Ok, I have always used Delo 400 - 15w40 in my truck. I would buy and use 3 gallons (12 quarts) total (including the Fleetguard 1 qt. filter). Now, that my truck has 11K miles, and winter is here, I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic 5W40. They sell that in 4 quart jugs.

Here is the mystery:
With the Delo, my oil readings were always above the "full" line and slightly below the #9 on the dipstick. As if it was always 1/2 - 1 quart over full.

Now with the Mobil 1, it reads just slightly BELOW the "full" line.

If 1 gallon = 4 quarts, then how did 3 gallons of Delo bring me 1/2 - ONE QUART above full??? The Mobil 1, 3 jugs at 4 quarts each (including filter), brings me slightly BELOW the full line??

So, was I running 1 quart over full with Delo? Hopefully it did not hurt anything.

COMPLETELY CONFUSED

 

Not sure this helps, but I always change with Premium Blue with three 1 gallon jugs. It has always been right on the full mark afterwards.

This most recent change (last week) I showed a quart down. I can't figure out where it went either.

 

Sometimes mine looks like it's using oil during a change interval and sometimes it stays put. Very wierd. The first time I checked my oil I almost crapped I THOUGHT it was way over full. Then I looked closer and saw that the oil was up to the full line and then there was a break and then there was more oil farther up the stick. I have come to conclude that the oil we use sticks to things and does not flow back down easily. I bet the synthetic oil flows back down into the pan easier thus the better reading.

 

My truck read overfull on 5 oil changes i did, all of them i put in exactly 3 gallons or 12qts. my 6th oil change i put in 11 qts, and the dipstick read perfect!

 

That high dollar synthetic oil is so slick it just don't stick to the stick as well!!!

 

Beware of pre conceived ideas---just because the stick says it's full, your engine STILL calls for 12 quarts.

 

I use Delo 1 all the time in my 03 and 05 and it's always just a wisker over full.
Topper

 

Mine reads just a tick over full and I put a full 3 gallons in.

The only thing I could think of that may cause it to read a little less is that since you had to use quart bottles then there was just more oil left in the bottles. I still don't think the amount that would be left in the bottles would add up to a full quart though!

 

Maybe the Delo fills each jug above 4 quarts. In other words, it states 1 Gallon but it might be little over a gallon. So it would be 4.20 quarts??

Would running a quart over be bad for the engine?

 

I doubt it. Running a quart over on an engine that takes 12 quarts certainly isnt as bad as running a quart over on an engine that takes 4 quarts.

Besides you're supposed to wait a while before checking the oil to allow it all to drain back into the pan. When the engines running a lot of the oil is up lubricating and cooling the engine.

Now I know that really isn't too good a reason, but I will say I've always had the dipstick read high and I've never had problems. Same thing with many other members here. There are a few other threads I remember where this same topic came up. Nobody in those threads ever had any problems that I recall.

 

I've noticed too that the dipstick is very sensitive to slight angle changes. If I check the oil backed into the driveway it reads about a quart different than when I'm in forward. And the slope is so little I can't see it.

Twelve quarts every time for me too. Right at or slightly over full. Perfect.

It's hard to imagine the oil company would be overfilling their bottles, or shorting them either. It might be fun to measure the contents of a Delo gallon and a Mobil 1 gallon just to compare.


John

 

Out of twelve 1 qt containers I can usually get over 1/2 quart of extra oil if I let them set upside down in a clean pan for ten minutes. Slightly less for the 3 one gal containers. Shows you how cheap I am. ----------- Mysterious Dipsticks would be a good name for a punk band.