Please provide me with some concrete answers because I'm in need of help.

a) how much oil does it take to go from the L (low) to H (high) on the dipstick, or between those two marks?

b) I just topped mine up and the level is now right at the top of the H; basically, it covers the H, but not more. Is it critical that I drain some of it? I must ask because it is a pain to drain it. I will, if it's critical; but if you guys think it's absolutely okay, I'll leave it as is.

Here's a quick diagram of the dipstick measurement:

L xxxxx H

The ideal level is at the 4th or 5th x, but my level covers the H.

Thank you in advance!

 

Being at or even slightly above the H is no big deal - they allow for the fact that not everyone checks properly (read your manual - they say check after a few minutes of shutdown), nor that the cars are level when checked. I maintain mine right at the H. There is no advantage to being in the middle, and in fact, a bit more prolongs the oil's service life and aides in cooling capacity when car is driven hard. The bottom 2/3's of the engine relies on oil to cool it.

Gross overfilling can lead to aeration of the oil, which is bad. Unless you are seing significant frothy bubbles on the dipstick, you are fine. Don't obsess over it.

 

the car takes approximately 5.1 quarts

 

Thanks for the responses!

I know how much the car takes at an oil change, but I was only topping mine up because it's still consuming oil. I put in a little over a quart and it went from the lowest x to the H.

Normally, I checked my oil every week, but for the last 3 weeks, I didn't, and it was at the lowest x. I hope everything is fine. I think it still had 4 quarts in there, so luckily it wasn't drained. But from now on, I'll check on it weekly again.

 

wow 1 quart filled it to that much?

I put in 1 quart one time when it was at half way and bam went straight up to H. Also I always top her off alil past H so don't worry. One time it was 60% or on dipstick I put in about alil over half or 3/4 and it went to H and I measure this on cold sitting more than 20 hours.

 

Just out of curiosity yellafeva how many miles do you have on your car?

 

I think hes got 30k on the new motor and 50-60k on body? but he has a rebuilt engine or a new one put in.

 

One quart will take you from L up to H.

so each X is about a fifth of a quart.

 

Nope, not even close. 30-something K on the body and less than 10K on the new motor; new, not rebuilt.

 

Having the oil level exactly at the H or slightly above the H mark is no problem at all. Infact I do it on purpose for the reason that our cars do use oil at higher RPM's. The information regarding the amount of oil between L and H is one quart.