Oil Change Anomoly

[Wayne M.]

Make no mistake. I CAN do a oil drop on my truck in 20 minutes. In fact, I’m probably the only ASE Master Tech in this discussion.
My post is about how I like to do it, when it’s a hobby, and I want to stay clean.
Proceed as you wish.

 

[gsbrockman]

Make no mistake. I CAN do a oil drop on my truck in 20 minutes. In fact, I’m probably the only ASE Master Tech in this discussion.
My post is about how I like to do it, when it’s a hobby, and I want to stay clean.
Proceed as you wish.

That’s not nearly minimally long enough as to drain time.

The owner’s manual plainly states that the oil level cannot be accurately determined until :30 have went by since shutting off the engine. Only draining the oil for :20 is where the over full chaos begins.....

Given the dealership / quick lube place mentality, that would certainly explain the over-full situations some seem to encounter. I try to stay on a 13.5k to 15.0k cycle, so that includes fuel filters. I begin by dropping the drain plug, then move on to replacing both fuel filters. There’s always adequate time for a proper drain for me.

 

[Cummins2014]

My method is the same for almost all vehicles, but I’ve been doing it like this on my Rams since ‘97.
Come home from work, or a short trip (oil is near op temp). Pop the hood, go in the house for a half hour to say hi, etc.come out and drop the oil, inspect and grease the chassis, then drop the filter (most times there won’t be more than a bribble) and button ‘er up.
My theory is that the warm oil will siphon back through the pump/ pick up tube/ filter until there is an air break. At which time, the filter will be about 3/4 full.
I believe this happens when you let it sit overnight, but I’m a big believer in impurities coming out better with warm oil.
Put your 3 jugs in and call it a job. Mine is ALWAYS on the F/E in SAFE. Sure as the tide.

Well, I could agree, except for your 20 minute oil change, which is a bit too quick, but sure whatever time you want it to drain, but then I would be a bit skeptical as to how much you are going to put back in, 12 quarts might be a bit much, but how much is the question, and this 1-2 quarts overfull seems a stretch to me.

We can discuss this forever, I sure know what works for me, and by some miracle the truck is still running. Even cummins12v98 with his 11*5/8 quarts, and his snake oil ,his truck keeps running.

 

[Cummins2014]

I guarantee you after getting oil changed at the Dealer and they add 12 quarts you WILL be overfull.

How overfull would you guess, and how much overfull does it become a problem to the engine. I am guessing with you putting back in 11*5/8 quarts, 3/8 of a quart is too much.

 

[Wiredawg]

I more or less see this type of thread is all of us sharing the different methods we use. My fastest oil change would take more than an hour: a start up beer, a beer break every 15 minutes, then the cleanup beer, and the how much money I saved beer.

Seriously, though, I like seeing the variety of methods, but more interestingly, reading about the characters doing the job. Great stuff, Ron

 

[Wayne M.]

If you go back and look at the 3 gen oil pan threads, especially my pictures, you’ll see that the bung in the bottom of the pan is a good 3/16-1/4” up off the floor of the pan. We never truly drain all of the oil anyway.
My idea of a happy oil change, aside from giving the engine what it needs, is getting away without a drop on the ground and not getting dumped on.

 

[Wiredawg]

And not getting burned. Changing the oil filter the next day after all the oil is drained keeps from handling hot oil filters and oil. I'm more intolerant to pain in my old age. Cheers.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

I would love to hear how anybody on this forum has experienced any type of Engine damage from either having a dealership perform the oil change, or a person doing it at home using 12 quarts of engine oil.
I'm a retired Heavy duty tech in marine, industrial, heavy equipment, and yes I was a tech at a Dodge/Ram . I did most all of the Cummins warranty crap up until the 98's came out, and at that time I was the only one certified to work on the 98's from. North of Santa Rosa, Ca up to Coos Bay Oregon. Never seen a Cummins engine problem from somebody putting 12 quarts in an engine that called a for 12 quarts. Cummins did tell us that to properly check oil level the engine should be checked after 12 hours of sitting. That was when the 5.9's held 15 quarts. I can also tell you that I did a lot of Cummins oil changes during that time, and never had a single come- back in the 2 years I worked there.
I do my trucks the same way I did it back in those days, and I'm very comfortable taking my truck cross country in a moments notice, and I won't lose 1 second of sleep if my trucks dipstick shows a tad high.

 

[sag2]

You should always pull the fill cap first. But I have to agree with Dasmoeturhead that there has never been a Cummins damaged from running a quart or two over full. Just pull the stick with the engine running and it will more than likely show below the lower safe line. Drain it, fill it with 11 or 12 whichever makes you fill better. Then drive it till next change is due.

 

[Wayne M.]

