Oil Overfilled

[Rob5]

Last week I had my oil changed at a dealer that is 30 miles away. When I got home I checked the oil level and it is above the hot (full) mark by a little more than 1/2". If the range from add to hot is two quarts then I am about one quart over the full mark.

Should I be concerned? If necessary I will take it back but it is a 60 mile round trip.

The lesson is to check it at the dealer before leaving.

 

[Newsa]

I experienced the same issue when getting an oil change at the dealership.

These trucks seem to create a little vacuum after the truck is turned off that makes about half of the oil in the filter drain out of the filter and eventually back into the pan.

In my opinion, it can be a good inch over full (top of the plastic) and still be safe.

 

[Newsa]

When I change my oil I Don't overkill like the dealer does

 

[seafish]

IME dealers do this a lot. I find that I can smell the overfill after the truck warms up after driving away from the service. I don't worry about it unless the level is GREATER then 1/2" over the max fill line and then I go back and make them fix it.

 

[SnoKing]

You all assume that the dip stick is calibrated correctly. RAM says the oil and filter change takes 12 quarts, and most find this above the full markings on the DS. So do you trust the DS or RAM's 12 qts???? I do not worry about it, I put in 12 qts and go! Snoking

 

[gsbrockman]

Last week I had my oil changed at a dealer that is 30 miles away. When I got home I checked the oil level and it is above the hot (full) mark by a little more than 1/2". If the range from add to hot is two quarts then I am about one quart over the full mark.

Should I be concerned? If necessary I will take it back but it is a 60 mile round trip.

The lesson is to check it at the dealer before leaving.

What is this "hot" mark you speak of ?

 

[Rob5]

What is this "hot" mark you speak of ?

The dipstick is marked with a crosshatched section with the bottom labeled add and top labeled hot.

 

[Rob5]

I experienced the same issue when getting an oil change at the dealership.

These trucks seem to create a little vacuum after the truck is turned off that makes about half of the oil in the filter drain out of the filter and eventually back into the pan.

In my opinion, it can be a good inch over full (top of the plastic) and still be safe.

Interesting and may be what I am experiencing. Just after running the oil level is at the full mark and then several hours later it is overfilled. I thought the extra oil was draining from the engine but you may be right.

When I had a diesel powered sailboat I could get inaccurate readings due to vacuum or pressure in the crankcase that had to be relieved by opening the oil fill cap. I suspect that the dipstick tube extended into the oil and the level could be influenced by varying pressure in the crankcase. Not true with our engines because I tried to use a fluid extractor connected to the dipstick tube to remove oil by vacuum and it didn't work. The tube I had with the extractor to insert into the dipstick tube wasn't long enough for this larger engine and I was nervous about inserting it anyway.

 

[gsbrockman]

The dipstick is marked with a crosshatched section with the bottom labeled add and top labeled hot.

Since your signature is not filled out---I have no idea what truck you own.

My 2014 only has a "SAFE" crosshatched zone.

A picture of your dipstick would be great.....Perhaps the dipsticks have changed recently?

 

[Newsa]

Just wondering what the automatic transmission dipstick(s) have on them? (Markings)

 

[Rob5]

I must have been dreaming or remembering another dipstick. There are no markings except safe in the cross hatched area and maybe something below that area but I can't read it. Sorry for the misinformation.

Thanks for your replies and advice.

edit: It seems I was originally describing the transmission dip stick. I checked the transmission fluid and the oil at the same time and my memory failed me.

 

[Cummins2014]

Last week I had my oil changed at a dealer that is 30 miles away. When I got home I checked the oil level and it is above the hot (full) mark by a little more than 1/2". If the range from add to hot is two quarts then I am about one quart over the full mark.

Should I be concerned? If necessary I will take it back but it is a 60 mile round trip.

The lesson is to check it at the dealer before leaving.

I experienced the same thing with my first ,and only dealership oil change. Quite a bit over the safe zone. Every oil change since with adequate drain time doing my own, mine reads right on the top of the safe zone adding 12 quarts.

