Oil changes :How much?

[Jim Nunn]

I buy three gallons of Rotella T, twelve quarts. Since my Ram requires only 11 (10 in the oil pan, 1 in the filter) I have an extra quart, which I"d like to just put in anyway. Does this extra quart cause any problems?



I know I could buy quarts for the final three quarts ( two gallons plus three quarts equal 11 quarts), or I could save this one extra quart out of the three gallons, which I don't want to do.

 

[CGoyette]

do not over fill your engine... ... ... . worst than under by a quart. bad bad juju

 

[Diesel Junkie]

I also use rotella. I change the filter at about 3500mi and the oil at 7000mi. The extra quart from the change os used to fill the new filter at the 3500mi mark.



I have always changed oil at 3500 in everything, so this way I still do somthing to make myself feel better about going 7000. the boys at the cummins shop by where i work said unless I did a lot of heavy towing or was in a lot of dust it wasn't necessay to change as often as I do, but I'm comfortable with this inerval and too often can't hurt



If you overfill it will probably go strait to the bottle then all over your engine if you havn't done away with the bottle yet.



good luck!

 

[HVAC]

 

[chuck3]

What HVAC said.

 

[Steve M]

I've been putting 3 gallons in my previuos two 12v engines since '95 and now my 24v for the first change. It puts the oil on the dip stick right at the high mark in the safe zone. I haven't had any trouble with oil foaming or seen any signs of the cranks slapping the oil. It makes less than a 1/2" difference on the dipstick. I can't imagine the cranks being that close to the oil level that less than a 1/2" difference will cause problems. If it ever does, I'll post with red face and fess up to my mistake. My reason is the same. It's a minor niusance to have 1 qt left in a gallon bottle that I need to use to carry the old oil back to the store in to get rid of.

 

[Shooter]

My truck takes 12 qts to bring oil to full on dip stick. I have over 40k on it and no oil leaks or other manifestations.







MY $. 02

 

[Lurch]

I've got 57K running 3 gal. I don't want the extra qt left over either. This only places me 1/2 qt over on the dipstick. However our dipsticks are notoriously innacurate. I've had no foaming problems or excess bottle discharge. I do however have a 2wd and tow full time, more off-camber situations might pose more of a problem.



my $. 02

Lurch

 

[redneckdr]

oil

unless you have done something to change the capacity--bypass filter or something else, 11 quarts is full, refardless what your dipstick says!! a better plan is to add the 11 quarts, run it to check for leaks. then let it sit OVERNITE, and check it the next morning. wherever it is on the stick is full for your truck. btw, you can read it better if you turn the stick "upside down"--with the words "engine oil" upside down. that makes the marks on the inside of the curve when you insert it to check the oil. since i'm a neat freak, i always turn it back upright until i check the oil the next time--pul the stick, wipe it off, insert it upside down, pull and check, wipe it off and reinsert it right side up.

 

[Doc Tinker]

OH NO - A neat redneck! LOL



Doc

 

[SOOT]

I have been putting 3 gallons in both trucks ever sinnce i bout them. have not had any problems.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Diesel Junkie, I challenge you to run your oil 7000 miles then take a sample of it and send it in for analysis. Unless you never change your filters or totally misuse your truck, your sample will come back telling you the oil is in great shape to go many more miles. 3500 mile oil changes are not a bad idea on a gasser, but a waste of oil on a Cummins IMO



Gassers produce more harmful byproducts such as water and acids that deteriorate oil and are harmful to engine internals. Diesels do not generate water on combustion and have considerably fewer acidic or oil/engine damaging byproducts, the only real concern with diesel combustion byproducts is soot (which isn't such a bad thing compared to water and acidic stuff!). I would do a few samples to get an idea of how your oil is holding up then you'll have peace of mind going 7000-10000 miles on your oil changes. I probably wouldn't go over 10k on a change unless you go with something designed for long drain cycles (ie Amsoil, Delvac, LE).



Vaughn

 

[MikeR]

Gee that's funny... both my '95 12v and '00 24v take exactly 11 qts to put them at the full level on the dipstick. Even if I didn't trust Dodge's dipstick,I'd trust the Cummins literature that says 11 qts is full.



I do 8000 mile change intervals with Delo 400... but watch out Vaughn,that last time I jumped on the guys stuck in their gasser mentality,I got flamed saying they had deep pocket books. I say take advantage of what diesel has to offer over a gasser!



-Mike

 

[Diesel Freak]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie



Diesels do not generate water on combustion

Vaughn, I think you need to go back and re-read the combustion section in your chemistry book.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Speaking of bad Ju Ju, remember if you prefill your filter, don't let a piece of the foil seal from the oil jug wind up in the filter - that's the clean side and its next stop can be a turbo bearing, piston jet, etc. (this from a Cummins rep). I've taken to pouring through a piece of surgical gauze laid over top of the filter, then chucking it!