How accurate is the oil dipstick?

KD6ICZ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:13 pm

I added 20oz three days ago because I was starting to see MIN on the dipstick. Now it's just a hair under MAX and it's leaking from the rear seal. So where should it be on the dipstick?

car0430a · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:56 pm

I prefer to keep mine a little under the full line around 1/8th to a 1/4in as seen from the naked eye, have had no problems. There are similar posts around here about doing this and possible benefits from not keeping it right at the full line. Hope this may help i'm positive others will chime in with much better accuracy. I do love this forum for that reason.

Borrowed from Geordi- if you fill your oil until the dipstick reads 'full'... It is actually massively overfilled, and the excess just ends up in the intake, rotting your boost hoses and clogging up the works.
from here-
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72979&p=766664&hilit=dipstick#p766664

Dennis MacGyver · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:47 pm

Just changed my oil & filter. Put in 6.4 Qts (6 quarts, 13 ozs.) and on my dip stick it came out 1/2 way between min & max lines after sitting for 30 minutes. I used a factory (Mopar) filter.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:26 pm

It seems to vary. Consensus is full fill is 6.3-6.4 qts for the standard size OEM or equivaltant (ex. WIX 51516) or 7 qts with an oversize filter (ex. WIX 51515) wherever that falls on your dipstick. I perfer the oversize for no better reason than it doesn't leave me with a partial qt.

FYI the oil passages in the engine are really small and I've found it can take a bit for oil to drain back to the pan and provide an accurate reading.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:06 pm

Mine comes out to just a little over MIN when full. Right now, it is just under MIN, which I am not concerned because she is getting new lube this weekend.

kjjet · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:42 pm

They are very accurate, but only when your on level ground. The slightest amount changes the dip stick level.

When I change the oil, I have the engine warm. I let it drain several hours. With a new filter it takes the best part of 7 QT's of Mobil 0w-40. Dip stick reads just a tick under FULL mark. No loss of oil thru the CCV. My Provent picks up any oil vapors. In 5k i have next to no loss of oil.

KD6ICZ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:59 pm

Well I got underneath it and I don't think it's engine oil. It's very clean and smells like transmission fluid. I just had my Suncoast installed 3 weeks ago and am wondering if it's slightly overfilled or a seal got damaged during install... I cleaned it off and am going to keep an eye on it.

lowgunner · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:04 pm

Are you folks seriously putting more than 6 qts in? the manual states 5 qts (engine capacity).

Overfilling oil will have negative effects on seals and what not, at least that's what I've been told. Who know, it may not hurt but I go by what the manual says and after changing the oil, runing the engine for 5 mins and letting it sit for 1/2 hrs, then I check the dipstick and it's very close to full.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:15 pm

Diesel is 6.4 Quarts stock

gasser is 5

and most CRD dipsticks the 6.4 is at the 'low' marking - any more just blows into the intake.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:15 pm

lowgunner wrote:

Are you folks seriously putting more than 6 qts in? the manual states 5 qts (engine capacity).

Overfilling oil will have negative effects on seals and what not, at least that's what I've been told. Who know, it may not hurt but I go by what the manual says and after changing the oil, runing the engine for 5 mins and letting it sit for 1/2 hrs, then I check the dipstick and it's very close to full.

It is 6.4 quarts with the regular filter and 7 if you use the oversized filter. Its not overfilled. Oiling out CAC hoses and turbos is not in our interests.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

lowgunner · **Posted:** Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:20 pm

oops. My mistake!

striperman36 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:45 pm

mine just barely, maybe about a 1/4 to 3/8's of an inch on the stick. If I overfill it, it works down to that level.

I let the thing drain for 30 min or more when I tap the fumuto.

Steve_S · **Joined:** Mon Jan 28, 2013 3:32 pm **Posts:** 13

Hi,

Since this subject has been brought up... Does anyone know if the 2.5CRD dipstick also reads low? I will measure the oil next time I change it but in the meantime do I need to drain some as currently on MAX.

Cheers,

Steve

kjjet · **Posted:** Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:48 pm

Steve_S wrote:

Hi,

Since this subject has been brought up... Does anyone know if the 2.5CRD dipstick also reads low? I will measure the oil next time I change it but in the meantime do I need to drain some as currently on MAX.

Cheers,

Steve

They are very accurate, but only when your on level ground. The slightest amount changes the dip stick level.

When I change the oil, I have the engine warm. I let it drain several hours. With a new filter it takes the best part of 7 QT's of Mobil 0w-40. Dip stick reads just a tick under FULL mark. Start by putting in 6.5 qts then add to as needed.

kidjedi · **Posted:** Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:14 pm

Came across this thread looking for a good approximation of how much oil I'll need to use to refill my Liberty.

This isn't the first place I've seen suggestions of 6.4 quarts to 7 depending on your filter.

I've got a little over 5 quarts in my 2.8L CRD (2006) now, and I'm just a little below the max line (cold) on the dipstick (a little less than quarter of an inch). I'm using a Mobile1 M1-211 filter and Mobile1 Diesel/Truck 5W40.

Suggestions on how I can cram another full quart in there?! :shock:

mrkake · **Posted:** Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:53 pm

I use the Mobil M1-301 on all 3 of mine and they all need 6.5 qts to fill to the right level. FWIW

user113 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:10 pm

I don't know if any of the rest of you have this problem, but I found that it makes about a 1/4 inch difference on the dipstick depending on which side of the dipstick I have facing up when I stick it into the tube. What's up with that?

How accurate is the oil dipstick?

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