Oil level discrepancy

[wisemonkey]

[EDIT] TLDR: I wasn't paying attention in the morning and car was actually low on oil (adding it at top)

Switched to 10w30 about 2 oil changes back (by shop - reasoning was car is old enough and would benefit with10w30).
At cold dipstick shows full oil, however after a long drive light comes up and dipstick doesn't have oil at all.
Should I just go back to 5w30?

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I think you've got a problem other than the oil weight. How often have you noticed this, and has oil been added after your drive or not?

 

[BILT4ME]

Switched to 10w30 about 2 oil changes back (by shop - reasoning was car is old enough and would benefit with10w30).
At cold dipstick shows full oil, however after a long drive light comes up and dipstick doesn't have oil at all.
Should I just go back to 5w30?

Are you burning the oil or does it come back up to level after it sits overnight?

Ignore the oil level light. Only believe the dipstick.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

According to the insructions...IIRC...and paraphasing... after running engine check oil lever after its sat a few minutes.
I take that to mean after the time it takes to fill the gas tank, then check the oil. Fill as needed.
On a cold engine the oil level will sit high on the dip stick.

 

[mudgudgeon]

According to the insructions...IIRC...and paraphasing... after running engine check oil lever after its sat a few minutes.
I take that to mean after the time it takes to fill the gas tank, then check the oil. Fill as needed.

This. Check the oil with the engine at normal operating temp

On a cold engine the oil level will sit high on the dip stick.

True, but not enough difference to go from OK on the dipstick, to triggering the oil level sensor.

My oil level sensor would randomly come on despite oil level being OK.
Usually in the mornings, several miles into my drive to work.
I replaced the sensor, along with a bunch of other sensors.
That sensor is NOT cheap, so look at other things first.

 

[Marvelicious]

So, I'm a little confused by your shops recommendation. The first number in an oil weight is viscosity when at cold at winter temps (freezing if memory serves). If you live in a climate that never gets cold, then I can see maybe using the 10w variant, but if not, you're just asking for less lubrication on startup in the winter. The second number (30 in this case) is for weight at operating temps. I can see bumping that up for an older engine and/or for more protection in hot climates. For what it's worth, I use 5w40 on my 250k 80.

None of these options should change the way your dipstick works. One thing that will, is checking your oil on an un-level surface. I'm with Rusty Marlin. Checking it after filling the gas tank is ideal. Your engine is still hot, but the oil has had time to mostly drain down into the pan giving you a realistic and repeatable reading. Also, gas stations tend to be built on level pads so you don't have to worry about that affecting your reading.

 

[wisemonkey]

So, I'm a little confused by your shops recommendation. The first number in an oil weight is viscosity when at cold at winter temps (freezing if memory serves). If you live in a climate that never gets cold, then I can see maybe using the 10w variant, but if not, you're just asking for less lubrication on startup in the winter. The second number (30 in this case) is for weight at operating temps. I can see bumping that up for an older engine and/or for more protection in hot climates. For what it's worth, I use 5w40 on my 250k 80.

None of these options should change the way your dipstick works. One thing that will, is checking your oil on an un-level surface. I'm with Rusty Marlin. Checking it after filling the gas tank is ideal. Your engine is still hot, but the oil has had time to mostly drain down into the pan giving you a realistic and repeatable reading. Also, gas stations tend to be built on level pads so you don't have to worry about that affecting your reading.

I'm in hotter weather throughout year (California) so I generally never see freezing temps.

 

[wisemonkey]

According to the insructions...IIRC...and paraphasing... after running engine check oil lever after its sat a few minutes.
I take that to mean after the time it takes to fill the gas tank, then check the oil. Fill as needed.
On a cold engine the oil level will sit high on the dip stick.

I checked first thing in the morning and dipstick has cold level, I take that as reference for cold level.
Let me drive around a bit, fill up gas and then check oil level.

 

[jonheld]

I checked first thing in the morning and dipstick has cold level, I take that as reference for cold level.
Let me drive around a bit, fill up gas and then check oil level.

Hold on a second here.
The engine oil dipstick does not have markings for cold and hot. That is the transmission fluid dipstick. The engine oil dipstick just has a crosshatch section.

Transmission fluid should be checked with the engine at normal operating temp with the engine running after a short drive.
Engine oil level should be checked before the first start of the day with a cold non-running engine. Anywhere on the dipstick within the crosshatch section is fine.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

Hold on a second here.
The engine oil dipstick does not have markings for cold and hot. That is the transmission fluid dipstick. The engine oil dipstick just has a crosshatch section.

