amount to put in. In all the other cars I've had, I'd just dump 5.5 or 6 into the car. Thanks for the heads up. Guess I'll be having fun, worrying about the oil level when it comes time to do my first oil change to the car lol. Maybe I'll try dumping 4.5 into it.

DuckDodgers

Yep, we're wet sump.

ODUB

5 qts should be fine. the biggest issue with the oil level being too high is you don't want the crank hitting the oil and foaming it up. if it's too high, that will happen. 4.7-5, all the same thing.