Oil Change and the dipstick?

alpnst · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 3:08 pm

I know that the dipstick is not corect as we have talked about it on the forum. My question is how far off is it? When I change my oil, like i did about 5 minutes ago, and put in 6.4 quarts I am just below the min marking. To verify I ran the engine checked for leaks and let it sit about ten minutes. Once checked again the level is the same. What do you guys get as a level when you change your oil?

Thanks

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:20 pm

Mine is at about 1/4 to 1/3 inch below the full mark.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:26 pm

I wish the aftermarket would come out with a dipstick that is more like the Tranny Dipstick...the oil one "probably" changes shape (read length) over time with heat and use (ramming it down to read). I think that this is part of the problem. The "corkscrew" shape is probably not the best...

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:32 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

I wish the aftermarket would come out with a dipstick that is more like the Tranny Dipstick...the oil one "probably" changes shape (read length) over time with heat and use (ramming it down to read). I think that this is part of the problem. The "corkscrew" shape is probably not the best...

Could be, but mine has been like that since day one. I made my own "full" mark.

no-blue-screen · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:14 pm

I put in exactly 7 quarts when I change the oil. Putting only 6.5 will lead to it being on the min mark. The dealers pump in 7 quarts if you get it changed there anyway.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:31 pm

no-blue-screen wrote:

I put in exactly 7 quarts when I change the oil. Putting only 6.5 will lead to it being on the min mark. The dealers pump in 7 quarts if you get it changed there anyway.

I basically did this the first few times I changed the oil. I don't know if it was from breakin or what, but when I over filled it with around 7 qts, the oil level dropped to about where my new full mark is. I felt like I was over filling it, and the oil was seaking it's own level by going somewhere. I don't think it was being burned, because once the oil level went down to the now new full line, it stopped. Now, when I change oil to the new full mark, it stays there through the 5000 mile change interval that I do.

alpnst · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:10 pm

After letting it sit for about three hours I rechecked the oil. The oil level is now just above the min mark. I guess we will have to come up with our own fix for this as well. Is there anything DC got right on this thing?

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:33 pm

alpnst wrote:

After letting it sit for about three hours I rechecked the oil. The oil level is now just above the min mark. I guess we will have to come up with our own fix for this as well. Is there anything DC got right on this thing?

DCX knows of the dipstick falicy. There is a TSB out for it. Basically, they scratch a new line on it like I did.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:39 pm

BVCRD wrote:

alpnst wrote:

After letting it sit for about three hours I rechecked the oil. The oil level is now just above the min mark. I guess we will have to come up with our own fix for this as well. Is there anything DC got right on this thing?

DCX knows of the dipstick falicy. There is a TSB out for it. Basically, they scratch a new line on it like I did.

I did the same thing last year with our dipstick. Also this thing will rise a little if let sit over night, I think oil wicks down from coiled spring we are using for dipstick. Last oil change I just used 6 qts and that was about 5000 miles ago and it hasn't used any as yet. When I used the 6.4 qts I would lose that 12 oz real fast as in about 500 to 700 miles. I remembered a Nissan truck I had 25 years ago that would do the same thing, 4 5/8 with oil filter change and the 5/8 would dissappear in about 500 miles and after a few times of that happening I just did 4 qt oil changes for the next 120,000 miles.

DocB · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:49 am

Mine levels off between the "I" and "N" of the word "MIN".
I guess just above the MIN line.
Hope this helps.

KJbob · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:22 am

oldnavy wrote:

I did the same thing last year with our dipstick. Also this thing will rise a little if let sit over night, I think oil wicks down from coiled spring we are using for dipstick. Last oil change I just used 6 qts and that was about 5000 miles ago and it hasn't used any as yet. When I used the 6.4 qts I would lose that 12 oz real fast as in about 500 to 700 miles. I remembered a Nissan truck I had 25 years ago that would do the same thing, 4 5/8 with oil filter change and the 5/8 would dissappear in about 500 miles and after a few times of that happening I just did 4 qt oil changes for the next 120,000 miles.

I have to do my 40k oil change this weekend. I think I'll consider the 6qt only change.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:23 am

KJbob wrote:

oldnavy wrote:

I did the same thing last year with our dipstick. Also this thing will rise a little if let sit over night, I think oil wicks down from coiled spring we are using for dipstick. Last oil change I just used 6 qts and that was about 5000 miles ago and it hasn't used any as yet. When I used the 6.4 qts I would lose that 12 oz real fast as in about 500 to 700 miles. I remembered a Nissan truck I had 25 years ago that would do the same thing, 4 5/8 with oil filter change and the 5/8 would dissappear in about 500 miles and after a few times of that happening I just did 4 qt oil changes for the next 120,000 miles.

I have to do my 40k oil change this weekend. I think I'll consider the 6qt only change.

You may want to consider following the owner's manual capacity. Don't see how you could go wrong there, no matter what the dip stick says.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:31 am

If you worry about 12 oz of oil in the CRD with all its other quirks, then man are you in for real stomach problems and early hair loss. :wink:

BVCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:40 am

oldnavy wrote:

If you worry about 12 oz of oil in the CRD with all its other quirks, then man are you in for real stomach problems and early hair loss. :wink:

Well, I didn't have any other issues that didn't take care of themselves or DCX took care of. I already lost my hair at 30, and I have a cast iron stomach. The oil capacity was the one thing I had control over.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:02 pm

BVCRD wrote:

oldnavy wrote:

If you worry about 12 oz of oil in the CRD with all its other quirks, then man are you in for real stomach problems and early hair loss. :wink:

Well, I didn't have any other issues that didn't take care of themselves or DCX took care of. I already L.O.S.T. my hair at 30, and I have a cast iron stomach. The oil capacity was the one thing I had control over.

On turbo diesels the only oil you have control over is in the differentials. :shock:

BVCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 1:12 pm

oldnavy wrote:

BVCRD wrote:

oldnavy wrote:

If you worry about 12 oz of oil in the CRD with all its other quirks, then man are you in for real stomach problems and early hair loss. :wink:

Well, I didn't have any other issues that didn't take care of themselves or DCX took care of. I already L.O.S.T. my hair at 30, and I have a cast iron stomach. The oil capacity was the one thing I had control over.

On turbo diesels the only oil you have control over is in the differentials. :shock:

Well, I control over how much I put in on oil change, but I see your point. If it gets like that, It's Charger time.

cocojo · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 1:15 pm

The question should be how much oil does the new oil filter take, when changing the oil. We all know the crank case holds 6.4 quarts, because the book tells us that, but how much oil absorbs into the new oil filter? I fill it with 6.5 to 6.6 quarts. The new filter must take at least one oz or two oz of oil. That way you should be right on the money. Any feed back on this?

BVCRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 14, 2007 1:16 pm

cocojo wrote:

The question should be how much oil does the new oil filter take, when changing the oil. We all know the crank case holds 6.4 quarts, because the book tells us that, but how much oil absorbs into the new oil filter? I fill it with 6.5 to 6.6 quarts. The new filter must take at least one oz or two oz of oil. That way you should be right on the money. Any feed back on this?

Yep. The 6.4 is WITH a new filter.

KJbob · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:13 am

Using your logic, if I incorrectly filled my oil sump it may just correct itself, rrrright? :roll:

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:16 am

Say what???

Oil Change and the dipstick?

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