Hi everyone,

did my first oil change on my V8 myself.

Quick sanity check on reading oil dipstick on V8 4runner after an oil change. when I read the dipstick its hard to take it out in one pull because its all the way in the back and hood is in the way.

when i read the dipstick after cleaning it and putting it back in, the correct level where i have a solid level of fluid not the broken up parts right? Also since I think the dipstick goes in at a slight angle, take the lower of both measurements right?


the manual oddly enough says to check the level on level ground and at operating temp, then turn engine off, wait a little till all the oil drops back into the oil pan.

thanks sorry for the noobish post !

I did not know the "warm" part of the procedure, that is good info and yes its not really a "clean" check..mine is also hard to get in and remove and I get a messy check (not a solid line) hard to read especially when it is new clean oil.

I believe you are correct the hashmarked area is the operating range, but the bottom of that range is a qt low. No source but I have seen that somewhere.

As a side note, does that tiny filter strike anyone else as odd? It is damm near the same as my 2.0 Acura

Which filter did you use, mine was pretty big. Are you sure you have the right filter on there?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044B0YJ8...=toyota+filter


what hashmarked area, I don't recall that, I will check tonight

How many quarts did you put in? If you put in between 6.5 and 7 you're fine.

I put 6.5, it was still a little low, put around 7 maybe? I drained it on ramps, so more probably came out then the standard 6.5.

i put in a full 7 every time. i use the OEM filters for what it's worth. always comes out just right.

The filters are correct, just small...relative to older V8s I owned and closer relative to the 4-cylinders I have owned....I dont remember the filter on the 5-cylinder...and the 6 I owned was a highlander and it had the re-useable canister with a filter element.


I wonder what "pretty big" is in your frame of reference?

I did another read right after the car was driven, at sat for 5-10 min. 2mm above the line. not losing sleep.
@rooost , Oh I haven't owned to many cars, just mine and my parents cars. Compared to the V6 and my subaru 4 cylinder, the oil filter is big. I guess big can always be bigger.