Why do dealers do this? Overfill oil then argue?

[yamahaha]

First oil change they overfill then argue with me about it. Mazda head office calls them and emails me saying "they say you cant read a dipstick". Oh I can read the dipstick just fine. I can read the manual too, and the work order. CANADA is LITERS (confusion avoidance edit)

 

[Gozo]

Was it actually overfilled? Their system may only allow certain values for oil quantity (maybe in 0.5 units). So 5 isn’t enough, and the next 0.1 gets billed as an additional 0.5. Mine takes 5 and a bit more than 1/4, so a partial bottle sits on the shelf waiting for the next fill.

 

[yamahaha]

Was it actually overfilled? Their system may only allow certain values for oil quantity (maybe in 0.5 units). So 5 isn’t enough, and the next 0.1 gets billed as an additional 0.5. Mine takes 5 and a bit more than 1/4, so a partial bottle sits on the shelf waiting for the next fill.

yes the dipstick clearly shows almost a liter over (3/16th -1/4" over top dot). Note 4.8 liter ... no reason 5.5 appears and I've questioned them and they swear up and down thats what my car takes. Despite the manual.

 

[yrwei52]

First oil change they overfill then argue with me about it. Mazda head office calls them and emails me saying "they say you cant read a dipstick". Oh I can read the dipstick just fine. I can read the manual too, and the work order. View attachment 330331View attachment 330332

Unfortunately your Mazda dealer actually is correct this time putting in 5.5 quarts of 5W-30 oil in your 2.5T for the oil change. The oil quantity of 5.1 quarts listed in owner’s manual is “approximate” and misleading. All DIYers know they need to put in more than specified 5.1 quarts, with 5.5 quarts is the most agreeable quantity for the oil change on the 2.5T to reach to the Max mark of the dipstick. If the oil level on the dipstick is higher than the Max mark with 5.5 quarts during dealer’s oil change, the reason IMO is the tech didn’t wait long enough for the oil to drain. Most dealers use a meter with bulk oil and if the meter set to 5.5 quarts, you car will get 5.5 quarts.

I blame this confusion to Mazda as its fluid quantities listed in the manual are inconsistent. Engine oil capacities listed usually are 0.4 ~ 0.5 quart low for the 2.0L / 2.5L NA and the 2.5T.

My 2016 CX-5 2.5L NA needs 5.25 quarts for the oil change, but the manual says 4.8 quarts. Rear differential gear oil is listed 0.48 quart but it actually needs 0.7 quart. However, the gear oil needed for front transfer case is right on the spec, 0.48 quart.

I have a 2018 Toyota Yaris iA with a 1.5L NA which is a Mazda2 in disguise. It had Toyota’s free 2-year new car maintenance, and each time it’s overfilled for the oil change. I did ask the Toyota tech why he overfilled the oil even though I told the service writer at front NOT to overfill the oil and put the words on writing. He said he simply followed the amount based on Toyota’s official instruction, 4.6 quarts, but my 2018 Yaris iA manual says 4.4 quarts. When I started to do the oil change by myself after 2 years, I found 4.6 quarts actually is the correct amount, not the 4.4 quarts listed in the manual, for the oil change. Again, my conclusion is the tech didn’t wait long enough to let the oil drained completely.

Edit: looks like you’re in Canada with metric system. 5.5 liters / 5.8 quarts stated on the dealer’s invoice for the oil change on the 2.5T definitely is a bit too much,

 

[yamahaha]

Unfortunately your Mazda dealer actually is correct this time putting in 5.5 quarts of 5W-30 oil in your 2.5T for the oil change. The oil quantity of 5.1 quarts listed in owner’s manual is “approximate” and misleading. All DIYers know they need to put in more than specified 5.1 quarts, with 5.5 quarts is the most agreeable quantity for the oil change on the 2.5T to reach to the Max mark of the dipstick. If the oil level on the dipstick is higher than the Max mark with 5.5 quarts during dealer’s oil change, the reason IMO is the tech didn’t wait long enough for the oil to drain. Most dealers use a meter with bulk oil and if the meter set to 5.5 quarts, you car will get 5.5 quarts.

I blame this confusion to Mazda as its fluid quantities listed in the manual are inconsistent. Engine oil capacities listed usually are 0.4 ~ 0.5 quart low for the 2.0L / 2.5L NA and the 2.5T.

