Oil Capacity Issues

[BlitzxCraig]

Hello all,
I have a 2002 Protege5 and I just changed the oil for the first time since I've owned it. The previous owner changed it with full synthetic about 4000 miles ago, and I went back to conventional oil for this change. Anyway, I read that oil capacity with filter change is 3.7 quarts. I used mobil1 super high mileage and a fram oil filter. When I went to put the oil back in it, I put just a little over the 3 qt line then checked to see the dipstick level, and it seemed to be overfilled, to the point where it was on the round rod part of the dipstick. I made sure to drain the oil pan to the point where it was no longer dripping, and I changed the oil filter. I chalked it up to the oil not draining down yet and called it a night. This morning, I checked it again and it still seems to be overfilled. Any comments on how this could happen? This is not the first time I've changed oil, but it is the first time I've had a problem with something like this.
Thanks in advance.

 

[BlitzxCraig]

Also, forgot to mention, it is showing no symptoms of overfilled oil or anything at all.

 

[Natey]

Did you notice how much came out of the car into your dirty oil container?
I'd redo it just to be safe. Sucks wasting 35 bucks on oil, but I've never heard of the dipstick lying and overfilling it can really screw things up. How cold is it in Virginia right now? Motor oil is like maple syrup in that the colder it gets the thicker it gets. It's a good idea to change the oil when the car's warm...not hot, but warm. Drive it, wait 15-20min then drain it. Good luck!

Mobil1 is synthetic.

 

[BlitzxCraig]

Gotcha. Yeah I ran it then drained the oil warm. Poured out fast and everything. I have a 10 quart oil drain container and it seemed to empty out a sufficient amount. Thanks though. I'll see if I can figure it out and I might redo it. It also burns some so I might just let it burn down...

 

[00protegees]

Not sure how similar the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0's oil pans are, but its possible the previous owner broke the original dipstick, and replaced it with a different (longer) one? Or maybe there is a gasket or something on the dipstick missing, allowing it to seat further down? Just some idea's.

 

[BlitzxCraig]

Yeah I was wondering something about that too. The previous owner did do some modifications to the car.

 

[pcb]

Did you start the car to circulate the oil and fill the new filter??

If it is overfilled, I'd just loosen the drain plug and try to drain off a bit... You'll make a mess but I wouldn't waste all that oil...

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Run the engine and then check it once it's shut off again. You check the oil level while the oil has been distributed to the whole engine, not once its drained back down into the pan.

 

[BlitzxCraig]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?51817-oil-capacity
It looks like some people have had this problem before, and this was back when these were new! No solutions were given however.

 

[pcb]

 

[BlitzxCraig]

Just letting everyone know, I think I figured it out. Upon further inspection, there is a dent in my oil pan from the previous owner, probably when he had it lowered further than it is now. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the car jacked up high enough to drain some of the oil trapped behind the dent, then I overfilled it. I drained some more out and got it to the safe level. Thanks everyone.

 

[Dusten]

Just letting everyone know, I think I figured it out. Upon further inspection, there is a dent in my oil pan from the previous owner, probably when he had it lowered further than it is now. I'm pretty sure I didn't have the car jacked up high enough to drain some of the oil trapped behind the dent, then I overfilled it. I drained some more out and got it to the safe level. Thanks everyone.

The dent will also lower capacity

 

[matalexander]

MATT! Hey! Its Matt!

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Use the 2000 626 v6 filter to make up for the dent some. It makes the capacity right at 4 full quarts when your pan is not dented. Get a bit of your capacity back.