dip stick ?

[NLeach]

How accurate are the engine oil dipsticks on these trucks?I checked the oil the other day(685 miles) and it seemed just a bit above full on a cold truck,is this normal?When is the best time to check the oil on the Cummins?Do these engines tend to burn a bit of oil?New truck sorry for all the ?s

 

[DPKetchum]

I check mine cold and after sitting several minutes hot. Very few comments ever about these engines using any oil. A little above full or a little below thwe line is normal. 12 qts with filter.

 

[rbattelle]

I think the owners manual specifies an oil check 15 minutes after shutdown. I think.



If I take a long time to drain the oil out at an oil change, the dipstick will read right at the full mark after sitting all night. On the other hand, if I'm in a hurry and dump in the fresh oil after only draining for a few minutes, the dipstick will usually read about 1/4" overfull after sitting all night.



I always put 3-gallons in the sump.



Ryan

 

[MChildress]

It takes a little while for the oil to run back into the pan. Its really slow when the oil is cool after a change. I'v changed mine added 12 quarts started and check for leaks and shut down and the dip stick will show almost a quart low. Check the oil again in the morning and it right on the full line.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I usually in the afternoon after running open drain into pan and let it drain overnight. Next do the filter and add oil. Fire up check for leaks then shutdown after 15 minutes sit it reads right at the full mark. Probably all dip sticks are not accurate and need to verify each one. Yes during a long pull over many miles with my 14,000 lbs 5er between oil changes I do use some oil but has never been over a quart usually 1/2 quart depending how many grades I have pulled. Normal not to worry.

 

[nickleinonen]

I think the owners manual specifies an oil check 15 minutes after shutdown. I think.

sounds about right. .



i still wish they designed the sump & dip stick so the oil level could be checked while the engine is running. . in my opinion, that gives you the best indication of the oil level [the engines at work are all designed like that. . ]

 

[Dieselnerd]

When my truck was new, with the factory oil fill, it was also slightly above the full mark (about 1/8") and I asked the same question you did. Still running great. It always reads the highest if you let it sit overnight as others have mentioned.



Now when I change oil and filter and add 12 quarts, it usually reads slightly below the full mark. I often thought the factory probably fills it with a hose from a tank and sometimes adds a little more than 12 quarts.

 

[NLeach]

OK next ?. When should I do the first oil change?Is 1k miles not enough or is that a good time to get the factory fill out?

 

[DPKetchum]

I waited till 3k. 1k seemed awful short.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Checking engine oil level

I thought I would post this just for clarification because I had never seen the "shut off engine and wait 15 minutes" in the owners manual until I went out to verify what I thought it was.



There are actually 3 suggestions as when to check the engine oil in the manual. It states that the best time to check it is when the engine is cold, such as after it has been sitting overnight. Then right after that it says that when checking it after operation, you should wait 5 minutes. Then if you flip back to the section about changing your oil is where it says to operate the engine and then shut it off and wait 15 minutes.



I'm glad the people writing the manual could come to an agreement on the best way to check the oil!



Jeff