I have seen one being so anal, he only adds 11 quarts, and 24 oz ,adding 12 quarts puts him over the safe zone by a 1/16 " . Go figure ,its a 12 quart system. Adding 12 quarts with the filter, with adequate drain time I could care less where it reads on the dipstick, but yes being 1/2" over is a bit much.

You need to change it yourself next time ,give it awhile or even overnight if possible ,then add the 12 quarts with the new filter, and see where it hits on the dipstick, and maintain it at that level on the dipstick.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I guarantee you will be overfull unless you drain for several hours. Even draining mine overnight adding 12 quarts I will be 1/3 quart overfull. Reason is the drain plug is higher than the bottom of the pan bottom.

 

[Cummins2014]

I guarantee you will be overfull unless you drain for several hours. Even draining mine overnight adding 12 quarts I will be 1/3 quart overfull. Reason is the drain plug is higher than the bottom of the pan bottom.

I hear you, but 1/3 quart, how did you arrive at that ?? I'll take my chances overfilling, mine has not blown up yet ,after using 12 quarts

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I guarantee you will be overfull unless you drain for several hours. Even draining mine overnight adding 12 quarts I will be 1/3 quart overfull. Reason is the drain plug is higher than the bottom of the pan bottom.

If the drain plug is higher than the bottom of the pan then draining for a month won't get any more out.

I just changed my oil this weekend. The dipstick read right at the top of the hash marks when I started. Let her drip for about 45 minutes. Prefilled the filter and poured the balance of 3 gallons in. Started and let her run 5 or 10 minutes to be sure no leaks.

After cleaning up I dumped the old oil back into the jugs and came up with 2-3/4 gallons including what came out of the old filter.

After sitting for 30 minutes the level was just a tick over the full mark. I would think an extra 1/2 quart can't hurt anything so I'm not worrying about it.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Last week I had my oil changed at a dealer that is 30 miles away. When I got home I checked the oil level and it is above the hot (full) mark by a little more than 1/2". If the range from add to hot is two quarts then I am about one quart over the full mark.

Should I be concerned? If necessary I will take it back but it is a 60 mile round trip.

The lesson is to check it at the dealer before leaving.

I had mine done by the dealer because it was free and I noticed when I got home the invoice said they put 13 qts in so I checked it and it was as you described so the next day I took it back and had them remove a quart. I usually do my own maint on everything and this is why.

 

[TCDiesel]

I have been Running ALL My engines for 30+ Years 1qt over full Except my lawn tractors 1/2-1/4Qt over full . But when we did Oil changes it was always at the dip stick level... What really is the correct level? if you run 1.1QT below the level maker say add, is 1.QT below the correct level? and its over full at the Full Mark? IMO they can save 1QT per vehicle the maker saves much $ at factory. Yes bean counters will attack the level claiming it saves $ to set the level at its lowest amount.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I hear you, but 1/3 quart, how did you arrive at that ?? I'll take my chances overfilling, mine has not blown up yet ,after using 12 quarts

Trial and error.

 

[SnoKing]

Trial and error.

Pour a third of a quart of something in a cake pan or something the size of the Cummins oil pan and see how far it raises the level. My guess is that it is not a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Snoking

 

[AH64ID]

You all assume that the dip stick is calibrated correctly. RAM says the oil and filter change takes 12 quarts, and most find this above the full markings on the DS. So do you trust the DS or RAM's 12 qts???? I do not worry about it, I put in 12 qts and go! Snoking

12QTS is what a dry motor takes. You will never get that much out so a drain and refill with 12 QTS is overfilled. Between the oil that is held in the head and in the oil pan it's 1/3-1/2 qt on a well drained motor.

IIRC 6.7's have a TSB to allow them to drain for at least 30 minutes. I believe it came about from overfilled engines when the 6.7's came out, but it's been a while since I read about it.