[Hartlyboy]

My 95 Deville with the 4.9 engine recently indicated it was time for an oil change and that began a small mystery for me.
This particular car is a relatively recent acquisition and it was the first oil change with it. I've had other 4.9's and
recalled they took about 7 qts.. It was also what the owners manual called for.

Trouble is the oil coming out didn't look like 7 qts in volume [dipstick read full] and the 7 qt refill puts it above the full mark.
It looks like the original dipstick and it has no dents in the pan.

Any ideas about what is going on here? I'd be suspicious of the dipstick being the right one, but there might be something else I'm missing.
Any idea how long a 4.9 dipstick should be?

 

[MoistCabbage]

The 4.9 does NOT take 7 quarts. It's 5 or 5.5. Can't remember exactly at the moment.

The Northstar takes 7.5.

 

[basscatt]

My 95 Deville with the 4.9 engine recently indicated it was time for an oil change and that began a small mystery for me.
This particular car is a relatively recent acquisition and it was the first oil change with it. I've had other 4.9's and
recalled they took about 7 qts.. It was also what the owners manual called for.

Trouble is the oil coming out didn't look like 7 qts in volume [dipstick read full] and the 7 qt refill puts it above the full mark.
It looks like the original dipstick and it has no dents in the pan.

Any ideas about what is going on here? I'd be suspicious of the dipstick being the right one, but there might be something else I'm missing.
Any idea how long a 4.9 dipstick should be?

===============================
I've had other 4.9's and recalled they took about 7 qts..
you recalled it wrong -
oil capacity is 5.5 quarts with a new filter -

It was also what the owners manual called for.
don't know what version of the owner's manual you are looking at -
page 6-73 of the Owners Manual lists capacities -

go here for a free download -
http://justgivemethedamnmanual.com/cadillac/1995-cadillac-deville-owners-manual

could be you are looking at a 95 Deville Concours OM -
the Concours has the Northstar motor -
and the Northstar does have a 7.5 quart oil capacity -

 

[dchavezo]

My 95 Deville with the 4.9 engine recently indicated it was time for an oil change and that began a small mystery for me. This particular car is a relatively recent acquisition and it was the first oil change with it. I've had other 4.9's and recalled they took about 7 qts.. It was also what the owners manual called for. Trouble is the oil coming out didn't look like 7 qts in volume [dipstick read full] and the 7 qt refill puts it above the full mark. It looks like the original dipstick and it has no dents in the pan. Any ideas about what is going on here? I'd be suspicious of the dipstick being the right one, but there might be something else I'm missing. Any idea how long a 4.9 dipstick should be?

The FSM states 5 with no filter, 5.5 with a new oil filter.

I just changed my oil a few days ago with a new filter it took a full 6 quarts to get the reason right to the top of the hash marks on the dip stick.

6 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic 10w-30 for 30 bucks. Gotta love Costco

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My dip stick is original. I can measure it soon and get back to you

 

[basscatt]

The FSM states 5 with no filter, 5.5 with a new oil filter.

I just changed my oil a few days ago with a new filter it took a full 6 quarts to get the reason right to the top of the hash marks on the dip stick.

6 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic 10w-30 for 30 bucks. Gotta love Costco

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My dip stick is original. I can measure it soon and get back to you

=============================
I just changed my oil a few days ago with a new filter it took a full 6 quarts
why would you knowingly overfill it? :hmm:

6 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic 10w-30 for 30 bucks. Gotta love Costco
5 quarts of Valvoline 10W30 for 15 bucks - Gotta love Walmart - :thumbsup:

 

[dchavezo]

============================= why would you knowingly overfill it?:

How about: because the dipstick reading said "add"

HELLOOOOOO

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============================= I just changed my oil a few days ago with a new filter it took a full 6 quarts why would you knowingly overfill it? :hmm: 6 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic 10w-30 for 30 bucks. Gotta love Costco 5 quarts of Valvoline 5W30 for 15 bucks - Gotta love Walmart - :thumbsup:

Also, 4.9s take 10w-30 unless your in extremely cold climate...

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============================= 5 quarts of Valvoline 5W30 for 15 bucks - Gotta love Walmart - :thumbsup:

Full synthetic? Good for you.

 

[basscatt]

How about: because the dipstick reading said "add"

HELLOOOOOO

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Also, 4.9s take 10w-30 unless your in extremely cold climate...

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Full synthetic? Good for you.

