3.8 Oil Level on New Genesis Shows High

Mark_888 · #1 02-03-2009, 09:15 PM

I checked the oil level on my 3.8 V6 today and it appeared to be about 3/4 of a quart high (based on the distance between "F" and "L" level on the dipstick). My engine has about 700 miles on it, and I checked the oil level after the car sat idle overnight.

Does the oil from the top filter drain back into the crankcase affecting the oil level? The manual says wait about 5 minutes after the engine has stopped to check the oil level, but is there is a problem in waiting longer than 5 minutes?

Maybe others with the the V6 that have not had an oil change yet could check their oil level and comment on this.

rpenland · #2 02-05-2009, 12:22 PM

Waiting for more than 5 minutes (or much longer for that matter) should not be a problem. As info, when I got my 3.8 it was 1/2 quart LOW.

Gimli · #3 02-05-2009, 12:40 PM

Make sure you're on level ground when you check the oil level.

EdVoylesHyundai · #4 02-06-2009, 09:08 AM

As Gimli said, make sure the car is on level ground. Also, make sure that you remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and then insert and remove to check the level. On many cars, when the oil is draining back into the pan, it will contact the dipstick and make it read high unless you wipe it first. Also, the level should be indicated by the point below which the entire stick is saturated with oil. If there is a bit of oil running up one side of the dipstick, that just means the dipstick is rubbing on something when inserted or removed that has oil on it.

Letting the car sit overnight should not change the reading significantly, but try running the motor and then waiting 5 minutes to see if your results are the same.

Does that help?

Mark_888 · #5 02-06-2009, 01:25 PM

The car is on a level surface when it shows high. I have been looking at dipsticks for over 40 years on various cars I have owned, and I have changed my own oil many times, but I will check it out again.

One thing I noticed is that their seems to be a discrepancy in the amount of oil required for drain and fill on the 3.8 V6 in various Hyundai documentation. Since I have not had an oil change yet, I have no idea which is correct.

From http://www.hmaservice.com (under SHOP tab, Engine Mechanical/Lubrication/Engine Oil)
Engine Oil quantity
Total : 6.0 L (6.34 US qt, 5.27 lmp qt)
Oil pan : 5.5 L (5.81 US qt, 4.83 lmp qt)
Drain and refill including oil filter : 5.2 L (4.49 US qt, 4.57 lmp qt)

From Owners Manual (pg 8-4):
Engine oil (drain and refill) 3.8L - 5.49 US qt. (5.2 l)

EdVoylesHyundai · #6 02-06-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_888

The car is on a level surface when it shows high. I have been looking at dipsticks for over 40 years on various cars I have owned, and I have changed my own oil many times, but I will check it out again.

One thing I noticed is that their seems to be a discrepancy in the amount of oil required for drain and fill on the 3.8 V6 in various Hyundai documentation. Since I have not had an oil change yet, I have no idea which is correct.

From http://www.hmaservice.com (under SHOP tab, Engine Mechanical/Lubrication/Engine Oil)
Engine Oil quantity
Total : 6.0 L (6.34 US qt, 5.27 lmp qt)
Oil pan : 5.5 L (5.81 US qt, 4.83 lmp qt)
Drain and refill including oil filter : 5.2 L (4.49 US qt, 4.57 lmp qt)

From Owners Manual (pg 8-4):
Engine oil (drain and refill) 3.8L - 5.49 US qt. (5.2 l)

Mark, the drain/fill is listed at 5.2L from both sources. I think HMAService has a typo. It should read 5.49 US qt also.

Texman · #7 02-07-2009, 01:54 AM

Mark, I have the same problem. My dealer changed the oil and two days later I checked and it was about 3/4" over full. I took it back to the dealer and they drained and refilled it. We checked it before leaving and it was on the money. The next day before starting I checked and it was again 3/4" over full. I will be going back Monday.

Mark_888 · #8 02-07-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdVoylesHyundai

Mark, the drain/fill is listed at 5.2L from both sources. I think HMAService has a typo. It should read 5.49 US qt also.

Thanks for spotting that.

Mark_888 · #9 02-07-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texman

Mark, I have the same problem. My dealer changed the oil and two days later I checked and it was about 3/4" over full. I took it back to the dealer and they drained and refilled it. We checked it before leaving and it was on the money. The next day before starting I checked and it was again 3/4" over full. I will be going back Monday.

I wonder if some extra oil gets drained from the filter after leaving it over-night?

Texman · #10 02-07-2009, 12:35 PM

I'm thinking that the tech doesn't let the oil drain long enough and some is still in before refilling.

Mark_888 · #11 02-08-2009, 04:42 PM

I checked the dipstick again, this time 5 minutes after shutting off the engine. It was right a the F level. Then checked it again the next day (without driving it since previous day) and it showed about 3/8 qt over the F level. So I am assuming that the oil is draining from the oil filter if you leave the car long enough without driving it.

EdVoylesHyundai · #12 02-09-2009, 01:29 PM

Thanks for doing the legwork, Mark. Sounds like oil is draining down to the pan overnight. The oil filter is at the highest point on the engine, so it makes sense that it might drain to the pan over time.

Now we know why the manual states to check oil 5 mins after shutting off.

brihvac · #13 03-28-2009, 04:22 PM

This is a very bad design because it starves the engine for oil when you first start it up. Thats why Im getting that dry tap on cold start ups. This can't be good on the engine

Nabber · #14 03-28-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brihvac

This is a very bad design because it starves the engine for oil when you first start it up. Thats why Im getting that dry tap on cold start ups. This can't be good on the engine

Learned of these from the boating world... The best oil additive is Pressure!

Mark_888 · #15 11-27-2009, 10:52 AM

I have resolved one problem--that of getting an accurate and consistent reading on the V6 dipstick. Make sure the oil filler cap is unscrewed before taking a dipstick reading. Apparently when the oil filler cap is screwed on, their is enough suction to draw oil up the dipstick when you try and pull it out, making it almost impossible to read properly.

The oil level still shows about 1/2 quart high after sitting for awhile (when adding 5.5 quarts during an oil change), but I am assuming this is because the top mounted oil filter drains back into the crankcase. My car showed 1/2 quart high when I purchased it with 20 miles on the OD (as others have reported) and the dipstick is slightly discolored at the 1/2 quart high reading, suggesting that it came from factory with that same level.