How much oil at an oil change?

[SWeinert]

I have had a 2001 Dodge 3500 Cummins for about 5 years. The manual calls for 11 qts of oil at an oil change, but the oil is right at or above the full line on the dipstick after adding 10 qts (with the oil filter full) and it is right at full each time I check the oil. Recently, an acquaintance of mine said "Put in the 11 qts and remark the dipstick - you have been running a qt low." What is right - the manual specifying 11 qts - or the marking on the dipstick?

 

[TMyers]

If you factor in oil on top of the rocker arms, around the top of the head, in the lifters (if hydraulic) that could easily add up to a quart. My truck calls for 12 and it's a little over full.

I was blessed as a teenager. My dad gave me a worn out 67' Camaro that he bought new. It came with a canister filter. When we rebuilt the 327, we put the adapter on it for a screw on filter. Then, Chevrolet offered a long and short filter. I just notched the dipstick on the grinder where 5 quarts was and called it good.

 

[DavidC]

Should be 11. Start it,build pressure then let it sit and recheck in the morning.

Dave

 

[Tractorat]

It should be 11. 10 in the crank case and 1 in the filter. I believe it even says that in the manual for my 02.

 

[DavidC]

It should be 11. 10 in the crank case and 1 in the filter. I believe it even says that in the manual for my 02.

BINGO. That is what you stated right ?. Your filter is full and you added 10 quarts. Equals 11 total.

Dave

 

[Killer223]

i always loaded mine with 12.. my bad....

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

I have had a 2001 Dodge 3500 Cummins for about 5 years. The manual calls for 11 qts of oil at an oil change, but the oil is right at or above the full line on the dipstick after adding 10 qts (with the oil filter full) and it is right at full each time I check the oil. Recently, an acquaintance of mine said "Put in the 11 qts and remark the dipstick - you have been running a qt low." What is right - the manual specifying 11 qts - or the marking on the dipstick?

My '99 is the same way and has been since new. It reads over a quart high when putting in 11 quarts. I double checked the dipstick part number and it is correct.

 

[Tractorat]

BINGO. That is what you stated right ?. Your filter is full and you added 10 quarts. Equals 11 total.

Yup, we are on the same page. Now there are some folks that will not pre fill the oil filter. In that case they should add 11 qts. But that is not how the manual says to do it.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

My 2001 is always a bit over the full line too, I drain it (good long drain of at least 1/2 hour), and then add exactly 11qts, part of that is used in prefilling the filter, but total of 11qts added. I have personally changed the oil every time for 17 years and almost 300K and no issues that I am aware of from an "overfull" situation. Since around 100K I have been running synthetic and run around 7000-10000 OCI, this time will be close to 11K (due to no time and winter weather), and I think twice I have added one quart between changes in all those years. I guess if it really is starting out overfull with 11qts, then by the time it reaches add it has used maybe 1.5-2 qts, still not bad in 10000 miles.

 

[Tractorat]

The only way you are going to completely drain the engine is to first drain it then run the engine with the plug out and let the engine push out as much as it can. Of course, not a good idea for your engine. I did that once on a 1969 vw bug and got it pretty dry. Didnt seem to hurt the engine any. Those old vw's were pretty tough. :-laf