I changed my oil today, all went fine except when I started putting in oil, the dipstick never really started to show the level. So I ended up putting in 16qts and then I got scared and stopped adding oil. The dipstick never seemed to register any oil. Perhaps the truck was a bit unlevel? So tonight I went and put the truck on a level place, and here is my dipstick (see picture). Did I overfill? Now what should I do? I did notice some oil on the frame/tranny pan before I changed the oil. Perhaps I overfilled last time too..? does the engine spew oil mist underneath if you overfill?

If it is too much, then is there a simple way to drain just a bit?

Here is a picture of the dipstick:

 

That's one of the nice things about having a Fumoto valve, a little overfill like that and it's not messy to drain a little oil. I saw a thread a while back about a debate on the effects on the 6L when too much oil is added. I'll try to find the thread and hopefully somebody will chime in.

But honestly, if you're going to be changing your oil, get yourself a fumoto valve and you won't regret it!

 

even now just pull the plug, drain a little bit and stick the plug back in, its really not ALL that messy, i just did it installing my fumoto valve without an oil change

 

14 quarts is all you need. Drain some out from the plug.

 

I had to drain some from mine once and I just put a measured container inside of an oil drain pan, pulled the plug and watched it drain until I had removed what I wanted and then stuck the plug back in. It was really a lot more controllable than I had anticipated. A rubber glove helps. After that I decided to get a Fumoto valve.

 

Ok, thanks for the advice guys, I will give it a shot.

 

Like said, 14qts is all you want, you want your oil level to read towards the very bottom of the dipstick.

 

Some say using a vacuum cleaner on the oil fill tube will help you control the flow out the drain plug.Apparantly the negative pressure does not allow the oil to flow out the plug.I have never tried this approach but it is supposed to work.

goood luck

 

Thanks, this is what happens sometimes when you DIY I guess. But I would rather still do it myself because I have zero confidence the dealer would do any better. It sounds like they screw this kind of stuff up all the time. I will get it fixed, and then I will be self-sufficient. It's a good lesson in being detail oriented. ;-).

 

If you are going to drain some out don't try it when the oil is hot.
For what its worth we always refill our 2004 with 15 quarts and never have any issues.

 

What I like about adding 14 quarts is that the final level is just a little below the word "max" in the checkered portion of the plastic on the dipstick. I can see it a lot better at this level and therefore if it ever drops, I know I have some oil loss somewhere. If I were to add more than 14 quarts on my truck, I would have trouble seeing where the actual level was. Since there have been threads on concerns over foaming when overfilled, I just felt better when I could know what the level really was after an oil change.