Well, here I go with another question (I'm a first-time diesel owner, so I'll be posting frequently). Several days ago I checked the oil level in my new (1200 miles) Cummins 6.7L engine. I noticed that it was quite a bit above the "SAFE" zone printed on the dipstick. Knowing that excess fuel can dilute the oil due to injector problems I smelled the oil and felt it between my fingers. I didn't detect any fuel smell and the oil was not excessively thin, in my estimation. I brought the truck back to the dealer and had them remove a quart of oil. The level as shown on the dipstick is now just slightly above the "SAFE" zone.

My question: if you own a truck with the Cummins 6.7L engine and have changed your oil, where did you find the level to be as read on the dipstick? Was it somewhere within the "SAFE" zone or a little above? The reason I ask is because the oil in my engine is the original factory fill and it may be possible that "normal" oil level is actually above the "SAFE" zone. Thanks in advance...

 

Mine was right in the middle from the factory. When I changed it and put in 12 quarts it brought it to the middle again. Sounds like maybe someone slightly overfilled yours???

 

Mine always reads just above the safe level. I just changed mine @ 2,400
miles, it calls for 12 quarts so I put in 12 quarts and it still reads in the same
location as it did when I first bought it.

 

Try dipping it upside-down.

 

I put in exactly 3 gallons of Rotella T and my 5.9 will read way above the SAFE zone. You have to put the dipstick in real slowly and hold it down so it does not rub and get oil on it. When it check it like this it was right above the SAFE zone.

 

I tried that, but it was a tough fit...next time, I'll use a hammer

Oh, thanks to you other guys for your response....Ed (boy, that oil sure gets DIRTY fast!)

 

Did you wait for at least 15 minutes or more after shuting it off or after it setting over night before you checked the oil? That is how I've done it with my 5.9 anyway so it would be a good idea to read the owners manual to see what they list for wait time for the 6.7L.

 

My 6.7L owner's manual suggests waiting 30 mins for the most accurate reading.

Greg

 

My readings were taken in the morning after the truck sat all night. After removal of the one quart of oil the reading is still slightly above "SAFE" but still lower than before the quart was removed. Of course, at the next oil change I will see that exactly 12 quarts goes in and then I'll know where the true level on the dipstick should be. Thanks to all for your help....Ed

 

mine was slightly above the mark from factory.

 

It may sound like I was yanking your chain, but I wasn't. That method works fine for me, and others have had success with it as well.

 

Haven't tried the hammer method, but checked it after the truck had been sitting for hours...

I have 1400 miles. Changed the oil at 650, I know... call me crazy! The oil on the dipstick, not talking about myself..., looks dark black and is well over the desired range markings.

Is the color of the oil normal? Did I get hosed by the dealer and they didn't change it? Even if it wasn't changed, should the oil be that color after so little miles?

 

Your engine oil will be black shortly after it has been changed do to the multi injection events your engine has. IIRC it has 5 events up from 3 that the 5.9 had starting back in 2004.5. There is nothing wrong with changing the factory oil early at 1,050 miles when I found that the oil was 8 months old shortly after I bought it so their was no way I would run that oil for up to 7500 miles.

 

I had the same thing with my 2007 5.9 that I bought last month. It was about 3/8" above the top of the safe zone. Finally got the time yesterday to remove about a quart of oil from it. Now it reads right at the top of the safe zone.

Must be a common thing for the factory to over fill them slightly? Hopfully it doesn't cause any problems. I drove mine about 2,000 miles before removing the extra oil.

 

This is a dipstick quirk.

I've changed my oil three times now, and each time the oil shows higher than safe. I fill with exactly 11 quarts in the crankcase, 1 in the filter, so I know it's not above safe.

When I turn the dipstick upside down and dip, it reads just fine. It may be that the 2007.5 models have a different dipstick configuration, but i doubt it.