FYI - 2010 rx350, 6.5 quarts - question below.

This might be a dumb question but it would help me out a lot. What is the "correct" way of doing this.

After you have replace the oil filter and screwed the 14mm drain plug back in to the oil gasket you then add the oil (which I add in 6 quarts in this step) while waiting a minute and checking it dip stick.

You then start your engine for about 1 to 2 minutes in idle the shut off, here is my question....

Do you wait until the engine cools down and all the oil has run to the bottom of the oil pan before checking the dipstick and topping it off or do you immediate check the dipstick right after your shut your vehicle off and it's still warm topping it off??

What's the correct way?

 

I check it a few minutes after shutting the vehicle off and again cold the following morning for extra measure. Topping off as needed to the fill line.

 

I check the level before starting the engine. Then start it for a few seconds and re-check. That usually gets it to the right range.

 

Tony,
For a routine oil level check, my owner's manual on page 466 recommends waiting 5 minutes after shutting down a warm engine to check the oil. Since you've just finished changing the oil and only run the engine for 1 - 2 minutes, it's not warmed up yet. There are no instructions as to how to "correctly" check the oil immediately after an oil change in the owner's manual.
I would check the dip stick right after your two minute run, then again after the recommended warm-up and cool down, at your convenience. I think the difference will be very small and inconsequential.
BTW, There's a LOW mark and a FULL mark. Any reading between the two is good. It doesn't always have to be at the FULL mark.
The cars nowadays burn hardly any oil. I can't remember the last time I added oil between changes.
Hope this helps.
Ray A.

 

Ray,

Toyotas barely burn any oil. There are quite a few makes out there that are heavy oil drinkers.

A coworker of mine just blew the engine on his Forester because he failed to keep an eye on the oil level during winter. He put about 10K miles over 6 months. Engine had 100K miles on it at the time of failure.

Germans will consume oil in high quantities as well.

 

Or you can wait the next morning and check the oil level. I just change oil on another car. The car takes 5.1 quarts. So I poured about 4.5 quarts, start the engine, run for a few minutes, stop and wait another 3 minutes. I check the level and put some more. Then I stopped there. If I like to check again I will do it the next morning. The car will not suddenly break down if you are half a quart low. But don't overfill.

 

^ right.
Less is better than overfilling.
And I agree with raylor4 and vlad about Toyota not burning oil.
I'm ok with 3/4 or anything between the half and full mark

 

You are right. My friend's Outback used a quart between changes. This is normal. I'm guessing it's the flat engine config. that contributes to this.
I stand corrected.
Ray A.

 

Nope, the "H" or flat engine design is not the reason for this. Was not a problem for Subaru years ago. This is a somewhat recent problem with their engine designs, namely the piston rings and engine break-in issues.

 

After I've changed oil, I start the engine, recheck and fill up to at least one eighth of an inch before the full mark. Park the car for the night and check the oil on a cold engine next morning and add up to the full mark. You don't have to do that last fill up, we live in a hot climate and every little drop of oil can help with cooling (maybe not necessary here either, was just crucial on a Honda bike I had). Yes, the RX doesn't use oil.
Oil consumption on flat engines is not inherent because of the layout. Not even the Chevy Corvair engine used oil for that reason, of course it used oil just for the sheer hell of it, but man, did they have soul.

 

The ringland and engine break-in issues in Subaru are more inherent in their 2.5L turbo line, due to overly aggressive factory tunes and their hypereutectic pistons which are known to break with det.

The oil consumption thing is somewhat general in their lineup due to their pcv placement. Once the pcv sticks, the oil consumption is there. Just like in the 1st gen Lexus RX.

 

Do think the 3.5 in the RX is a brilliant engine. Not really any flaws and the fact that it doesn't leak or burn oil, is in itself a sign of good design. Had a Norton Commando and if there wasn't a puddle of oil underneath it, it was a sure sign that it had no oil in the engine in the first place.