Car Sluggish After Engine Oil Change
 

Last weekend I did an engine oil change with a new OEM filter on the brz and ever since then the car behaves differently. When shifting to second, third, and fourth gear the revs don't move for about two seconds before they start to go up and it sounds like the car struggles to get past it. Overall it feels sluggish and slow.
I bought the oil in a box that had 6 quart bottles several months ago and had it stored in my garage. The box looked like it started to stain with oil. My friend said maybe the oil had thinned because of the heat in the garage over time? Live in Arizona.

Every time I've done an oil change I've actually been putting 6 full quarts (I think I saw it in a video) and this time I did about 5.5. Maybe it has something to do with that?

I'm thinking of just doing another 6 quart oil change to try to fix it.

Did you remember to reinstall the drain plug?

Have you checked the oil level to verify it?

Lol another case of oil going bad.
Yep.. People always check your oil "Best by used date".

You can always tase test your oil freshnes by zipping a little and holding it in your mouth. It should have hints of almonds, butter, olives. If you don't tase that take it back to the auto parts store and ask to speak to the manager.



Joking aside, I would question your friends mental capacity. Maybe buy him a helmet or something.
Check your dip stick jimmy. It's there for a reason. Don't go off bottles of oil alone.
Lastly, did you use the right oil weight? Or did you use something else?

yep, what oil weight was used. and what type of oil. oil ain't just oil anymore.

i have 5.4 qt's written in my cap, i've found that to be about right during the oil changes.

Can we assume that this is not the first time you have done an oil change? So, it is highly likely you used the correct oil and the amount. Try this instead: wash the car and clean the wheels real well. Vacuum the interior and clean all the hard surfaces. Finally, clean and polish all the glass inside and out; make it sparkle. Drive the car and report back.

Years ago working at a dealership, customers would bring their cars in with drivability issues. Back in the days of carburetors there were problems with gasoline left over from seasonal changes. At high altitude this was really an issue; vapor lock in the summer and hard starting in the winter. Most of the time we would find no obvious issues, so the car would be handed off to the detail guy (or gal) and they would wash the car and special attention would be paid to getting the glass sparkling like lead crystal. The car would not come back and sometimes customers would report that it ran better. Then there were cars that had a real problem and if it was recently in the shop, it usually had absolutely nothing to do with the previous service; coincidental. Some customers were hard to convince, but making accommodations keeps them happy and coming back.

Again, if the oil is not the problem and and a shiny windshield doesn't fix the problem, then there is trouble brewing. Check it out.

the car's just having a bad day!

Gad, you must be old - :eyebulge:


humfrz

Do you have any power mods?

Did you do anything else to the engine when you changed the oil?


humfrz

he could have just worked in a small engine repair shop!

Are you sure you are not over full on the oil level ?

22R

Humfrz is excited.

Maybe the car is on a low carburetor diet?

Surely OP will respond @Jviveros2

Have several questions to answer to.

This isn't my first time doing an oil change on the car on my own, maybe my fourth.

I checked the dipstick when I did 5.5 quarts and it read right at the max level. I really don't remember why I used to do 6 before and it worked fine.

Some classification on the issue. I drove it around again yesterday and it's not just that it "stays" at the Rev. The pattern is shift up, revs go up by about 1-2k for 2 or 3 seconds, then they come down to what it should be and the car drives normally until I shift again.