Funny, I just noticed the extra quart (1/4 past hatch marks) on the dipstick too. I know that I did my change on a cold motor. I Just crawled under and opened the Fumato drain plug...I better get the extra oil out!

Note to self------do on an oil change on a very warm motor!

Tom

 

I think it's the dip sticks. If it is JUST changed and they really drained all the oil (let it dribble a long time) 12 should be right.. If it is over the line the line is wrong. IMHO Unless Cummins means 12 quarts on a dry never filled motor.

Being level is important too.

FYI mine reads over after a change too.... it's just over the full mark.

I wonder what Cummins or Dodge's official opinion is?

 

I wonder if the turbo line is saving 1 quart???

 

Where can I get one of those drainplugs? I do drain my oil HOT but last time the drainplug fell into drainpan & clogged the fill hole. Needless to say as I was trying to get it unplugged while it was filling w/ super hot oil so it wouldn't overflow onto my driveway, I burned the crud out of my hand. OOOUUUUCCCCHHHH! AND I got about an 8 qt. used diesel oil stain on my driveway to prove it. HAHAHAHA!

 

http://www.quickoildrainvalve.com/Se...lts.asp?Cat=74


Geno's sells them too.

http://www.genosgarage.com/prodinfo....er=FTP-F104N-A


Tom

 

Thanks, Tom.

 

Again, are you checking your oil hot or cold? Are you checking your oil on flat ground or uneven ground? Does your wife or significant other ever drive your truck?

Always check your engine oil cold or after about 15 minutes of shut down. When checking right after shut down never use the first pull as an accurate measure of what is in you crankcase. Sometimes warm oil will expand or be pushed up the dip stick tube by the air inside the diesel which is circulating from the rotating crankshaft. Please do not confuse this with blow-by. Otherwise, why else do you think we have a breather tube on our engines to vent the gases for the oil and rotating assembly.

Normally, our engines will read low right after shut down. This is natural, and Dodge and Cummins knows about this and have posted numerous bullitens stating that the our motors require at least 15 minutes of down time to drain the oil from the head back to the pan to get an accurate oil level check on the dip stick. Our trucks parked on a slight incline will also read low or high givin the direction the the incline.

Finally, make sure your other drivers are not checking the oil right after shut down and then over filling the crankcase.

Shawn

 

Level surface, 1 hr. after shutdown & NO ONE else alters my fluids. Thanks for the input, though!

 

has anyone tried filling up with only 11qts. and see if the reading was right on the dipstick? i dunno what to do, continue filling with 12qts and reading overfull or only fill with 11qts are read correct???

 

Mine takes 11qts and fills it to the "F" in the word safe, between the 2 sets of hash marks.

It's always in the same spot, I check my oil in the morning after letting it set all night.

 

mine reads overfull with 12qts. i will be putting 11qts in from now on

 

The motor takes 12 quarts regardless. I would rather put in 12 quarts and then reference that on the dip stick than run with it being a quart low. 12 quarts is what a 5.9 takes. Period.

 

Whats the basis for your conclusion?
Do you figure that DC just EFF'D up on the placement of the "full" mark on the dipstick? Or maybe that one should just ignore the "Do not overfill" warning? Are you a DC engineer? Please, I am genuinely interested in your explanation.

 

I have spoken to Cummins themselves ( 800 number off the Cummins website) I have provided my Engine's cereal number. They told me my engine requires 12 quarts of oil. SO yes, I am more apt to believe the DC messed up on the dip stick rather than run the truck a quart low. I am surprised how much varience there is between trucks, even of the same model year with regards to the oil level reading. With 12 quarts in mine my dip stick shows PERFECTLY at the top of the full mark. My 2002 takes 12 quarts and my 96 12V takes 11.

 

So, your dipstick reads perfectly full and you're ok with that, but you recommend that I run mine way over the full mark?