I changed my oil today and the dip stick wasn't at the full line until i poured in a 5th qt. The car was on a flat surface, any ideas?

 

Was it down one quart (at the lower hash mark on the dipstick) after four quarts? Or was it in between the two hash marks (which means it was down less than a full quart)? Did you start it before checking the oil level?

The manuals say that, assuming you are replacing the oil filter at the same time, it should take 4.2 quarts.

 

Did you check really well for leaks? With changing the filter mine has never taken any more than 4 full and maybe a third of the 5th quart.

 

It was below the first mark. I checked for leaks there were none. I also started the car before I checked it. Seems like a strange thing. I use K&N filter which holds more oil is the only thing I can think of.

 

i got jdm itr with the factory oil cooler and it takes 5 qts to fill it at a oil change..

 

Are you sure you have a stock USIM engine?

Mine is, and it usually takes exactly 4.0 quarts to fill it to the top mark.

 

Because you started the car before you checked the level, I would assume that some of the oil was still in circulation at the time you pulled the dip stick.

After your car has been sitting for a decent amount of time, check the level again and I'll bet you will find that the dipstick is above the full mark.

 

I think the owner's manual tells you to run the car, then turn it off 10 minutes before checking.

 

X2, so does the JDM have a larger oil pan or something?

 

I would assume the oil cooler creates the extra .7-.8qts of capacity.

JDMEG6B18B:

Make sure there's no leaks and check your dipstick after the car has been sitting on level ground for at least 10-15mins after running. I typically check mine every few days or so, and top off when necessary. 5 qts on a USDM B18C5 is almost 1qt too full. You may wish to check your spark plugs. However, I use K&N Gold filters when I can't make it to the Honda dealer during the week and I do recall the capacity being slightly higher. Which may explain the difference. Did you flush any oil through the motor while it was draining? Did you empty the 5qt bottles completely? I'll use a K&N next time and try to remember to let you know.

 

i noticed that also when i changed my oil in my jdm itr it took 5qts.

 

Its the original U.S. motor, I didn't wait 10 min. That is probly the case. I only waited about 1 min. before I checked the dipstick. Thanks, for the help guys. The car has been sitting all night so I will go check the oil, I am sure that I will be pissed off to see that it is too full.

 

So does the USDM R not have an oil cooler?

 

I believe the USDM ITR does have an oil cooler.

I don't think an OEM oil cooler would make much of a difference though. The oil slowly drains back to the pan when the engine is switched off. I think the OP didn't wait long enough after shutting the engine down, before checking the level.

If the JDM ITR's require 5 quarts, they either have a higher capacity oil pan, or a different dip stick.

 

 

no way the factory cooler will hold that much oil.. and yes USDM R's has oil cooler too

 

I think I didn't wait long enough too.

 

i have a 2000 EM1 B16a2
if i drain my oil long enough (let it drain,remove the filter & go for lunch & other stuff an hour or so sometime a bit longer)

i have to fill 4.7~8qt (manual say 4 qt tho)

 

My ITR's have always taken 4.5-4.7 quarts if I completely drained the oil and replaced the oil filter.. both US and JDM motors have taken the SAME amount.

 

^ good to know. Ill update tomorrow when I check the oil correctly.

 

Mine takes close to 5qts as well. I get a 6-pack cus i pretty much get the 6th one free and I always have that free one left over after a full oil change. JDM R, btw

 

some of the above posts are just wrong. the JDM ITR also uses the p72 pan, trust me, i own one. it's the same fill capacity as any R or GSR. what this whole thing sounds like is people checking the oil without it draining back down or on a tilted surface. the best oil reading you will ever get is after the car has sat a few hours and on a perfectly flat surface. a jdm/usdm gsr/itr will always take 4 quarts with a filter. there is obviously a little still left in the engine which is where the correct 4.2qt capacity number comes from.

and......about those oil coolers. all they are is a sandwich adapter that plumbs into the coolant pipe. the oil shares the radiator so it is in effect an oil temp controller since it also helps warm the oil up quicker. of course this lets us read a few of the above posts and realize who has even looked at a real itr engine before.

 

hmm last time I looked at my oil cooler it didnt have the lines to it. It had the prongs but the the cooler itself had no hoses to it. Problem?

 

I agree with most of what you say here. However, the 4.2 quart number is NOT intended to take into account the oil remaining in the engine after it's properly drained. It's what the engine is supposed to take when you replace the oil filter and drain and refill the engine.

The owner's manual tells you to check the oil when the car has been running and shut off for ten minutes. The difference between doing it that way, vs letting the car sit for several hours or overnight so the engine is stone cold, may be 0.2 quart or so, and it may go either way (the extra draining time till cold raises the level, but the expansion of the oil when it's hot also raises the level). A difference of 0.2 quart is not a cause for concern; the oil level can be anywhere between the two dots, and even if it's overfilled by 0.2 quart it's not a big deal (although it should not be any higher than that; foaming can occur in the oil pan if it's overfilled by a half quart or more).

 

So what do you guys suggest I do?