Oil viscosity and capacity data

[sammerdog]

Gentlemen, a chunk of my Wife's friends are getting widowed or divorced lately. Trying to help them out, I'm doing some oil changes here and there for them. In a perfect world, they'd know their car's oil type, viscosity, capacity, and filter number by heart.

For some odd reason, the Widow answered "....now why would I know that?...."

Filter numbers? No problem on line through AutoZone or NAPA.

Do any of you guys know of a source where one can enter year, make, model, and engine to find oil viscosity and capacities?

.....and nope - the owner's manuals are never in the glove box, and the stupid oil filler caps are usually plain black. It's getting real old googling every variation of:
"2000 Chrysler 300m viscosity 3.5L capacity
"Chrysler 300m capacity viscosity"
"viscosity 2000 3.5L Chrysler 300m"
"3.5L viscosity 2000 300m Chrysler"................

 

[krooser]

Most newer cars have that info on the oil cap or somewhere on the car.

If all else fails simply use a 5W30 or 10W30 and fill to the full mark.

The average car owner doesn't know, or care, about what filter they use on there cars. No more than you'd know what color lip liner your wife uses....

 

[jkherd]

The owners manuals usually has the info on fluid capacities and weight of oil recommended for the engine. The weight of oil should also be on the oil fill cap on the engine itself and the filters are as easy as a call to the parts store. Most new engines these days have such tight tolerances that oil like 0w-20 and 5w-30 is quite common and thicker viscosity oil will not get into some spaces where it is needed

 

[buening]

Motor Quick Lubrication Guide Not free though.

There are some sources that have brand specific, like:

Ford Applications

I'm not finding much for MOPAR vehicles though

 

[ImportTuner]

Motor Quick Lubrication Guide Not free though.

Looks like a great reference guide; any idea how much it cost without calling the local salesperson?

 

[buening]

Nah, sure don't If someone finds out, please post it for others to see. I noticed there were some revision links below the picture of the book, so there may be problems with some of the data in the book. In the end, checking the dipstick after an oil change will let you know if you are off or not. I wonder what the Quick Lube places use? May be a computer software that has a database of the capacity and viscosity.

 

[jay50]

So, how are these single gals paying you for your work...?

 

[SteveU]

Gentlemen, a chunk of my Wife's friends are getting widowed or divorced lately. Trying to help them out, I'm doing some oil changes here and there for them. In a perfect world, they'd know their car's oil type, viscosity, capacity, and filter number by heart.

For some odd reason, the Widow answered "....now why would I know that?...."

Filter numbers? No problem on line through AutoZone or NAPA.

Do any of you guys know of a source where one can enter year, make, model, and engine to find oil viscosity and capacities?

.....and nope - the owner's manuals are never in the glove box, and the stupid oil filler caps are usually plain black. It's getting real old googling every variation of:
"2000 Chrysler 300m viscosity 3.5L capacity
"Chrysler 300m capacity viscosity"
"viscosity 2000 3.5L Chrysler 300m"
"3.5L viscosity 2000 300m Chrysler"................

Try this link:
http://www.amsoil.com/scripts/runisa.dll?amsoiloaf:index

 

[1320stang]

It's been a number of years, but it seems my '94 LHS with the 3.5 used 4.5 or 5 quarts of 5w30.

If they don't have the manual, make them buy a Chilton's.

 

[dkcase]

You may find your information at Amsoil.com.

At the HOME page, look for Product Lookup Guides.

I just tried it for my Jeep.

Hey. Someone beat me to it. Good Luck

 

[66HertzClone]

I'm almost certain that the EPA requires the recommended oil viscosity to be visible on the oil fill cap. The owners manual usually has the capacity in the index or where the oil specifications are listed. You will find 5w20 and 5w30 are the more popular on newer vehicles, 10w30 has dropped down in volume a lot in the past few years. This month I've installed 167 gallons of 10w30, 766 gallons of 5w20, and 1230 gallons of 5w30 in bulk product.

 

[sammerdog]

SteveU & dkcase - Thank you for the Amsoil tip. Perfect guys!

....ironic, it also shows how many lube points there are for a car's chassis. I was laying under the wife's Jeep the other week wondering if I got all the zerks..... should I mark them with yellow grease pencil or something? The Amsoil chart plain and simply states "9". From here on out, I can simply count 'em in my head as I nail 'em. I like it.

 

[nate379]

I run 15w40 in all my stuff summer and 5w40 winter. It's $9 a gallon for Rotella.

 

[sammerdog]

I run 15w40 in all my stuff summer and 5w40 winter. It's $9 a gallon for Rotella.

I like Rotella too - Rotella blue in the diesel, Rotella white in the gassers.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I like to just keep using what the manufacturer recommends and the engine is used to. When I start changing viscosities all higgly-piggly, stuff starts leaking.... maybe I'm just jinxed that way. I've always got some jugs of 5w30 & 10w30 in storage, but now Ford & Chrysler are using 0w20 & 5w20 weights too.

 

[CatfishXpress]

once you figure out the specs,

take a sharpie and write the info under the hood,

it will be readily available for the next go-round

 

[sammerdog]

once you figure out the specs,

take a sharpie and write the info under the hood,

it will be readily available for the next go-round

Great minds think alike Sir -

 

[66HertzClone]

I run 15w40 in all my stuff summer and 5w40 winter. It's $9 a gallon for Rotella.

That is a great oil, however, if you use that in an engine that recommends the lighter weights, it is under the manufacturers warranty and you have a problem, you will be out of luck.

 

[monster stealth]

Just looked it up on alldata. Takes 5 quarts w/ filter and 10w30 is preferred unless it is below 32 degrees F and then 5w30 should be used.

 

[nate379]

I have yet to own something that has come with a warranty

The zinc in the diesel oil is good for the older engines (my newest 2 rigs are 98s. One is a diesel and the other an engine that has been around since the 80s)

That is a great oil, however, if you use that in an engine that recommends the lighter weights, it is under the manufacturers warranty and you have a problem, you will be out of luck.

 

[nadogail]

I recall from hanging around service stations as a teenager (mid to late 50's) that the station had a Lube Guide that was distributed by Chevron. They were issued every year.

If the oil companies still issue these books, you might ask at the place you buy your gas, if you might get the old one. I get a lot of neat stuff by saying Please and Thank You. I try to remember to bring some sodas or take somebody to lunch when I pick up my treasures.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I have yet to own something that has come with a warranty

The zinc in the diesel oil is good for the older engines (my newest 2 rigs are 98s. One is a diesel and the other an engine that has been around since the 80s)

Shell has removed the zinc dialkyldithiophosphates from Rotella oil.

 

[ImportTuner]

I recall from hanging around service stations as a teenager (mid to late 50's) that the station had a Lube Guide that was distributed by Chevron. They were issued every year.

If the oil companies still issue these books, you might ask at the place you buy your gas, if you might get the old one. I get a lot of neat stuff by saying Please and Thank You. I try to remember to bring some sodas or take somebody to lunch when I pick up my treasures.

Yep, they were great; I still have one dated 1965 .. I think by the 70's, they stopped making the guide ..