11 qt. Dipstick

[ASchwartz]

Has anyone installed the new oil dipstick? Is it necessary?

 

[Cooker]

Perhaps you can enlighten me/us? The "new" oil dipstick? What is new about it? Why do I need a new one?



The one in my truck read full with 11 quarts of fresh oil. I assumed all years were the same?



-Ryan

 

[CaptainEric]

On my 1998 24 valve Ram the dealer replaced my oil dip stick with a new one. The part number ended with "AB" instead of "AA". My oil change with filter went from just over 12 qts. to 11 qts. Supposably the old dip stick did not take into account that the new 24 valve electronic fuel pump held more oil, longer, than the old 12 valve pumps. This caused you to fill the crankcase with to much oil.

 

[Extreme1]

In an older magazine article Robert describes just adding the extra quart at an oil change, starting the engine and then waiting 12 hours for thr oil to all make it back to the pan. Then he pulled out the dipstick and filed a notch in the side to mark the new level. He stated in the article how much above the old full line it was. Since that was a couple years ago and I haven't changed my oil in 3 years, I just used his dimension to mark mine (thanks Robert).



I could have add oil a little at a time until it was up to the full line and then added the 1 quart but at the time I figured it was close enough. Later topoffs have confirmed the accuracy.

 

[Big John]

I have a'94 and a '96 and both use only 10 quarts to the full mark. This has always puzzled me. I hear you guys talking about 11 quarts, but mine is way up on the dipstick, past full with 11 quarts.



Big John

 

[BFaoro]

??

My 96 takes 11 quarts if I put in 10 it shows being 1 quart low Go figure !

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by Big John

I have a'94 and a '96 and both use only 10 quarts to the full mark. This has always puzzled me. I hear you guys talking about 11 quarts, but mine is way up on the dipstick, past full with 11 quarts.



Big John

John, are you letting the oil drain for a couple of hours? It takes a while for the oil to drain out of the injection pump.

 

[Big John]

I usually let the oil drain overnight. Makes no differebce if I drain it an hour or so or overnight. Still only 10 guarts. 10 guarts fill it to just under the full mark. 11 quarts go WELL OVER the full mark on both trucks. The book says to never fill above the FULL mark, so I don't.



I run 5000 miles on both trucks between oil changes and neither one ever gets to the low mark. Both are worked pretty hard and have never wobbled on oil pressure. I have over 250,000 miles between the two.



Big John

 

[QRTRHRS]

On my 97', 10 qrts puts shows at the low mark on the dipstick. The 11th qrt will show at the full mark. However, the engine seems to blow 1/2 qrt out then settles in and does not use anymore. So, I put in 10. 5 qrts when I do my changes.

 

[Extreme1]

I thought everyone knew...

Cummins released a revised dipstick for the earlier engines. There was no campaign or anything. You can buy it (info in an old TDR or you can make it like I did. I'll look up the article if I get a chance.

 

[Cooker]

Thanks for the education here fellas.



I've been reading the TDR daily for over a year and had never heard of this. It doesn't really affect me but it is nice info to know about the Cummins powered Rams.



Ryan

 

[zzman]

My truck holds 11. 5 qts at every oil change. On the high mark.

I drain the oil for about 1 hr after the water temp. reaches 140 degrees.

Fill the the filter with oil and put all but about 1/2 qt of the 3 gals of oil in.

Can check the oil the next morning, still at the same spot on the stick.



Only loose about 1/2 qt to 1 qt oil between oil changes. Change between 4k to 5k miles.



So, do I have the wrong stick? It seems to be OK... ... ...

 

[Extreme1]

There really isn't a wrong stick.

The early trucks only filled to 10 quarts. Cummins released the 11 quart stick (higher full mark) to increase the "Safe Zone". Like I wrote above, at the next change, put in 11 quarts. Run the engine. Let it sit overnight. If it looks like it's 1 quart over full, take a file and notch the edge at the new level.



I notched the new level and the "Add" mark, much easier to see than the stamped lines. Dip stick BOMB! I plan on doing it to all my vehicles.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Well the 96 service manual states 10qts with filter change but I thought owner's manual stated the pan holds 10 qts and the filter held 1 qt. I believe that the TDR also stated the same figures as the owner's manual.



I believe that the pre 94's held 11 qts maybe 12 qts.



When the dealer was doing my oil changes they were putting in 12 qts and the dip stick showed oil level way over fill line.



On the 24 valve engines the vp144 pump( electronic pump) doesn't use oil for cooling. (Actually I think that the Captain was thinking engine but typing pump. )

I know the early 24's had tsb out for replacement dip stick because of over fill problem , it was 2 qts off/over.