[peterweb]

Great. We're about to drive nearly 1100 miles on Monday and Tuesday with an overfilled engine and no way to do anything about it. I'd like to hear Chrysler's explanation of why the dipstick reads low when there are 5 quarts in the engine.

If you read from the TSB and STAR case links in freddief73 's post above, you will see that you need to allow 5 minutes after turning off the engine before checking the oil level. It takes that long for all the oil to drain back into the oil pan.

 

[triggerhappy007]

This is interesting. On the wrangler forums, many people with a JL have reported being overfilled with 6 quarts from a dealer oil change because the JK with the PUG V6 took 6 quarts, but the JL has a redesigned oil pan that only takes 5. I'm wondering if there is some connection. I did an oil change with 5 quarts on the Pacifica so far, so maybe I'll go check the level. I actually LOVE 5 quart oil changes because I can throw in a whole gallon jug of M1

Isn't a gallon 4 quarts? I think you meant the 5 quart container.

 

[BlueTouring]

Thank you for posting the TSB links. Looks like they did use different oil pans in various versions and the TSB is very clear in stating that. All I know is when my oil is changed out it is exactly 5 quarts and my dipstick always reads perfection until the next change (engine not burning oil). I hope it stays that way!

 

[Waldo]

Thank you for posting the TSB links. Looks like they did use different oil pans in various versions and the TSB is very clear in stating that. All I know is when my oil is changed out it is exactly 5 quarts and my dipstick always reads perfection until the next change (engine not burning oil). I hope it stays that way!

Just for clarity, it seems the different oil pans are for different vehicles (Jeeps, RAMS, etc.). All the Pacificas use an oil pan that creates a 5 quart fill.

 

[cbrenthus]

Isn't a gallon 4 quarts? I think you meant the 5 quart container.

LOL, you're correct!

 

[mainesail]

Update. The van is in for the isolator post recall (it passed) and I brought up the issue of how many quarts does it take for an oil change. The service advisor called FCA and the supposedly official word is that the manual is wrong and is being or has already been revised. It in fact does take 6 quarts.
It seems like that's a pretty fundamental screwup on FCA's part and who knows if the word has come down to the dealers.

 

[peterweb]

Was this clarification for the hybrid engine, or all Pacificas?

 

[mainesail]

Was this clarification for the hybrid engine, or all Pacificas?

The person I talked to at the dealer wasn't the one who talked to FCA so he didn't know for sure.

 

[PacDave]

Great. We're about to drive nearly 1100 miles on Monday and Tuesday with an overfilled engine and no way to do anything about it. I'd like to hear Chrysler's explanation of why the dipstick reads low when there are 5 quarts in the engine.

Well if you think your engine is overfilled with oil there is something you can do about it. Simply drain some out. Also, I disagree with anyone who fills the engine with oil based upon volume/quantity. I always fill mine according to what the dipstick says. I run the engine after I perform the oil change to check for any leaks and then I check the dipstick again. The dipstick measures exactly where the oil level is in relation to where it should be.

 

[PacDave]

The bottom line for this discussion is that ALL 2017 and newer Pacificas and Voyagers use 5 quarts of oil. Don't use the dipstick to decide. Don't reference another FCA vehicle with the same engine. Just put 5 quarts of oil in your Pacifica and then reward yourself with a pint of fine ale.

Don't let anyone tell you differently.

I disagree. I think you should always use the dipstick to decide.

 

[Waldo]

I disagree. I think you should always use the dipstick to decide.

Maybe as a double check to make sure you counted right. But every Pacifica engine uses 5 quarts, not six, not 5 and 1/2. There is no reason for any engine to be different.

 

[PacDave]

Maybe as a double check to make sure you counted right. But every Pacifica engine uses 5 quarts, not six, not 5 and 1/2. There is no reason for any engine to be different.

I understand. But I just won’t ever blindly trust in putting in a set measured amount. Even if I’ve already proven that the engine takes 5 quarts I will always check it and fill it according to the dipstick. What if I’ve decided to put an aftermarket oil cooler on my engine? If someone just routinely fills it with 5 quarts it may not be enough.

 

[RC Mike]

There is no reason for any engine to be different.

And yet the evidence would suggest otherwise. I wouldn‘t be giving hard and fast advice unless you’re willing to pay for repairs of those who take it. Are you?

