Question for 6.7 CTD owners RE: Adding Oil

[Ron3rd]

At what point on the dipstick's "Safe Zone" do you add oil? I've got about 5,500 miles on my 2016 and the the oil level is a little below half way down in the "Safe Zone" on the stick.

Should I add a little oil, and about how much would you add at this point?

[Ron3rd]

Thanks for all the info folks.

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I drain my truck overnight to get the max old oil out. I add 11qts and 24oz to be on the full mark. If you look at the pan you will see that 8oz oil can easily be left in the pan plus the fact the bung is not slotted like the 2nd gen trucks were. Most people will have overfull condition if they take their truck to have the oil changed because those places pull the plug and put it right back in without letting all the oil drain.

Pic is of truck a day later sitting overnight on level ground.

That looks like it showing just a tad over the full mark, are you sure you held out your 8oz. :B

[cummins2014]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
I've got about 5,500 miles on my 2016 and the the oil level is a little below half way down in the "Safe Zone" on the stick.

Should I add a little oil....?

I just changed oil in my '14 a few weeks ago. After a complete drain and adding 3 gallons, using part of it to pre-fill the filter, my dipstick showed right in the middle of the safe zone. If I were you, I wouldn't worry at all.

KJ

The 6.7 Cummins has a 12 quart capacity, manual says 12 quarts , I put in 12 quarts, mine is right at the full mark when changed.

I have read where some even add 11 quarts 24 oz, worried about overfilling. :h Drain it properly , and add 12 quarts ,some of that to the filter before installing.

Don't care where it is at on the dipstick as long as I added 12 quarts, and will maintain accordingly to where it reads on the dipstick.

[LIKE2BUILD]

Ron3rd wrote:
I've got about 5,500 miles on my 2016 and the the oil level is a little below half way down in the "Safe Zone" on the stick.

Should I add a little oil....?

I just changed oil in my '14 a few weeks ago. After a complete drain and adding 3 gallons, using part of it to pre-fill the filter, my dipstick showed right in the middle of the safe zone. If I were you, I wouldn't worry at all.

KJ

[transamz9]

I have a 2011 Toyota Tundra in my fleet that I sent to the dealer yesterday for VVT codes and noise. The truck is on a 5000 mile service interval that gets done right here in the shop. The dealer called me and said there is no oil in the engine and it is done. $17,700 for a reman engine installed. The truck has 140,000 miles on it. I haven't had a chance to get the truck back here and look it over for leaks or oil pan damage but the point I'm trying to make is to the poster that said it's now the norm to check the oil now days is right because the guy that drives this truck does not check his oil but even on new vehicles **** can happen.

[mileshuff]

Grit dog wrote:
IMO, they days of checking your oil regularly are behind us, on newer vehicles.

Highly depends on the engine. Quite a few high performance, high RPM engines use short skirt pistons which often causes significant oil usage for instance.

[Me_Again]

Here are instructions on checking oil from the diesel supplement for the 2500-5500.

Checking Oil Level
To assure proper lubrication of your vehicle’s engine, the
engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. Check
the oil level at regular intervals. The best time to check
the oil level is before starting the engine after it has been
parked overnight. When checking oil after operating the
engine, first ensure the engine is at full operating temperature,
then wait for 30 minutes after engine shutdown
to check the oil.

Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Add oilonly when the level on the dipstick is below the “ADD”
mark. The total capacity from the ADD mark to the Full
mark is 2 qts (1.9L).



CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling the crankcase will cause
oil aeration or loss of oil pressure. This could damage
your engine.
Never operate the engine with oil level below the “ADD”
mark or above the upper “SAFE” mark.

[Grit_dog]

How about simplify the 4 pages here.
OP, change the oil, it needs it anyway.
Dump in 3 gallons, put the cap on, drive away.
IMO, they days of checking your oil regularly are behind us, on newer vehicles.

[FishOnOne]

Me Again wrote:
The dip stick is more likely to vary vs the crank case size. Just saying.

On marine engines, you install the required number of quarts and calibrate the dip stick to that level.

Chris

I think we know that cummins knows how to properly set up the dipstick for a ram truck

[mileshuff]

carringb wrote:
My 6.7 made oil (pre DEF version) so we filled it short, so it could go 4,000 miles before hitting the full mark. Our trucks saw lots of in town use so they were always in regen, causing some mild fuel dilution.

Mine did that early on. I believe all of the TSB's finally corrected the problem. Went thru 3 Turbos and plenty of top end cleanings in the first 2 years of ownership. Have not had a problem since 2010.

[blofgren]

rjxj wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Just a few degrees off of center side to side will make a big difference on the stick.

Exactly, and my original question wasn't answered. The oil should be checked cold with the vehicle level because so much oil drains back into the pan. Check the oil when cold then drive it and shut it off and check it again and see how low it is. A good amount of oil will drain back to the pan.

Of all the engines I have ever checked the oil level on this one seems very susceptible to being off level. I checked mine yesterday with the truck sitting just a little low in back and the level was just below full. I then ran it 5 min or so and rechecked and it was closer to the bottom of the stick.

A friend brought his truck over yesterday to change a fuel filter and parked it a little nose low. I checked it and it was a little below full. I checked it before he left and it was over full above the plastic part of the stick.

This ^^^^. I too thought my truck was using oil until I checked it on different ground and the oil was still at the full mark. My truck has quite a rake on it with no weight in the rear and that combined with slightly unlevel ground make a BIG difference in the level on the stick. I have also found that the truck needs to sit a minimum of 30 minutes after being shut off before checking. I don't worry about it anymore after seeing this.

[fulltimedaniel]

Ron3rd wrote:

fulltimedaniel wrote:
I would find this oil usage unusual for this engine. I have towed with mine from day one of purchase. I purchased it on the road. I have traveled more than 20 thousand miles since buying it in April. virtually most of it towing my 33 footer, including to Alaska.

In all of that time it has never used a drop of oil that I can detect. I did my first oil change at about at 13,600 miles a bit earlier than the 15000 called for.

I would definitely take this to a dealer and get the situation documented. ie have them look at it check for leaks and then put in writing they say this oil use is normal.

Good luck

Actually, I'm not sure it's used any oil and what I've learned is the oil level will vary greatly depending on how long the truck's been sitting. Check the oil when you first shut the engine off and you'll get one reading. Come back in about 1/2 an hour and will be quite a bit higher, so it does drain down a fair amount.

Yes this is true this is why I check my oil before I start it in the Am. I just never feel the need to check it during the day while traveling as it never changes.

[azrving]

.

[jus2shy]

My diesel supplement states to measure the oil level 30 minutes after running the vehicle up to operating temperatures. See my sig for what vehicle. That's when I check the oil.