oil level

[matkinson6054]

I just bought a new 2010 2500 CTD a couple weeks ago. It has about 600 miles on it now and I have been regulary checking the oil since I got it. The oil level keeps going up higher on the dip stick every time I check it. I realize that with it being new there is gonna be some blow by until everything gets seated and sealed inside the engine. My question is at what point do I take it to the dealer? Should I be concerned about the extra oil level in the crank case? (Cuz I was always told that too much oil is just as bad as not enough. ) Or just let it go until the 1st oil change and go from there?

 

[Wingate]

IF its significantly higher and over the full mark, you should take it in to the dealership... fuel dilution can cause excessive wear on internal components.

 

[Jim W]

Do a search in the 3rd gen and 6. 7L engine sites for this issue. This issue has been noted as far back as Mid 2007, when the 7. 5 model year was introduce with the 6. 7L engine.

The main reason this happens is do to the added fuel injection that is occurring durning Regen cycle. Some of the unburnt fuel is entering the engine oil, the rest of the burnt fuel is used to burn the soot in the DPF. This is why the ECM monitors the drive cycle and how many times you Regen. After so many miles and starts the OHD will ding and tell you that you will need an oil change. Some user have reported as low as 3,000 miles between oil changes, or as long as 7,500 miles. This mainly depends if you do a lot of city driving and or all highway driving.

Short story.

Jim

 

[Grizzly]

If there's fuel building up in the crankcase, it can cause great harm to the bearings in crankshaft. I'd take it to the dealer ASAP.



george

 

[Jim W]

I just did a search in the "6. 7L Engine and transmission (2007. 5 +)" site using the words "making oil". I found 33 different post on this subject dating back from 11-02-2007.



You can also find information in the TDR quarterly Magazine that is issue to us members.



I believe this was cover in issues 61 and later issues.



Jim

 

[matkinson6054]

Well I called my dealership and told them it was like a quarter inch over the full mark. The service guy I talked to said that a quarter inch over full is in reality not even half a quart. So he told me as long as it stays below that quarter inch not to worry bout it, but if it goes over that level then bring it in.

 

[matkinson6054]

I kept an eye on the oil level and it went up again. So today was a rainy day and I finally had time to take it into the dealer. They changed the oil and checked the injectors and everything they could think of, and even did an oil analysys. They told me that there was no fuel in the oil and that the only thing they could think of is that somehow the crank case is holding pressure causing the oil level to go up on the dipstick.



They told me to keep an eye on it and that it mite just be a break-in thing since I only got 2000 miles on the truck.



From what Ive read I figured it would be fuel dillution cause it sounds like that is common on the 6. 7s. But the tech told me that there should never be fuel dillution on this engine. If there is its a bad sign.



So Im all confused about the whole thing!

 

[BurlesonR]

Hmmm, that is confusing... .

 

[matkinson6054]

Yea I know! I just talked to the service manager, kinda wish i had a chance to talk to the mechanic though. And now this morning i checked the oil and I couldnt get an accurate reading. The oil was spotty on the dipstick like i just had it running, shut it off then tried checking oil. So I guess Im just gonna keep checking it for a few days like they told me too.

 

[BurlesonR]

Keep us posted.

 

[matkinson6054]

Checked oil again this morning and got an accurate reading. But that was the only good news. Now the oil level is back to the same point or even worse than before the dealer changed it.

So I called them today and the diesel tech had the day off. So Im sposed to take it in on monday. Hopefully I have time to sneak it in cause we are for sure gonna be in the fields by monday.

 

[matkinson6054]

Well you wanted me to keep you posted so here goes. The dealership still has no clue about why the oil level is over full. They took another oil analysis. They said they checked all other new trucks on the lot and even called Chrysler looking for answers.



So they drained a little of the oil off to get it to the full mark on the dipstick and marked it. Now Im supposed to check it periodically and take it back in two weeks so they can check the oil level vs. the mark they put on the dipstick.



This is turning out to be way more than I bargained for. I bought a new truck hoping to save myself from headaches like this.

 

[MannyC]

document your issues in writing

keep receipts and documents relating to same. prepare yourself in the event that you have to lemon law your new truck.

 

[matkinson6054]

Yea Ive heard of that. Isnt it like 3 tries for the same problem? And what happens in the event that I do lemon law it?

 

[sag2]

This has been covered many times here. Quit worrying about your truck and just drive it. You will get somewhere between 4-6% oil dilution between oil changes. It is completely normal for the 6. 7. If they pulled oil samples and you had 2000 miles on the oil you may have anywhere between 2-5% fuel depending on your duty cycle.

And don't listen to those that say it is ruining your bearings, pistons, engine etc. because they don't know what they are talking about, and they don't have any factual evidence to back up their claims. I can't recall a single 6. 7 (or 5. 9 for that matter) on this forum that has ever lost and engine due to an oil related problem. There are several with over 300,000 miles, and many over 100,000 without a problem.

So quit checking it, and change it about 300-500 miles after the oil change light comes on. Waste your worry on something that is more likely to come true than an engine failure.

I have done dozens of oil samples on dozens of trucks, and the oil change reminder is very accurate in it's calibration to come on at the 4-6% I mentioned.

 

[matkinson6054]

Well incase you didnt read the other posts I made, what worries me is that the oil samples have no fuel in them. Plus the diesel tech told me specifically that there should be no fuel in the oil on this engine. If the diesel tech is worried about it then I guess I should be too, cause I doubt he would want to keep messing around with a truck that has nothing wrong with it, as you say, sag2

 

[matkinson6054]

Oh yea sag2 did ya read the part where I said that the next day after the dealership drained the oil on it the first time cause it was overful, that the level was right back up an INCH overful on the dipstick. Even if that was fuel in the oil thats over a gallon of it.

 

[fmj]

if they (dealer) said that there is no fuel in oil and they did an analysis i'd probably still be concerned and do like the dealer said. however a simple way to verify all this oil/anti freeze/etc is not in oil is to do your own analysis. kits are available from various sources, including geno's. it's simple to do and will either calm your worries of confirm your concern. just my $. 02 worth.

 

[sag2]

Well incase you didnt read the other posts I made, what worries me is that the oil samples have no fuel in them. Plus the diesel tech told me specifically that there should be no fuel in the oil on this engine. If the diesel tech is worried about it then I guess I should be too, cause I doubt he would want to keep messing around with a truck that has nothing wrong with it, as you say, sag2

I hate to say this about a fellow technician, but he really does not know what he is talking about. EVERY 6. 7 will have fuel in the crankcase as a byproduct of the regeneration process. And the percentages I quoted are normal between changes. So your dealer has two samples, what did they show for oil dilution? Also draining and checking the oil on a 6. 7 is not the same as a 5. 9. If the tech does not remove the fill cap BEFORE he puts the truck in the air to drain the oil, and let it sit for 15 minutes before checking/adjusting it he also does not know what he is doing. Hopefully he is not from the west coast, because the guys at our training center have done an outstanding job of Cummins training over the years, and it embarrasses me to read this kind of thing about a "trained" technician.

And if your dealer is having trouble getting the oil sampled, PM me with the last six digits of your VIN and I will call Herguth Labs and tell them you are sending a sample, and I will pay for it too.

 

[matkinson6054]

The dealership told me that both the oil samples they took had no fuel in them. Thats what bothers me. And I dont know what the west coast has to do with anything but I live in Wisconsin if that makes any difference. If it goes over full again I will do my own oil analysis. We have the kits at the farm and do them all the time on the tractors and semis.