How much oil is everyone using????

[Colonel102]

Just wantin' to know. Had the oil changed at Wally-World tonite and they put 14 quarts in. The grease monkey said he put 1 quart in the filter, 12 in the engine, and then it was still below the full line so he added another. Got out to the truck to look at the paperwork last time and they put 12 quarts in it. When running it the oil level is usually between the add mark and full mark w/ 12 quarts. 12 is what the manual states to put in it. So I had them pull it back in and drain 2 quarts out of it. Don't know if it makes much of a difference but i'm sure it does on paperwork and Dodge regarding the warranty. At least that was my reasoning. What-ya all think???



Run on the full mark??? Or just 12 quarts???



BTW... . I always bring my own Fleetguard filter for them to put on and I use the Rotella 15W-40. I also check the oil at every fill-up (for level and smell).

 

[SRadke]

3 gallons (12 quarts) of DELO and a Fleetguard filter puts her right below the full line. She'll be happy with that until I do it again in 5k miles.



-Scott

 

[MMeier]

12 qts of that "A" word stuff and a fresh Fleetgaurd put it right at the top of the safe zone!

 

[Boonieman]

Mines the same as the previous posts. I install a new filter, (I don't pre-fill the filter) throw in 12 quarts, fire it up and oil level is right at the top of the safe zone.

 

[JRD]

Buy 3 gallons of oil, pre fill filter... dump the remainder in the ol' ISB (Inline Six Banger ) and the level is right where it needs to be. I wouldnt trust the "Joe Blows" at the Wal-Mart service department to do the service on my truck. Its so easy to change the oil yourself, then you know what filter is being installed on your truck, what type of oil is used, and how much oil is in the pan... Its worth the 20-30 mins of my time to ensure everything is done to my specs. But to each his own

 

[Alan Reagan]

12 does it with the filter change.



If the truck is not sitting level when the oil is checked, it can read low.

 

[67guzzler]

I think their fill meter is off. 12 quarts is the limit. Even with prefilling the filter that should get you just below full like the guys said above.

 

[klenger]

I suspect your over full. It takes a while for the oil to drain down to chech the level. I'd check it after it sits overnight and then dump some out.

 

[JCleary]

It takes about 10 or more minutes for all the oil to settle after a "leak check" when doing an oil change. Most oil monkeys pull the dip stick right after shut-down, and end up adding 2-3 extra quarts. I've had two dealerships do it, once with 15 qts, once with 16 qts.



I haven't let a dealer touch my truck since. I don't like having to go home and drain a gallon of oil. More of a pain than changing the whole thing, IMO.

 

[67guzzler]

I haven't let a dealer touch my truck since. I don't like having to go home and drain a gallon of oil. More of a pain than changing the whole thing, IMO.

Agreed! That would really suck.

 

[RVTRKN]

I have only let the dealer change my oil but plan to do it myself in the future. What oil is best brand and filter with out voiding warranty and is it important to fill filter before install ,I live in so. Cal for viscosity?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

RVTRKN, I'd suggest Delo 400 or Premium Blue motor oil and Fleetguard Stratapore oil filters.

 

[67guzzler]

RVTRKN, I'd suggest Delo 400 or Premium Blue motor oil and Fleetguard Stratapore oil filters.

RVTRKN -- Don't listen to Vaughn!



You want to use FRAM filters. Any old oil will do. Some crappy SAE 30 is just fine.



Here's a pic of the FRAM:



#ad




Ain't she a beaut!!!!!



OK OK OK!!!! I'm just KIDDING Vaughn!



Sheesh! Do what Vaughn says. Get a true CI-4 or CI-4 Plus diesel motor oil.



Shell Rotella T 15w-40 CI-4 Plus is also a good oil. I just used the Rotella-T Synthetic 5w-40 base 3 oil. Not truly synthetic but interesting to try and cheap at Walmart.



There are other good filters but don't use the FRAAMMMM as the first models 3976 had neoprene rubber in them and they leave little goodies in your engine and can clog pores. They came out with the FRAM 3976A to make everyone happy but it didn't work and nobody is happy them still. So don't get a FRAAAAMMMM whatever you do even if they really are ok now.

 

[gsbrockman]

I think their fill meter is off.

I somehow or other don't believe any WalMart would have 15W40 in a bulk tank to pump thru a regular hose like what's used at an instant oil change type of place. If it is indeed the case, it would not surprise me if they indeed put in the wrong weight & rating of oil, especially if they put in 14 quarts to boot.

Greg

 

[SRadke]

Fram ughhhh..... makes me shudder just thinking about that junk. I don't even park next to people who use Fram.

 

[67guzzler]

I somehow or other don't believe any WalMart would have 15W40 in a bulk tank to pump thru a regular hose like what's used at an instant oil change type of place. If it is indeed the case, it would not surprise me if they indeed put in the wrong weight & rating of oil, especially if they put in 14 quarts to boot.

Greg

You're probably right, Greg. After I posted that I thought about twice about it..... It would be a shame if they put regular 5w-30 gasser oil in. Hopefully they didn't do that!

Fram ughhhh..... makes me shudder just thinking about that junk. I don't even park next to people who use Fram.

What do you mean? Is this an Orange Thing? :-laf :-laf :-laf



We need some levity around here!



Funny story:



This past weekend I was in Walmart (isn't everyone?) and there was a guy with two FRAM filters in his hands and he was looking at them quizzingly. One was the regular and the other was a toughguard or something. Well, having the big mouth I do, I told the guy stories about neoprene rubber and cardboard and said that they both suck and he'd be better off going with the STP Labs Super Tech Walmart Brand. He blew me off. I walked away. Came back around the corner to look at something else in the same isle and he has a cart full of FRAM stuff. I think he must have been a rep or something and I was trashing FRAM to his face unknowingly. I had to laugh.

 

[jmtandem]

how much oil???

I have found that the oil level varies with the angle of the truck, if it sits a little noise high or low it varies on the dipstick. Also, cold or hot and how long it has shut off will vary the quantity on the dipstick.

 

[nickleinonen]

i dump in 3x 4liter jugs into the engine after filling up the filter... last time i checked, i was a hair over the full mark sitting dead on a hot engine...

 

[steved]

I found that my 04. 5 600CTD takes 13. 5 quarts (1 in the filter, 12. 5 in the truck). My 99 215HP took 12 quarts exactly (1 in the filter, 11 in the truck)... The first oil change caught me by surprise as I usually just pick up three 1-gallon jugs of rotella... and it was low after fillup.



Mind you, this was sitting in a perfectly level garage too.



I almost wonder if the dipstick (the one in the truck, not me) is marked incorrectly. It doesn't seem to affect anything, however, I had to replace the front main seal at 33k and the timing cover gasket at 51k due to leaks.



steved

 

[JCleary]

It would be a shame if they put regular 5w-30 gasser oil in. Hopefully they didn't do that!

The local Lithia dealer did just that. I made them change the oil again. And they added 15 quarts that time, too!



I recommend Delo 400 and Fleetguard. I've yet to see a benefit from running anything other than Delo. My family's company has used it in anything diesel as long as it's been around, and we've never seen an oil-related failure, unless a customer ran the motor out of oil.