My 2016 CX-5 2.5L NA needs 5.25 quarts for the oil change, but the manual says 4.8 quarts. Rear differential gear oil is listed 0.48 quart but it actually needs 0.7 quart. However, the gear oil needed for front transfer case is right on the spec, 0.48 quart.

I have a 2018 Toyota Yaris iA with a 1.5L NA which is a Mazda2 in disguise. It had Toyota’s free 2-year new car maintenance, and each time it’s overfilled for the oil change. I did ask the Toyota tech why he overfilled the oil even though I told the service writer at front NOT to overfill the oil and put the words on writing. He said he simply followed the amount based on Toyota’s official instruction, 4.6 quarts, but my 2018 Yaris iA manual says 4.4 quarts. When I started to do the oil change by myself after 2 years, I found 4.6 quarts actually is the correct amount, not the 4.4 quarts listed in the manual, for the oil change. Again, my conclusion is the tech didn’t wait long enough to let the oil drained completely.

Edit: looks like you’re in Canada with metric system. 5.5 liters / 5.8 quarts stated on the dealer’s invoice for the oil change on the 2.5T definitely is a bit too much,

ITs LITERS not quarts. 4.8 LITERS. They put in 5.5 .. that is not correct. Capacity is capacity. Its over, measures over because ITS TO MUCH. Why parrot nonsense?

 

[N7turbo]

In all my experience with cars, the engine oil level should be half way between the two marks, not at max. This allows for movement in both directions and prevents overfilling, which reduces engine power and economy. Once I achieved that, I added another .2 or so. So I have maybe 5.2 in there. Hard to say exactly. But it was certainly not 5.5 or the 5.7 that came in my car when new.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

ITs LITERS not quarts. 4.8 LITERS. They put in 5.5 .. that is not correct. Capacity is capacity. Its over, measures over because ITS TO MUCH. Why parrot nonsense?

The invoice states that they put in 5.5 somethings of oil. It doesn't state whether its liters or quarts. You appear to live in the land of metric so one would assume that its liters that they're talking about but one could be wrong about that too.

 

[yrwei52]

ITs LITERS not quarts. 4.8 LITERS. They put in 5.5 .. that is not correct. Capacity is capacity. Its over, measures over because ITS TO MUCH. Why parrot nonsense?

Yes I found out earlier your region uses metric system and had edited my previous post. 5.5 liters / 5.8 quarts definitely too much for the oil change on the 2.5T, on the other hand, 4.8 liters / 5.1 quarts stated in the owner’s manual is not enough either to the Max mark.

 

[yrwei52]

In all my experience with cars, the engine oil level should be half way between the two marks, not at max. For me that took a little over 5 quarts, maybe 5.2. Hard to say exactly. But it was certainly not 5.5 or the 5.7 that came in my car when new.

The Mazda manual says "The level is normal if it is between the MIN and MAX marks.“, but it also says "If it is near or below MIN, add enough oil to bring the level to MAX."

Keeping the oil level to the Max or Full after the oil change is a common practice since I can remember. It’s all about better safety margin. Keeping the oil level at the MAX level protects the engine better when any accident of oil leak happens.

I myself had an incident that the free Toyota new car maintenance oil change done on my 2018 Toyota Yaris iA and overfilled at least 0.5 quart as usual. I then drove 400 miles from San Jose to LA, only found the oil level didn’t register any on the dipstick the next morning. Turned out the Toyota tech “damaged” the drain plug gasket during the oil change and the oil was leaking out. If the tech didn’t overfill the oil with much bigger safety margin, my Yaris could have a damaged engine and got stranded somewhere on the I-5.

And the fluid capacities stated in owner’s manual should be to the full level too for the fluid change. All cars I’ve owned, Chevrolet、AMC、VW、BMW、Honda、Toyota、etc. when I use specified oil quantity for the oil change, it reaches the Full / Max mark of the dipstick. Mazda is the first to me reaches only the half way between marks with specified quantity. And that’s why we have seen many confused CX-5 owners including me wondering why the oil level can’t be at Full / Max mark after the first time DIY oil change with Mazda stated quantity.

 

[Mazdiod2]

I have heard that on some cars overfilling might cause a fairly quick 'burn off' or loss of the extra oil, or sometimes oil foaming and so not very good for the engine. Overfilling oil in the transmission can possibly cause seal leaks, but I don't know that engines suffer from seal problems. So you would think that Mazda should attempt to have the accurate capacities listed.

