Oil capacity of the Camry LE with 2AZ-FE engine

I stop filling engines with oil based on the dipstick.

There is always a bit of oil left in the engine that does not get drained out in a routine oil change. The manufacturer specs in the manual are defining capacities based on a "dry" engine. The indications on the dipstick are rather accurate. A variation of .25 of a quart will not make any appreciable difference in performance IMHO. As long as you don't under fill substantially enough to risk oil system starvation and inadequate oil cooling or overfill enough to cause windage splash from the crank shaft and/or emissions problems you should be fine. The .25 of a quart is just more money out of your pocket.

I forgot to mention that any oil quantity in your engine that falls between the upper and lower indications on the dipstick is acceptable for engine operation.

The manual is correct.

hmm, most cars I've had specifically stated the amount of oil needed for an oil change or oil change with filter change.

Thanks for your insights. I must tell you I really like this fully synthetic motor oil. I noticed a change in the sound of the engine the very first day the Mobil 1 was added 6 months ago.

If the manual and warranty allowed, I think I'd even switch to the Extended Performance oil in order to only have the oil changed just once a year, but I'll never do that while the engine is under warranty, anyway.

I don't know why two different technicians at the Toyota dealership have now put in 4.25 quarts instead of the manual's 4.0 quarts, but it sounds like an extra 1/4 quart won't hurt anything. Looking at the remaining oil the tech returned to me this last time, it actually looks like he used close to an extra

1/2 quart for a total of 4.5 quarts.

It sure could hurt your engine. Why do you think there is a FULL line on the dipstick ? I wouldn't fill it any more than the FULL line on the dipstick.

I'd like to hear what exactly can go wrong with the engine? I'm on the same page when it comes to keeping the fluid level at or even slightly below the "full" line.

1/4 to 1/2 quart more than the full line on the dipstick will not harm the engine, but keeping the fluid level below the full line on the dipstick is marginally worse for the engine because there is a lower quantity of oil in which to suspend combustion byproducts.

If the fluid level in the oil pan is so high that the the crankshaft passes through the oil, then it is possible that the crankshaft will whip the oil and make it frothy, and frothy oil will not lubricate or dissipate heat enough, causing engine damage. The oil probably needs to be overfilled by 2 or 3 quarts before this happens. If the oil level is even higher, like what would happen if you put in 4 quarts without draining the engine first so that you have 8 quarts in the crankcase, then it is possible for the hydraulic damage to occur because the oil interferes with the movement of the crankshaft, connecting rods, and pistons.

See

According to this reference:

Engine oil Oil capacity Drain and refill w/ oil filter change - 3.8 liters (4.0 US qts, 3.3 lmp. qts) Drain and refill w/o oil filter change - 3.6 liters (3.8 US qts, 3.2 lmp. qts) Dry fill - 4.5 liters (4.8 US qts, 4.0 lmp. qts)

I wouldn't worry about the 0.25 quart.

What is well beyond?

Probably both. I suspect 4.0 qt is enough but in some case it might not quite reach the fill line. I am guessinig that experience has shown that 4.25 qt. guarantees that the level will at or above the full line. I'll bet if the level is not quite up to full, some Customers would complain and bring the car back. Does your dip stick include a cross-hatched area above the fill mark? If so, thjis is generally considered an acceptable range.

Ed

Thank you Ray O for that fine explanation. It helps a novice understand what's really going on.

C. E. White, in answer to your question, there are no cross-hatches on my Camry's dipstick.

You're welcome!

speaking of... What ever happened to the cross hatched metal plate used for a dipstick ? Seems more and more cars use the round plastic thing on a wire. I find them harder to read.

As engine compartments get tighter, the dipstick has to make compound curves to reach the oil pan. Flat dipsticks won't do this, so wires are an easy solution.

Since adding an extra quarter-quart or half-quart of oil over the Camry manual's recommended 4.0 quarts won't hurt anything, I'm thinking of buying // Super Walmart's // big 5-quart bottle for my next oil change.

I have been buying the Mobil 1 oil available at // Sam's Club. // It's packaged in a box as 6 individual 1-quart bottles. I preferred this

1-quart bottle packaging so the oil-change techs could carefully measure the amount of oil they put in.

However, since a little extra won't hurt anything, I'm considering buying the big, single 5-quart bottle of Mobil 1 that // Super Walmart // sells. The single 5-quart bottle is slightly cheaper than the 6 individual 1- quart bottles at Sam's Club.

The reason I never bought the big bottle before is my concern that the tech might accidentally put all 5 quarts in, when the manual only calls for

4.0 quarts. It's very hard to measure how much oil you've put in from the big bottle--the bottle does not grade volume clearly (you know, with lined markings on the side showing how many quarts are left).

Since putting in 4.5 quarts in the '06 Camry's engine won't hurt anything even though the manual calls for 4.0 quarts, will putting in 5 quarts hurt if the tech overshoots? Thanks!

PS: Please pardon any possible duplication of this message as it may appear again due to delays at the news server.

If the capacity is 4 quarts, just give the techs 4 quarts, not 5 quarts. By not wasting a quart every oil change, you will come out ahead, you will waste fewer resources, and you won't be intentionally overfilling your crankcase.

The other drawback to using the 5 quart jug is that the splash shield in the valve cover where you add oil is not meant to support a 5 quart jug and by resting it in there, you can bend the splash shield so that it touches the camshafts. Toyota dealer techs are aware of this but independent shops may not be. Rather than going through a long explanation, just give them 1 quart bottles.

Gee, I would just keep buying the 6 qt bottles. It will be a little cheaper in the long run.

What if he or she undershoots and you end up with 3 qts in there?

The other thing I always wonder about is do you end up with quaker state and the tech gets mobil 1 for his her car?

Delays at the news server doesn't cause duplication.

Jeff

And when you get home at from the oil change place, check your oil level, just to be sure.

Jeff

Good point. If Built Well is very concerned about the quality of the oil changes, the best thing would be for him to do it himself.