[dhpnet]

1. The old 2.2L Ecotec was ideally suited for changing the filter with minimal oil loss. I'm not sure about the 1.4 turbo.

2. Don't think of the top line on the dipstick as the 'full' line, think of it as the 'maximum' line.
Put four quarts in, and if the oil level stays above the minimum line everything's fine. If it drops to the minimum line, add a quart.

One thing I have never completely figure out on this car is the maximum line. Is the maximum line the top line below the cross hatch, or is it the top of the cross hatch area? I thought it was the top line below the cross hatch, but I have seen people on this forum fill theirs to the top of the cross hatch area.

The dipstick on this car has always been a little confusing to me. I liked the old style better where it had lines for full, .75 quart, .5 quart, .25 quart and low. I like being accurate, but the oil level in this car doesn't seem to be about accuracy. The dipstick handle also gets extremely hot. Never had that on any other car.

 

[dhpnet]

I'm not familiar with the LUV and LUJ dipsticks, but generally speaking, the crosshatched area is the good zone. Below the crosshatched area would be the 'possible oil starvation at redline' area.

The dipstick has a crosshatch area at the bottom. The user manual says that if it goes into that area that you should add a quart. Above that area, there are two blank spaces with a line in between. Above that, there is another cross hatch area. The user manual does not clearly state where the maximum line is.