I changed the oil on my 2007 4 runner v6. Owners manual says 5.5 qt with filter. 5 qt without filter. When refilled the oil I put exactly 5.5 qt back in with the filter change. Started it ran it for a bit. Then let it sit over night checked the oil with the dip stick. The dip stick is hard to read there is oil all up and down it even above the full mark on both sides. So today I thought I would drain a bit of oil to see if the oil went down on the dip stick again when I check there is oil smeared up and down both sides. So I am unsure what to think is the manual right or the dip stick. Dip stick seems like it is useless. On the last oil change I got at shop they said they put 5.5 qt back in. Thoughts?

Also the first couple of times after the oil change it seemed like the car started harder then normal. Like it hesitated. I didn't think anything of it, but after my wife mentioned it, I started thinking more it might have something to do with the oil change.

I posted some pictures here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdv...owners_manual/

I would go by the owners manual as you have to have a starting point. I would, in your case add 4.5-5 qts. at an oil/filter change, start and drive the vehicle around the block and then let it sit for about 15 minutes or so before checking level on dipstick, or maybe even overnight. You should be able to read you dipstick after vehicle sits for an extended time. Pull it out, if it is smeared, wipe it clean and reinsert and then remove, you should be able to get a good reading on one side or the other, then adjust the level accordingly.
I always go for about half way between low and full mark.

A quart low is better than a pint high. I always err on the side of low. The dipstick is hard to read but the dirtier the oil gets the easier it is to read. New, clear oil doesn't have much contrast.

I've learned to put the dipstick in all the way and immediately pull it out. After an oil change I will check the level every couple of days for a week or so. Make sure you're on level ground and if you have time, let it sit for a few minutes with the engine off. On my '04 one side shows the oil level better than the other.

For all the cars over all the years, I've found that none of them are easy to read until the oil gets dirty. I have had better luck with letting it sit in the garage overnight than anything else. Pull the stick out and read it, both sides, keeping it level so the oil doesn't run down the stick.

FSM spec LUBRICANT Item Capacity Classification
Dry fill 5.9 liters (6.2 US qts, 5.2 lmp. qts) w/ Oil filter change
Drain and refill 5.2 liters (5.5 US qts, 4.6 lmp. qts)
w/o Oil filter change 4.9 liters (5.2 US qts, 4.3 lmp. qts)

For 24 yrs 5VZ oil change have used 6 qts. DD1 or DD3 filter put oil level on full dot of stick.
How I drain oil is pull plug let drain while I do other inspections probably 15-20 minutes.
This replicates very close a dry fill.

Dipsticks can do that as it rubs on the sides of the dipstick tube. If the engine is cold and not been started overnight, then the dipstick tube should also by drained of oil and when pulling the dipstick out the oil level should read correctly on the bottom. I would drain the oil and replace the filter and put the amount of oil in that Toyota recommends, you say 5.5 qts. and I would feel safe with that.