Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 12 valve = 11 quarts or 12?

[Texas Diesel]

Just changed oil in my wifes 98 12 valve for the first time. It took all 12 quarts to get close to the full mark, what am I missing?

 

[rjones]

HMMM... ... Mine only takes 11qts

 

[BigBadDodge]

Yep should be 11 quarts, do you have dual bypass sytem or anything that would hold the additional quart ?

 

[illflem]

Did you use Mexican oil? It comes in liters

 

[eberga]

My 97 is slightly above the fill mark with 12 quarts.

 

[Loren]

I vaguely, and I mean vaguely, remember some discussion years ago about some dipsticks that were mismarked. I don't remember enough to tell you whether or not this was the problem that occurred from the incorrect markings, but it might have been.



I suggest writing down your truck's VIN and the engine serial number, and bringing this to the attention of your friendly dealer's service people or to someone at a Cummins shop. If your dealer is as good as mine (Batesville Dodge, Batesville, IN) you will get an honest answer and probably a free dipstick if required.



The 12 valve engines take 11 quarts with a filter change.



By the way... Nice try, Bill. If it were liters, the engine would take fewer of them. A liter is bigger than a quart.



Loren

 

[illflem]

Loren, you may be thinking of some of the auto transmission dipsticks that were too long, caused them to pop out on their own because the end of the stick pushed on the bottom of the pan.



On the Mexican oil I was repeating something from another thread where a member switched to a brand of oil that comes in liters so that he could dump in three four liter jugs and have no leftover.

 

[Texas Diesel]

No mods (to the oil system), no Mexican oil , no auto. 11 quarts is what I remember too, hmmm, wonder whats up. Since my dipstick is goofy and I'm new to the undervalved world, should I attempt to drain a quart or leave it in there?

 

[illflem]

I buy my oil in drums so 11 quarts is easier for me than 12 but when changing oil for others who bring their oil in gallon jugs I always pour it all in, 12 quarts. Seven years of this with no problems.

There is quite a bit of play before the oil is overfilled, leave it in.

 

[BNH4221]

12 qts here too. Buy the case of 6 gallons at BJ's wholesale and dump in 3 at a whack. No problems in 130000 miles.





Steve

98 QC 12v 4x4

 

[The patriot]

I've put in 12 since new, I now have 90K miles.

Yes, what Steve and illflem said, leave it in.

Unless you do some extreme offroading, like rock climbing, it'll never hit the crankshaft. As long as it dont hit the crank,(this makes it foam up) you'll be fine.

Eric

 

[cmonroe]

Mine holds 12 quarts also. And this is the top of the mark on the dipstick.

 

[Texas Diesel]

cool, I wont worry about it then.



I was worried that I was draining too much out

 

[Cooker]

There was an issue about engine oil dipsticks being mismarked, but I do not remember the years that were affected.

 

[DR]

It depends on which oil filter you use. They vary in capacity just a little.

 

[mschoenheider]

Heres one for you all, I check the level of my oil regulary, including just before I change my oil. I always put in 11 quarts when I do an oil and filter change. However, the old oil always fits into two one-gallon jugs. When I check my oil after the filter change, it is right where it is supposed to be. I know some is left in the filter, and a gallon jug always holds more than a gallon, but where is the missing oil at every oil change?

Mark

 

[mstimac]

If your getting the oil hot and then draining it there's probably close to a quart in the fuel pump. I always get mine warmed up then let it drain down for a couple of hours while I do something else.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Fritz's website mentions a 24V problem with the dipstick incorrectly reading. I also remember something about this from earlier years but can't locate the info.



http://dodgeram. info/tsb/group_09.htm



I only put in 10. 5 quarts on my 97. If I put 11 in, one half a quart disappears until it reads one half low. Once there, it uses little or none.

 

[illflem]

The injection pump holds about a quart that is very slow to drain. I leave my drain plug off over night.

 

[JWaters]

12 quarts, on the full line, better to much than not enough. .