 

[PacDave]

And yet the evidence would suggest otherwise. I wouldn‘t be giving hard and fast advice unless you’re willing to pay for repairs of those who take it. Are you?

I agree. The dipstick is a perfect indicator for oil fill because regardless of oil pan size or actual capacity or anything else, it is indicating the correct distance for the surface of the fluid in the oil pan from the crankshaft lobes that are rotating just above it.

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

The last time I had an oil change at the dealer, my hybrid was overfilled by one quart on the dipstick. I had to take it back and have them dump it and put 5 quarts ONLY in it and the oil level was correct at that point. My 2018 hybrid takes 5 quarts as stated in the manual.

 

[PacDave]

The last time I had an oil change at the dealer, my hybrid was overfilled by one quart on the dipstick. I had to take it back and have them dump it and put 5 quarts ONLY in it and the oil level was correct at that point. My 2018 hybrid takes 5 quarts as stated in the manual.

That’s pretty bizarre. One would think that any right-minded enterprise (whether a dealer or an oil-change shop) would verify the level by the dipstick. It takes all of 15 seconds to do.

 

[peterweb]

I agree. The dipstick is a perfect indicator for oil fill because regardless of oil pan size or actual capacity or anything else, it is indicating the correct distance for the surface of the fluid in the oil pan from the crankshaft lobes that are rotating just above it.

As long as you pay attention to my earlier post above. You need to allow enough time for the oil to fully drain into the oil pan before checking the level.

If you read from the TSB and STAR case links in freddief73 's post above, you will see that you need to allow 5 minutes after turning off the engine before checking the oil level. It takes that long for all the oil to drain back into the oil pan.

 

[mainesail]

Something just doesn't add up. Either some of us got the wrong dipstick somehow so that 5 quarts reads at the add mark or it really does take 6 quarts to fill it up meaning the owner's manual is wrong.

 

[freddief73]

Something just doesn't add up. Either some of us got the wrong dipstick somehow so that 5 quarts reads at the add mark or it really does take 6 quarts to fill it up meaning the owner's manual is wrong.

I agree. I initially refused to believe the engine actually holds more than 5 quarts of oil. However, after owning the van for a couple years, performing a few oil changes myself, and carefully monitoring the oil level, I've changed my mind. I just did the third oil change last week. I checked the oil in the morning after driving it for a couple days and letting it sit overnight. The dipstick still indicated the oil level was just above a half quart low. I observed the same thing after the last two oil changes as well. Even if the engine magically retains the other half quart, I see no reason why we can't safely add at least another half quart for a total fill of 5.5 quarts. This shouldn't hurt the engine at all even if on paper it is being overfilled.

I think a lot of folks are completely unaware of this issue because they don't change their own oil. They assume the shop knows best because, heck it's just a simple oil change. You can't mess that up, right? To add insult to injury, it seems dealerships are blindly accepting the 5 quart capacity as fact. Who can blame them when it says so in the owners & service manuals. They also don't have the time to wait so they can properly check the oil level after an oil change. FCA also hasn't helped the matter by issuing a both a TSB and STAR case that basically ignore what people are observing when following proper instructions to get an accurate oil level reading on the dipstick.

 

[PacDave]

I agree. I initially refused to believe the engine actually holds more than 5 quarts of oil. However, after owning the van for a couple years, performing a few oil changes myself, and carefully monitoring the oil level, I've changed my mind. I just did the third oil change last week. I checked the oil in the morning after driving it for a couple days and letting it sit overnight. The dipstick still indicated the oil level was just above a half quart low. I observed the same thing after the last two oil changes as well. Even if the engine magically retains the other half quart, I see no reason why we can't safely add at least another half quart for a total fill of 5.5 quarts. This shouldn't hurt the engine at all even if on paper it is being overfilled.

I think a lot of folks are completely unaware of this issue because they don't change their own oil. They assume the shop knows best because, heck it's just a simple oil change. You can't mess that up, right? To add insult to injury, it seems dealerships are blindly accepting the 5 quart capacity as fact. Who can blame them when it says so in the owners & service manuals. They also don't have the time to wait so they can properly check the oil level after an oil change. FCA also hasn't helped the matter by issuing a both a TSB and STAR case that basically ignore what people are observing when following proper instructions to get an accurate oil level reading on the dipstick.

Just changed the oil on my 2018 Limited PacHy a few days ago. It used 5 quarts. The dipstick measured full.