Transmission fluid should be checked with the engine at normal operating temp with the engine running after a short drive.
Engine oil level should be checked before the first start of the day with a cold non-running engine. Anywhere on the dipstick within the crosshatch section is fine.

Agreed, but my understanding is there is a fair bit of oil that gets trapped, or delayed, in its return to the pan. That's why the engine oil should be checked after warm up and a few minutes after shut down. I need to hunt down where I read this for a referance. Otherwise its just hear-say.

 

[wisemonkey]

Hold on a second here.
The engine oil dipstick does not have markings for cold and hot. That is the transmission fluid dipstick. The engine oil dipstick just has a crosshatch section.

Transmission fluid should be checked with the engine at normal operating temp with the engine running after a short drive.
Engine oil level should be checked before the first start of the day with a cold non-running engine. Anywhere on the dipstick within the crosshatch section is fine.

I'm being dumb./tired Yes dipstick has 2 lines ( min max ).

 

[wisemonkey]

Ok I was definitely running on too little of sleep. I could have swore I "saw" dipstick wet yesterday.
Everything is fine, dipstick was completely dry just now. Added 2 quarts and barely at "L", I'll add another quart.

 

[Rifleman]

At cold dipstick shows full oil, however after a long drive light comes up and dipstick doesn't have oil at all.

Just a possibility, the filter you're shop is installing on your truck, the drain back valve on the filter may not be holding all the oil in the filter overnight,

So when you check the oil level when it's cold before staring the engine, all the oil may of drained out of the filter giving you a normal to high reading on the dip stick,

But when you check it when "hot" that oil that drained out of the filter over night is now being held in the filter, so the dip stick can now show the oil level to be up to a quart low if you're using a full sized filter,

 

[jonheld]

Agreed, but my understanding is there is a fair bit of oil that gets trapped, or delayed, in its return to the pan. That's why the engine oil should be checked after warm up and a few minutes after shut down. I need to hunt down where I read this for a referance. Otherwise its just hear-say.

Honestly it doesn't matter as long as you're consistent when the oil level is checked. Since I was a pup, I have always checked before the first start of the day.
In any case, it's not like these motors care about oil level anyway. A well baffled sump that holds 2 gallons really leaves a lot of room for slop. If I see oil anywhere on the dipstick, I move on with my day.

 

[Kernal]

Edit: stepped away so there's been a bunch of posts since I started writing so much of this has already been said, but FWIW:
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Added 2 quarts and barely at "L", I'll add another quart.

So three quarts low.

10W-30 will not hurt your engine or affect the oil level, many forum members run 0W-40, 10W-40, 15W-40 without any issues.

For future reference, IME, the low oil light (assuming it's functioning correctly) begins to come on when the engine is close to one quart low shortly after starting the first (cold engine ) drive for the day, then goes off after a couple of minutes as the engine warms up. As the oil level continues to drop (assuming you're continuing to drive the vehicle without adding oil) the light will come on more frequently, stay on longer, and eventually it will come on and stay on when around two quarts low.

If you check your oil first thing in the morning (cold engine) you may get a false reading IME as some oil has flowed back to the oil pan overnight. This can be exaggerated (false high level) if you're using an old, defective, or just poor design oil filter that empties out overnight as the vehicle sits. Even parking on an incline can change the level of the oil (on the dipstick) somewhat.

IME I drive the vehicle to get the engine at operating temp ie: driving to get fuel, let it sit a minute or three ie: while hooking up the fuel pump handle, then go forward and check the oil level. Pull the dipstick, wipe it off well with a dry/clean paper towel, re-insert the dipstick right side up (so you can read Engine Oil on the handle), count to three (or any number you choose), pull out the dipstick, hold it somewhat tip down so the oil doesn't run up the stick, read the level, anywhere between the hatch marks is OK (if the stick itself has burned-on oil varnish you can clean that off with solvent before hand to help see the level in the future).

If you want to get even more OCD about it, if the stick comes out splattered with oil making it hard to determine the level you can (I have) spray a little Carb/Brake cleaner into the fill tube to clean it out first, then reinsert the dipstick to check the oil level. Warning: if you do that hold onto the aerosol can red spray tube and do not stick the plastic tube down into the dipstick tube as it can blow off and go down the hole. IMO a small amount (a few bursts) of a light solvent won't hurt anything, it'll just evaporate in the hot oil.

Question for @wisemonkey : What oil filter are you using?

If it hasn't been said already, make sure to use a Toyota oil filter (probably the safest) or (IME) a top tier oil filter (Mobil 1 for example). Never WIX or generic white filter from the Quickie Lube shop.

 

[wisemonkey]

Question for @wisemonkey : What oil filter are you using?

it's Toyota, I used WIX long back (about 5 years back) but never again