mr. ed
Madison, SD (but usually elsewhere)
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Well, here I go with another question (I'm a first-time diesel owner, so I'll be posting frequently). Several days ago I checked the oil level in my new (1200 miles) Cummins 6.7L engine. I noticed that it was quite a bit above the "SAFE" zone printed on the dipstick. Knowing that excess fuel can dilute the oil due to injector problems I smelled the oil and felt it between my fingers. I didn't detect any fuel smell and the oil was not excessively thin, in my estimation. I brought the truck back to the dealer and had them remove a quart of oil. The level as shown on the dipstick is now just slightly above the "SAFE" zone.
My question: if you own a truck with the Cummins 6.7L engine and have changed your oil, where did you find the level to be as read on the dipstick? Was it somewhere within the "SAFE" zone or a little above? The reason I ask is because the oil in my engine is the original factory fill and it may be possible that "normal" oil level is actually above the "SAFE" zone. Thanks in advance...
Mr. Ed (fulltiming since 1987)
2007 Hitchhiker II LS Model 29.5 LKTG
2007 Dodge Ram 3500/6.7 CTD/QC/4X4/SB/SRW/6-speed man/Big Horn edition
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The Texan
Home: Idaho - Location: Texas
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When you do your 1st oil change, make sure you add exactly the amount the owners book calls for, drive it for a day, then check the oil first with a warm engine and then with a cold engine. This will give you a true reading of where the safe zone is, then take a file and notch the dip stick at that level. All diesels will have a point that they like to be at and it may or may not be in the factory marks on the dip stick.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins W/ 540w/35A solar system -Pulling our '05 GMC Sierra LT, CC, Z-71, w/ 2010 Silver Rzr in back.
Where the wheels are stopped
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JustLabs
Washington State
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Joined: 05/13/2002
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The Texan wrote:When you do your 1st oil change, make sure you add exactly the amount the owners book calls for
My manual calls for 12qts. 12qts puts the oil level exactly halfway between add and full.
I'm guessing Cummins knows what they want.
2011 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ 4x4 CCLB Duramax/Allison
2007 Keystone Cougar 289BHS Fifth Wheel.
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camping man
Central Fla.
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On my 5.9 , if I put in the whole 3 gallons the manual calls for, I'm about 1/4inch over full, so from now on I put in about 2 3/4 gallons and see where it's at a day later.
05 Dodge CTD NV5600 6speed / 97 Sprinter 5er
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mr. ed
Madison, SD (but usually elsewhere)
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Thanks for the replies. Next oil change I'll be sure that 12 quarts goes in and see where the true oil level mark will be on the dipstick.
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Darrell
Somewhere in the US
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Also realize that the dipstick is only a reference mark. Each vehicle is different as could be each dip-stick.
Darrell
PEACEFUL PATTON
"In His Grip"
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JIMNLIN
out here
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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mr. ed wrote:
My question: if you own a truck with the Cummins 6.7L engine and have changed your oil, where did you find the level to be as read on the dipstick? Was it somewhere within the "SAFE" zone or a little above? The reason I ask is because the oil in my engine is the original factory fill and it may be possible that "normal" oil level is actually above the "SAFE" zone. Thanks in advance...
if your a Dodge/Cummins owner much more info can be found over on dieseltruckresource.com web and another is turbodieselregister.com. The TDR web is free if you subscribe to their mag. This mag is by far the best for lots of tech info. I would highly recommend the mag for all Dodge/Cummins owners. If you have a problem someone on either web will already have found a fix.
The 3rd gen 5.9 dipstick reads the same as 12qt puts it at the top of safe zone. Your owners manual has that info
JIM
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
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Gunpilot77
Killeen, Tx
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I agree with Jim. This is an RV website. If you need to know about your particular type truck, the best place to go would be the website(s) for that truck. The added plus is not having to read the inputs from owners of other types of trucks that have no relevence to your question. The TDR is the best Dodge/Cummins site, but theDTR isn't bad.
Fifth wheel pulled with a pick-up
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The Texan
Home: Idaho - Location: Texas
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Gunpilot77 wrote:I agree with Jim. This is an RV website. If you need to know about your particular type truck, the best place to go would be the website(s) for that truck. The added plus is not having to read the inputs from owners of other types of trucks that have no relevance to your question. The TDR is the best Dodge/Cummins site, but the DTR isn't bad. This is a slap in the face to those of us that drive diesels and have a knowledge of their inner workings. Just because one of my 5 diesel vehicles isn't a 6.7L Cummins, doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about.
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mr. ed
Madison, SD (but usually elsewhere)
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Thanks for the further suggestions, folks. I DO visit the TDR website almost daily, although I'm not a member. I also post questions on the Diesel Truck Resource Forum, of which I am a member. The reason I also post on RV.NET is in order to reach as many knowledgeable individuals as possible. I really appreciate your help...Ed
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