I have a question hopefully someone here can answer:

I have been taking my SSEi routinely for the past 6 years (and 85k miles) to the local GM dealer to change the oil. About half of the time, they add 5 qts, whereas the service manual says 4.5 qts capacity with oil filter. As a result, the oil on the dipstick reads about 1/2" to 3/4" above the hash marks. Will this oil level damage the engine? The dealer ought to know what they are doing (unless they are trying to purposely damage my engine, which I doubt). The car has lasted this long with no problems so far, doesn't burn oil, etc. .... Is there an absolute maximum level where engine damage might occur or is there still a margin of safety ? (I must not be there yet - not that I'm trying !)

Comments please !

Thanks.

Carter

The extra half quart shouldn't cause any real problems. I wouldn't want to go much more than that. I use 5 quarts in mine, but I also use the larger oil filter (for the 4.3L used in the SUVs like the Jimmy or Blazer.)

Not even the dealers always do the best job. Changing your own oil is really a great way to ensure the job is done correctly.

The extra half quart probably won't do very much damage, but if you don't know, the reasoning behind this, or most of it, would be that if its any more full, the crankshaft would be sitting in the oil and churning it, that foams it, and foamy oil does NOT lubricate. It also causes drag on the crank which leads to decreased mileage and increased engine load.

I've been running 6 quarts since June 19, 2007.

So far no problems at all.

The level on the dipstick reads right at the last 'L' in 'FULL'

ADD | . . . . . | FULL

The extra 1/2 quart shouldn't be an issue and 99% of the time there isn't a full 4.5 in the oil pan because when the engine is running..oil is continually being pumped out and seeping back in.

And here we go again. I was flagged to this post in the Gearhead section of the Forum.

Anyone that follows Macdrive'* advice to use 6 quarts is asking for serious problems. Overfilling your oil is as bad as underfilling. Macdrive, I thought we made this clear in the past? You must be willing to take on liability for anyone that overfills based on your post, right?

I had a dreadful feeling before writing my post that you (willwren), would come back and say something like that.

Let me make this perfectly clear to you: I am not advising anyone to fill up their crankcase up with 6 quarts of oil; I am simply stating that with my Buick, there has not been any problems. The OP asked for comments. My post was a comment only; it was not intended to be advice in anyway-shape-or-form.

willwren - perhaps I should PM you with my phone number so I can explain this to you on the phone with clear cut concise words.

As you remember, we've had discussions in the past about this. You were given specific instructions to knock off that horribly dangerous advice. And as you can see, you just got jumped on by TWO Admins because of your past actions, including this particular issue.

I don't care how many quarts you run in your car. It will bite you in the *** more sooner than later. And I will take it PERSONALLY if anyone on this forum follows your lead and does the same idiotic thing. Do what you want to YOUR car, but keep your mouth shut about 6 quart fills like you were told to previously.

You may not be here long. I'll be discussing this with jr's3800. You were specifically warned about this before.

You get the public treatment AGAIN at your own request. You violated specific instructions and refuse to listen to authority on this Forum.

Our goal is to provide the best possible SERVICE that we can to the members of this forum. Your post violates that in the most severe manner (and it has in the past, and you were specifically told about it).