oil debate

[xlxhockeyxlx]

how much oil is reccommended by Scion/Toyota when you do a full oil change ( includes filter). I usually have 4-4.5 of 5w20 put in. The last shop i went through after a engine repair put in 3.5 and now im having a lifter noise.

[CadenceScion]

Oil Capacity - with filter 3.8L(4.0qt) - without filter 3.6L(3.8qt)

[xlxhockeyxlx]

any idea if its true that a half quart low can do damage to the engine? and where can i find these recommendations

[CadenceScion]

Pull the dipstick, wipe it off and re-stick it. If its a little low just re-add till its full.

[navylife59]

As long as your dipstick is reading some oil, your engine should not be oil starved, however, instances of hard cornering can allow air into the pickup tube and cause cavitation. Also, if you park with car tilted at a high angle (as on a curb), you oil pump could cavitate while idling if the oil level is low enough.

Sounds like you went to a quick lube place. You should avoid those places, as much as, possible. You have to always check that your oil cap was put back on tightly or even on at all. They put cheap, crap oil in and over charge for the good stuff when you ask. You also have no way of knowing that the good stuff was put in when you paid for it. I even had a the Dealership where I bought my first tC from put standard motor oil in my GF's Camry when I gave them Royal Purple to put in it. I was on a trip and had no way of doing the work myself. I checked the oil later that day and found the oil to be light honey color. Not quite the deep purple of the RP. When I called, the Service Writer put me on hold and asked the tech that did the job. He came back with a "Yes. The Ticket states that customer to supply the oil and the Technician said that he put that oil in". Well, they could not explain how conventional motor oil got in there so they ended up reimbursing me for the RP and doing the oil change as intended. I normally don't have anyone touch my car unless it is an absolute necessity; for this very reason.

So back to your guy. Hopefully, this person changed the oil filter too. If you have paperwork showing what the exact amount of oil was dispensed, you might have a case against that shop. Unfortunately, the law is not going to do anything until your motor mechanically fails. Noises and poor MPG are just about impossible to argue. I know. I ran into that problem with my '07 Tundra that sounds like a Diesel engine half the time.