--------------------------------------------
How about: because the dipstick reading said "add"

HELLOOOOOO

ALL reference materials say oil capacity is 5.5 quarts with a filter -
if you added 6 quarts - it's OVERFILLED - HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

you probably didn't wait long enough
for the oil to drain down into the oil pan - HELLOOOOOO

check it in the morning -
and I bet it will register OVERFULL by just about a half quart - GOODBUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

4.9s take 10w-30 unless your in extremely cold climate...
YES - you are correct - price is the same -

Full synthetic? Good for you.
NO - I don't waste my money on synthetic oil -
the engine was designed to use plain old dino oil -

 

[Hartlyboy]

Thanks to all for the comments. I have to admit I made an amateur mistake in assuming the manual that came with a used car was the right
one for the car. Turns out I did have a '95 Concours manual for the Northstar engine. I've had several Northstars over the years so the "7 Qt.
memory" must have been from them.

Anyway, guess I'll need to go back underneath and drain some off to get the level right. At least I won't have to do the messy filter change
again.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[dchavezo]

-------------------------------------------- How about: because the dipstick reading said "add" HELLOOOOOO ALL reference materials say oil capacity is 5.5 quarts with a filter - if you added 6 quarts - it's OVERFILLED - HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you probably didn't wait long enough for the oil to drain down into the oil pan - HELLOOOOOO check it in the morning - and I bet it will register OVERFULL by just about a half quart - GOODBUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 4.9s take 10w-30 unless your in extremely cold climate... YES - you are correct - price is the same - Full synthetic? Good for you. NO - I don't waste my money on synthetic oil - the engine was designed to use plain old dino oil -

Calm down

I'm constantly checking my oil. And it's right where it needs to be. So you're wrong.

What looks good on paper doesn't always translate to the real world.

----------

Here's a pic after I drove 20 miles to work. Car was sitting for about an hour and a half.

Also, dipstick length reference. About from the nipple on the radiator cover to the blue and silver sticker on the right hand side of the same cover

 

[MoistCabbage]

The oil capacity of the engine is exactly what it says on paper. There are no variances between individual vehicles.

If it's taking 6 quarts, something's wrong. Wrong oil filter, wrong dipstick, sits tick tube not seated correctly, oil not draining into the pan for some reason...

 

[dchavezo]

The oil capacity of the engine is exactly what it says on paper. There are no variances between individual vehicles. If it's taking 6 quarts, something's wrong. Wrong oil filter, wrong dipstick, sits tick tube not seated correctly, oil not draining into the pan for some reason...

As much as I'd like to worry I'm not going to. Dip stick seats properly. It's oem. Filter is proper. Never had any issues before with anything keeping the oil at this exact level. And half a quart isn't much to speak of.

If I had to put 8 or 9 quarts in I would then not do it/be concerned

 

[scooter500]

I used to use full synthetic thinking I'll get many more miles but at 3k, oils nasty so now I buy SuperFlo & just change every 3k. 5.5 qts 10w30.

 

[MoistCabbage]

If by "nasty" you mean dark, that's totally normal and an indication that the detergents are doing what they're designed to do. It is NOT an indication that it needs to be changed. 3K changes are a total waste of CONVENTIONAL oil, let alone synthetic.

Synthetic oils have a higher detergent content, they will be darker when changed.

 

[Ranger]

:yeah:

 

[Tennesseestorm]

Yeah my '91 DeVille with the 4.9L takes 5.5 quarts obviously. Checking the oil level on these cars seems tricky to me. Even the slightest slope can cause it to show too much oil or below full level. If I back my car in and the right side is slightly leaning down, it will read overfull... the other way, it shows slightly below full. I thought I had the wrong stick at one point when I first got the car. lol.

 

[Ranger]

Oil level is not THAT critical.

 

[houg]

If by "nasty" you mean dark, that's totally normal and an indication that the detergents are doing what they're designed to do. It is NOT an indication that it needs to be changed. 3K changes are a total waste of CONVENTIONAL oil, let alone synthetic.

Synthetic oils have a higher detergent content, they will be darker when changed.

i wont let my OLM get below 50% and i use synthetic, i guess it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling

 

[MoistCabbage]

That's no different from replacing a fully functional light bulb when it's half way towards blowing out. But that warm fuzzy feeling is worth spending extra for sometimes :yup:

 

[mc_marto]

Yeah my '91 DeVille with the 4.9L takes 5.5 quarts obviously. Checking the oil level on these cars seems tricky to me. Even the slightest slope can cause it to show too much oil or below full level. If I back my car in and the right side is slightly leaning down, it will read overfull... the other way, it shows slightly below full. I thought I had the wrong stick at one point when I first got the car. lol.

That's true for just about any vehicle. All fluids must always be checked on level ground. No matter if it's engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, or when eye-balling the level in the coolant tank, or brake fluid. It's just gravity at play.