You should always pull the fill cap first. But I have to agree with Dasmoeturhead that there has never been a Cummins damaged from running a quart or two over full. Just pull the stick with the engine running and it will more than likely show below the lower safe line. Drain it, fill it with 11 or 12 whichever makes you fill better. Then drive it till next change is due.

Excellent point on removing the cap- especially with the newer closed crankcase engines. sag2, do you recall what a basic oil change pays? Or how fast was it expected to be done in a quick lane/ customer waiting scenario?

 

[Cummins12V98]

" That was when the 5.9's held 15 quarts."

Must be referring to an industrial application. Second gen 5.9's held 11 quarts total. Don't know for sure if 3rd gen's hold 11 or 12.

I never have opened the fill cap when draining. Sure it may get the initial oil out faster but as soon as the seal is broken at the drain hole when oil flow slows it allows air into engine no different then from the top hole. Drainers choice here!

I have always checked my oil cold on level ground.

 

[Wiredawg]

I've owned all four generations of Ram Cummins and filled 12 quarts of oil in all of them. Always showed oil on the full mark on the dipsticks. I expect the same when I change my 2017 for the first time. Ron

 

[Cummins12V98]

I've owned all four generations of Ram Cummins and filled 12 quarts of oil in all of them. Always showed oil on the full mark on the dipsticks. I expect the same when I change my 2017 for the first time. Ron

INTERESTING!!! I have owned two 98 12V's and one current 01 and all three say 11 quarts including filter in service manual and all three were right on full cold with doing an overnight drain. Both my 6.7's are 12 qts but would be overfull after overnight drain if I added 12 quarts. Difference is the drain bung has slots even with it's attachment to inside of the pan on the 5.9's and the bung is solid on the 6.7 leaving more oil in pan.

 

[gsbrockman]

I've owned all four generations of Ram Cummins and filled 12 quarts of oil in all of them. Always showed oil on the full mark on the dipsticks. I expect the same when I change my 2017 for the first time. Ron

I take it you’re not doing the oil change service every 6 months if you’re not hitting 500 hours or 15,000 miles in six months?

Oddly enough......my 1998 RAM 2500 12V and my 1999 and 2000 2500 24V’s only required 11 quarts to get to the full mark. I always remember having a leftover quart from the three gallon purchases.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I take it you’re not doing the oil change service every 6 months if you’re not hitting 500 hours or 15,000 miles in six months?

Oddly enough......my 1998 RAM 2500 12V and my 1999 and 2000 2500 24V’s only required 11 quarts to get to the full mark. I always remember having a leftover quart from the three gallon purchases.

Nothing odd about it. That’s what the owners manual calls for.

 

[Wiredawg]

No, not going to change the oil every 6 months based on time; only miles. This truck sat on the dealers lot for over a year and the dealer did not change the oil. I will follow the recommended mileage at every 13.5K miles though. With our planned trips, it'll likely get changed about every 8 to 12 months or sooner. Bought it new in Mar 2018 and have almost 10K miles on it. BTW, I maintain a fuel and maint log, and now adding/tracking DEF use.

I checked my service manual and it shows 12 quarts for this truck also, including oil filter.

Also it's nice, the same Fleetguard stratapore oil filters worked on all my Ram Cummins trucks. I purchase them by the case.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

Hey guys,

My bad on the oil amounts: My former 1993, 2000 and 2002 DID hold 11 quarts with filters. My former 2003, 2009, and my current 2017 holds 12 quarts of oil with filter. You guys got me thinking and I went and looked it up.

I was wrong and admit it. Old age and 41 years working for the government, yeah, that's it.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Cummins12V98]

Hey guys,

My bad on the oil amounts: My former 1993, 2000 and 2002 DID hold 11 quarts with filters. My former 2003, 2009, and my current 2017 holds 12 quarts of oil with filter. You guys got me thinking and I went and looked it up.

I was wrong and admit it. Old age and 41 years working for the government, yeah, that's it.

Cheers, Ron

Not a problem and thanks for letting us know what the 03 up 5.9 calls for.

At least you were not chastised for not knowing or told to GOOGLE it.

 

[JohnWelch]

Back to the over full problem, this same thing happened to me once, I put three jugs of oil in a truck before I realized they were 5qt. jugs. Automatically 3qts over, just an idea you may want to check. We all make errors sometimes.

 

[Cummins2014]

Back to the over full problem, this same thing happened to me once, I put three jugs of oil in a truck before I realized they were 5qt. jugs. Automatically 3qts over, just an idea you may want to check. We all make errors sometimes.

Sure could of happened, the only oil I have noticed thats 5 quarts is the Motorcraft , but I am sure there are others.

Curious to what oil he is using.