Just a thought.....I knew a guy that bought a '79 Ford brand new and it kept blowing all the seals out of the engine. Ford replaced the seals on their dime and in the end found that the factory had installed the wrong dipstick. The full mark on it was actually about 3 qts too much in the pan. Not saying it doesn't happen anymore because these Cummins have basically been unchanged for all practical purposes for almost 20 yrs. Like I said, it's just a thought.

 

Different oil filters also hold different quantities of oil, might not be a huge change, but its different.

Besides if you have a bypass you have to go off of dipstick anyhow, and none of the bypass guys are starving their engines.

 

Ok. That's good thoughts for someone actually doing an oil change. As I stated, I'm posting this thread at 4k into an interval. I observed this oil level when I wrapped up my oil change and every time that I checked the oil dipstick up until this point. So, right now there is no measuring or pouring going on. I am also familiar with the oil filter being less than full when removed. Good and simple, this isn't a "how do I change my oil?" thread.





This is sort of where I was starting to lead to. Putting it short, when the engine breaks because of a dipstick measurement, am I going to pay for it? (powertrain warranty/mileage aside - just stretching the discussion)

I haven't broken anything I know there are a lot of "ifs, ands, buts, and who" that'll realistically factor into a such situation, I'm just putting it out there for some discussion.



Ok, just for comparison sake, can I get folks to go out and measure their dipstick? (hahaha) Go from the bottom to the top end of the Safe criss-cross section. I'm curious about it now.

 

I would say go from the o-ring at the "T" handle to the top of the safe area.. As the only constant in all dipsticks is the "T" handle.

 

Don't know bout the 06 n older but my 07 5.9, a plastic dipstick on a cable. JUNK!!! Y not the regular metal easy to read dipstick.... I think mine would give 5 different readings out of 6 times checking in a row think the cable is to flexable n the plastic checker gets oil on it
coming up the tube. I fill filter bout 3/4 and dump remainder of 3
gal in and check it once
or twice between my changes at 5k miles

 

another thing is the oil pan might not be stamped the same. the first one is in specs the 50 could be off and needs to be corrected

 

Three gallons with a filter, half a quart either way is not going to hurt anything. Cummins specs call for three gallons.

 

Umhm, 3gallons are in the truck.

 

Guys, it will not hurt these engines to run 2-3 qts. low between oil changes.
The dipstick is just a reference guide for ensuring that you have oil in it.
The dipstick and its tube are not a matched set of roller bearings.
Tubes are made on one assembly line (in Mexico??) and the dipsticks are made somewhere else. Both of these have production tolerances and variations that will cause every truck to be slightly different.
Personally, I would just get 12 quarts from the store, change the filter, pour the oil in, and go.
IF it makes some uneasy about being "overfull" on the stick, only add 11 quarts... It's not going to hurt it.

 

Food for thought fellas. When I was at the *********** getting my oil changed.(they gave me free oil changes for as long as I own my truck) The service writer was talking about a Cummins owner who did his own oil & filter changes,always prefilling his filter. Some how or another a pieces of foil from the oil jug plugged an oil passage or something else in the oil pump and FUBARed his engine. They found a piece of foil in the filter and pump after tear down. I did see the cut away filter on the desk but not the pump. I've always prefilled my filters and will continue to do so,but much more carefully when I do my cars. Needless to say, Dodge did not warranty the engine in the guys '08 pickup. Take it for what its worth.

 

LOL,, the dealer cut the filter in half, planted the foil, and billed the poor sap.

 

Call me stupid but I rarely use the dipstick to check oil levels when changing my own oil. I add what it calls for or what I have decided it should have in it. LOL

My Trans Am calls for 5 quarts and I have been running 7 quarts in it for 5 years now. Gotta keep that sump full on those 7000rpm launches.

 

Overfilling a sump can do as much or more damage than underfilling.. You won't catch me ignoring my dipstick.

 

Considering how dealers like to crucify customers who do their own maintenance, I wouldn't put it past some to knit pick a quart up or down. Then I guess the fun would be getting started.

That's why I originally asked. How should I cover my butt? The Dodge-included dipstick or the Dodge owners manual stating 12qts. When the two directives don't match up, it just leaves a question mark. That's all.

 

Dipstick, 12qts is the capacity of the motor and not all the oil drains out.

Besides what proof do you have that you put in 12qts, but they can look at a dipstick and tell you that your 1qt over pretty easy.