Oil level

[cmills]

How much oil do you guys end up putting in after an oil change? The manual says 12 quarts but I just changed mine and after I put in a little over 11.5 quarts the oil level was probably close to a 1/4 inch over full on the dipstick the next morning when I checked it.

 

[EDankievitch]

3 gal or 12 qt's is the normal fill. The pan holds about 11qt. and the filter is 1qt. After you fill it and let it run shut the engine down clean up ( wait about 5-10 min and check your level it should fall around the full side of the safe zone on the stick.

 

[cmills]

I got to thinking that maybe after sitting all night it siphoned oil out of the filter and that is what caused the oil level to be higher.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Oil shouldn't come out of the oil filter unless engine is running.

 

[LocoPilot750]

Cmills is probably right, after shut down, oil will syphon out of the filter. My 12valve '97 has always done that. If I let it sit a couple of hours, before I take the filter off, it's always down to about 2/3 full. Makes it easier to get the filter out without spilling. Haven't done a change on my '14 yet, but it guess it works the same way.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I got to thinking that maybe after sitting all night it siphoned oil out of the filter and that is what caused the oil level to be higher.

That's probably what is happening. Very common on all the Cummins. Sometimes the filter is partially full when you change oil and other times it will be full. Happened on both my previous CTD's. I have noticed it on my 2014 too. Sometimes the oil is lower in the safe zone and sometimes it's at the top.

They do siphon and it's been discussed here many times over the years.

If the level keeps going up and not down, then you have a problem.

 

[Cummins12V98]

You should check your oil level cold and on a level surface. I drain my Cummins overnight but it only takes 11 and 5/8 quarts to be on the full mark. That is because the pan does not completely drain. If you go to a quick lube and they put in 12 quarts you will be way over full.

 

[sag2]

Remove the fill cap before you start draining and leave it off until your done filling.

 

[cmills]

You should check your oil level cold and on a level surface. I drain my Cummins overnight but it only takes 11 and 5/8 quarts to be on the full mark. That is because the pan does not completely drain. If you go to a quick lube and they put in 12 quarts you will be way over full.

I'm sure the majority of places and even lots individuals probably just drain it and dump 12 quarts back in and call it good, and I would imagine that cummins knows this and that there is a little bit of a safety margin there. I would say an extra 1/2 a quart or even a quart wouldn't cause any problems.

 

[Cummins12V98]

After my first oil change I thought I was making oil but after Blackstone checked the next oil change they said my fuel dilution was less than a 1/2%.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I always drop 3 gallons in mine and it's a smidgen over full till the oil change light comes on in 4-6k miles.

 

[Jim W]

It takes me between 30 and 45 min’s to change my engine oil on my truck. I have installed a Fumoto valve on the truck and I open this up; I then open the oil fill cap and usually go inside the house and either have lunch or a cup of coffee. It takes almost 30 min’s for all of the oil to drain out of the engine. I have done it this way ever since I started to change my own oil. When I refill the oil with 3 gallons; I check after 10 min’s and the oil level is always in the safe zone on the dip-stick. I will than check the level again the next day and it is still in the safe zone. I have never had an issue with over filling my truck.

Jim W.

 

[rebar]

Iv got a 12v so this might not be the appropriate place to post this.. But reading about different dipstick readings with the same amount of oil makes me believe the different oil pans and dip sticks and tubes are causing this..

I wish cummins gave a measurement on how far below the block the level should be as I don't trust my dipstick at the moment.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Let your oil drain overnight. Re fill with 11 quarts. Run engine shut off let it set overnight. That is your "full level" as it reads on the dip stick. If it's different than the factory line take a file and make a new line.

 

[rebar]

Let your oil drain overnight. Re fill with 11 quarts. Run engine shut off let it set overnight. That is your "full level" as it reads on the dip stick. If it's different than the factory line take a file and make a new line.

Thanks..

Even if its a new, never run engine? And I assume 1 of the 11 quarts goes into the filter.

I plan on pre lubing the motor with a fitting where the oil pressure sensor is before running.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks..

Even if its a new, never run engine? And I assume 1 of the 11 quarts goes into the filter.

I plan on pre lubing the motor with a fitting where the oil pressure sensor is before running.

Total fill for a 12V is 11 quarts.

 

[Too Tall]

Thanks..

Even if its a new, never run engine? And I assume 1 of the 11 quarts goes into the filter.

I plan on pre lubing the motor with a fitting where the oil pressure sensor is before running.

Like Sag2 said, take the cap off or leave it loose. There is a bulletin on oil being trapped in the top of the engine if you don't do this. I'm interested in how you will prelube the engine. How are you ging to do this. I've considered installing a preluber on pass engines but never did. Cummmins says crank it with the injector pump unplugged till you get oil pressure. I've done this and that's a lot of cranking. If you've got some ideas on prelube after an oil change, I'd appreciate your thoughts. What kind of pump are you going to use?

 

[rebar]

I'm interested in how you will prelube the engine. How are you ging to do this. I've considered installing a preluber on pass engines but never did. Cummmins says crank it with the injector pump unplugged till you get oil pressure. I've done this and that's a lot of cranking. If you've got some ideas on prelube after an oil change, I'd appreciate your thoughts. What kind of pump are you going to use?

I will remove the oil pressure sensor and replace it with a port to my hose.

#ad

 

[rebar]

Here's what I cam up with.

Oil pressure sensor is 1/8" npt to 1/4" refrigeration. Then adapter up to 3/8" and to the pump.

#ad

 

[JR]

I went through dipstick trivia on a 12 valve engine in a Chevy pick up my cousin bought a while back. It was an industrial motor and the PO had left the old dipstick on which was literally about 6 ft long. After verifying the truck had the correct oil pan (94-02 pick ups) and a nice chat with a helpful parts guy at the dealership, this is what we learned. (Going by my notes, NOT memory)
The dipstick on the 94-98 Cummins engines are 45" long, 98.5-00 are 44" long, and the 01-02 dipsticks are 47" long. Beats me why they're all different when the same pan was used on all 2nd gen trucks, must have something to do with mounting locations? I also do not know if the full and add marks would be the same, but you would think they would be.