Thread: Oil fill level for 4BD1

The Perentie has an upside down oil filter, which depending on the effectiveness of the anti drain back valve in the filter and how long its stood, can influence the sump level.
I've found that after an overnight stop, the oil light takes about 5 long seconds to go out with a Fleetguard filter, whereas with the genuine Isuzu filter, it would go out in about 2 seconds. This indicates to me that the filter is refilling, prior to oil pressure developing.
I would guess the filter holds close to a litre, so if its overfull when cold, but not say, 10 minutes after shutting down, the difference would just be the oil in the filter - I wouldnt worry.

I have heard somewhere that 4BD1's are susceptible to damage by overfilling, presumably the mechanism is aeration when the crank contacts the oil but I have NFI how overfull it would have to be for this to occur.

Checked again last night; started the engine, got oil pressure up and then let it settle for 10 minutes or so. Still registered the same over-full level.


I ended up draining out the excess back to dead-on the dipstick full mark, and the excess was almost exactly a litre, which makes me think I DID add one-to-many 1 x litre fill bottles. (I did mention I was tired didn't I?).


As you said, I also noticed that the Fleetguard LF3642 filter I replaced the Isuzu filter with does take longer to fill by a few seconds.


Thanks for your help.


Cheers, Dave

Cummo, I normally run my 4BD1 engines to a 'a bit over the high-tide mark' on the dip stick. Have been doing this for years and ten mm is getting up to the outer edge of a normal level for me but still ok. I change oil more regularly than filters (two to one) and tend toward Baldwin filters rather than Fleetguard but that's personal bias. Left in a bit longer than spec, Fleetguard can degrade as has been mentioned in the forum in other places. I'm a bit finicky about disintegrating oil filters as a rule but they are good filters by reputation- just within spec change over...
However., with respect to oil level, absolutely nil issues with this filling level procedure (five to ten mm over) for me.

It would also depend whether you have a winged or wingless sump. The dip stick is a different length with a different full mark for each.

The full mark is lower on a winged sump, because to get the correct VOLUME of oil, it doesn't need to be as high. So you could run quite a lot more oil in the winged sump before having problems. Overfilling a wingless sump could be a different story.

Not sure on any exact values.

Was happier draining the excess oil back to dead-on dipstick full (only took a few minutes), and it satisfied my OCD! Sump on the Perentie is the non-winged type.






Oil filter gets replaced every 5000 km; in the scheme of things I consider filters are relatively cheap (from memory the Fleetguard LF3642 costs me around $21 from Cummins Filtration), and as I'm using a good quality oil I'd rather be running it through a clean filter. Hopefully with the Fleetguard filters being replaced at that interval internal material breakdown shouldn't be an issue. It surprises me that internal material breakdown may be an issue with the Fleetguard filters; I assumed Cummins filtration being such a big player in the diesel engine field would be all over it in terms of quality control. I did notice too that the LF3642 filters I have are stamped made in France.


Thanks everyone for your input.




Cheers, Dave

I've had the same issue on oil changes- drain the oil/filter and refill with 8lts and I'm well above the top indicator level on dipstick- I did drain about 1/2 litre out but still about 8mm above indicator- strange! I have the wingless sump also.

My 4BD1T only takes about 6 litres.

5,000km is ridiculously short intervals for these. This isn't a Toyota 2lt!

Changed engine oil again (and filter Dougal)
Put in 7 litres exactly, started the engine, let the oil drain and settle and checked dipstick - dead-on full mark

Dave