Checking oil level on 2024 LC - what's going on?

[swampdog]

The LC has about 3000 km on it now and still has the original factory oil in - no oil was added and only I have checked the oil since taking delivery of the new LC.

I have checked the oil level repeatedly and don't seem to be able to get an accurate reading on the dip stick. Even after sitting for a day or so in the cold, a thin film of oil extends an inch or so above the upper/full mark on the dipstick. Wiping the dipstick and repeating the check brings the same result. The oil looks overfull, very thin, and a drop of oil immediately forms at the bottom of the dipstick.

Does anyone else have the same experience? Wondering why the oil is so thin so that it does not form a thicker film on the dipstick and why the dipstick is wet above the full mark. Did Toyota overfill the engine at the factory or ??? Having driven countless different vehicles and changed oil hundreds of times, this does not make sense to me.

We traded a nearly new RAV4 hybrid on the LC; the RAV4 used very thin 0-16 synthetic oil, and checking the oil on it was normal. So what's different about the LC?

 

[TakaraLC]

It gets easier once the oil darkens a bit. Bu I agree, the oil is very thin and almost transparent when new, and is hard to measure.

 

[EOD Guy]

Others have report their oil at the 1st oil change had a strong smell of gasoline in it. You'll not hurt anything by changing the oil.

 

[swampdog]

Can you tell me more about owners smelling gas in the oil?

The thought that gas could be getting into the oil also occurred to me. I did have gas get into the oil on my 1978 Land Cruiser, because of a bad fuel pump. Changing the fuel pump and oil looked after that. It also can happen on diesel engines when the seal on the seal on the injector pump shaft fails and diesel finds it's way into the oil; had that happen on a backhoe once. Having diesel in the oil isn't as bad as having gasoline in there, since diesel lubricates fairly well. But it shouldn't be happening on a new Toyota gasoline engine, I would hope. Maybe I will stop in and ask the dealer about it sometime soon.

 

[EOD Guy]

There are several post on the subject. If you pull the dipstick and smell the oil and if it smells like gas.........

 

[PDPete]

It’s 0w-20, so yeah, it’s thin…seems to be the new trend with these newer, more efficient engines to require very low viscosity oil.

 

[KyLandcruiser]

The 0W-20 is hard to read on the dipstick. The factory oil will have crud in it from assembly. This can range from machining oil, sealant and traces of metal. The engine is breaking in so some gas may be in it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it since it’s the factory oil.

 

[swampdog]

I stopped in at the dealer today and asked them about the over full oil level. They let it sit for an hour or so and then confirmed that the level was high - 1 1/2" or more above the full mark. They also checked three other LCs, including one with only 8 km (5 mi) on the showroom floor; all were similarly over full. I also looked at the one in the showroom, and it had a distinct gasoline smell from the dipstick. The dealer rep was nice but could not do much. He offered a few possible explanations, including idling during shipping and winter driving conditions not warming the oil enough to burn off gas that leaks down. But why is that much gas getting into the oil in the first place - doesn't seem right to me. We also mentioned it to a few other knowledgeable people, including the owner of a very good mechanical repair shop, and they think it's concerning.

The dealer did change the oil, at my expense. He said that he would check with Toyota on the issue as well. It will be interesting to see whether the oil level goes over full again in the future. Hopefully it's not another "known issue," as so many new vehicles have these days.