I've never had any problems with a little extra oil. Oil alway comes in 5 quart packages, so I use the full 5 quarts instead of the 4.6 that is recommended. If I had the 2.5T, I don't know if I would keep an extra bottle open for topping up to the mark or not. It might depend on my driving style and upcoming trips, etc. But it would seem inevitable that I might need to add a bit before the oil change if it only started at half-full.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

2.5L NA engine on mine. I always just use a 5 quart jug when I do my oil changes and that puts it about 3/4 of the way towards the top (max) dot on the dipstick. I still have no idea why the manual says to use 4.8 quarts. If I use another half a quart after the 5 quarts, then it actually hits max dot, but I usually just call it good at 5 quarts.

 

[yamahaha]

The invoice states that they put in 5.5 somethings of oil. It doesn't state whether its liters or quarts. You appear to live in the land of metric so one would assume that its liters that they're talking about but one could be wrong about that too.

Its always LITERS at any shop in Canada, which is on the dealers invoice.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

your manual doesnt say 4.8 quarts. Its says 5.1. 4.8 is liters. I would call it quits too anywhere near max. Thats what the dots are for and 3/4 there seems perfect.

Screenshot of the 2014 CX-5 owner's manual PDF. My manual says 4.8 quarts. The manual is wrong. 4.8 quarts would probably only put it halfway on the dipstick between the two dots.

With some oil consumption/loss between changes, would rather be closer to the full dot.

 

[Mazdiod2]

Screenshot of the 2014 CX-5 owner's manual PDF. My manual says 4.8 quarts. The manual is wrong. 4.8 quarts would probably only put it halfway on the dipstick between the two dots.

With some oil consumption/loss between changes, would rather be closer to the full dot.

View attachment 330367

If they were using the quart measure, it should have been Imp quarts, only 4.0 imp qts!

 

[jadmt]

I had the same thing and they indicated 6 qts 2X in a row. I had 3 free changes and first one they overfilled, 2nd one they over filled and 3rd one they over filled...mine was up to the twist of the dip stick. I complained and they said they would give me a free oil change.....I was like you have no idea how to do a proper oil change lol....The Service writer did have the tech come out and check the oil and the tech said it was indeed over filled.........will not let them do a 4th free or not. Super easy to do yourself.

 

[N7turbo]

The Mazda manual says "The level is normal if it is between the MIN and MAX marks.“, but it also says "If it is near or below MIN, add enough oil to bring the level to MAX."

The manual also says:

The level is normal if it is between the MIN and MAX marks.

And it was also true of the GM and even Mercedes cars I've had.

So half-way is fine.

Unless you're trying to protect your reputation amidst issues with oil burning engines. In that case, that is one of the only reasons someone would be near the MIN line, and you should have them fill it to MAX to buy some time.

The manual is wrong. 4.8 quarts would probably only put it halfway on the dipstick between the two dots.

The manual is accurate if the target is the half way point.

And I stay away from the MAX line because I don't want to take the hit to power or economy.

 

[jadmt]

The manual also says:

The level is normal if it is between the MIN and MAX marks.

View attachment 330371

And it was also true of the GM and even Mercedes cars I've had.

So half-way is fine.

Unless you're trying to protect your reputation amidst issues with oil burning engines. In that case, that is one of the only reasons someone would be near the MIN line, and you should have them fill it to MAX to buy some time.


The manual is accurate.

And I stay away from the MAX line because I don't want to take the hit to power or economy.

yes it is funny people always think fuller is better but that is not the case..Your engine only cares that there is just enough oil....

 

[yamahaha]

I had the same thing and they indicated 6 qts 2X in a row. I had 3 free changes and first one they overfilled, 2nd one they over filled and 3rd one they over filled...mine was up to the twist of the dip stick. I complained and they said they would give me a free oil change.....I was like you have no idea how to do a proper oil change lol....The Service writer did have the tech come out and check the oil and the tech said it was indeed over filled.........will not let them do a 4th free or not. Super easy to do yourself.

and they put conventional in your turbo?????

 

[yrwei52]

and they put conventional in your turbo?????

Well, at least that dealer used genuine Mazda 5W-30 conventional oil ($$$) for his 2.5T ⋯

I believe that Mazda dealer simply invoiced 6 bottles of Mazda OEM 5W-30 conventional oil in quart container for easier accounting purpose, and let the tech to decide how much oil he wants to put in.

 

[madar]

Exactly why I always do my own and never have a garage do it. I don't care if they are free. A dealer replaced my oil pan years ago, I got the car back and it was a quart over the fill line. I brought it back and made them drain the excess out.