So this sounds funny...but I need help checking my oil.

I'm a rookie VQ37 guy, and purchase a cherry EX37 with less than 10,000miles on it! I purchased it out of town, around a 1000 mile drive.

I picked it up and drove it directly to the Infiniti dealer to have a full service before driving it home...engine oil, trans, diff's, transfer case, etc. As this is a 13 year old car and while it's oil was changed often, there was no record of the other fliuid being changed...wanted to be on the safe side.

When I got back, I had to get an out of state inspection...I had the inspection done at my local Honda dealer because the out of state inspection is generic and can be done by any dealer. The noted the 'oil level appeared over filled' and suggested I remove some oil from it (not sure why they didnt?)

The car passed inspection (obviously lol) and I drove it home and the checked the oil the next morning...to my surprise I saw a dipstick that looks like almost comically overfilled!



I figured there must be something odd going on, so I picked up the manual and it said to run the car till operating temp, then wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain back...then check the oil.

I did so, and I still get an overfill...but nothing as bonkers as my cold engine check (overnight).

For me, the cold engine overnight check has always been the best/most reliable for every other car i've owned...let it sit overnight, all the oil falls down into the pan...then check the level on first pull. On this, it showed the level so high I almost fell over lol.

Tips and advice for a new VQ37 owner would be appreciated! :-)

 

1. Drive the car (operating temp);
2. Remove dipstick;
3. Let car sit overnight;
4. Check oil level.

Report back.

If in doubt, are you able/ willing to change your own oil? If so, change oil ensure you fill with 5qt. of your oil of choice for peace of mind.

 

Hmmm...Ok, I guess this is the way I'm going just to be on the safe side.

What is oil of choice? Synthetic or non? 5-30W? What would the dealer use...?

 

The VQ requires 5.2 quarts. I suspect whoever changed the oil rounded up to 5.5 as that .2 takes a little arithmetic (i.e. 1/5) to figure out how to correctly estimate using a quart bottle (946mL / 5 = 189.2mL works for me).

Check the dipstick in the morning when the car is cold. Wipe once, insert, remove, measure.

If the level is at the top hole or slightly above (<1/16"), you are ok.

If it's above, you can pump some out using an extraction tool sucking through the dip stick tube:

 

I have used Mobil1 5W-30 full synthetic for years in all my vehicles except the Bimmer with zero issues. Annually for the G (as it gets driven less tha 7-8k miles/yr.) and every 5K for the Bimmer (for the health of the turbos).

Oil brands/ viscocities are a touchy and "personal" choice of which two people will rarely agree.

Just stick with a name brand and you'll be fine.

 

Exactly. Frequency matters alot more than the oil used since most meet or exceed ILSAC GF-7 and API SQ standards if they are sold in the US.

If the dealer already changed the oil, I would just suck a little out and sleep better at night.

I also recall reading somewhere that manufactures design cars to be overfilled up to .5 quarts without windage occurring. Windage is bad news, so I try not to let my feet get too close to the fire.

 

Hi guys.

I got a 1/8" vinyl tube and a big syringe and sucked out about 250ml (about 1/4 of a liter) and the oil is now right in the high mark, not visibly OVER the dipstick hump, like it was before.

Thanks for the advice! Good to know for future!