Ever Noticed this?
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Ever Noticed this?
After an oil change the oil will drop to ~ about 1qrt low within a thousand or so miles. Fill it to the mark and i'll do it again in the same mileage.
So we stopped filling them all the way up @ the changes (3.5gal vs 3.75gal) and now they stay at about the 1qt low level for thousands of miles.
Never have came up with a good explanation for this but it sure does save on oil. Our drivers are now instructed to only fill when it hits the bottom of the crosshatch and only put 1qt in when they do.
Anybody else noticed this?
So we stopped filling them all the way up @ the changes (3.5gal vs 3.75gal) and now they stay at about the 1qt low level for thousands of miles.
Never have came up with a good explanation for this but it sure does save on oil. Our drivers are now instructed to only fill when it hits the bottom of the crosshatch and only put 1qt in when they do.
Anybody else noticed this?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
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From: La La Land
I've noticed that with engines of all makes and sizes for over fifty years, now.
I believe it is caused by crank windage.
But I don't know for sure what causes it, and this is only my belief.
That, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee in some cheap places......
Pop
I believe it is caused by crank windage.
But I don't know for sure what causes it, and this is only my belief.
That, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee in some cheap places......
Pop
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Your theory's like mine but it's just strange - so many vehicles do it. Wonder how much oil is wasted by folks topping off when they check it vs waiting till it drops all the way?
Our VW TDI does the same thing only that's just a 1/2qt - ditto for most of our tractors
Our VW TDI does the same thing only that's just a 1/2qt - ditto for most of our tractors
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Post Fiend
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From: Texas
What we're saying is pay attention to your truck. If your engine always drops to a certain level and never goes below that, fill to that level. If your truck "uses" oil and it continues to go down, add oil to keep it in the cross hatches on the dipstick.
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Laughing Gas
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From: Caro, MI
Not quite. We're saying it's not uncommon for the truck to always work it's way down to a quart low. Driving conditions, temperatures, towing, elevation, leaks, etc. all have an effect on the oil.
What we're saying is pay attention to your truck. If your engine always drops to a certain level and never goes below that, fill to that level. If your truck "uses" oil and it continues to go down, add oil to keep it in the cross hatches on the dipstick.
What we're saying is pay attention to your truck. If your engine always drops to a certain level and never goes below that, fill to that level. If your truck "uses" oil and it continues to go down, add oil to keep it in the cross hatches on the dipstick.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: white pine,tn
I use to have 95 KW. It had a 425 cat in it and it done the same thing so I just ran it a gal low made a mark on the stick and it never use any oil after that even after having 750,000 on the last overhaul and a 1,750,000 on the Turbo.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Slatington, PA
Not quite. We're saying it's not uncommon for the truck to always work it's way down to a quart low. Driving conditions, temperatures, towing, elevation, leaks, etc. all have an effect on the oil.
What we're saying is pay attention to your truck. If your engine always drops to a certain level and never goes below that, fill to that level. If your truck "uses" oil and it continues to go down, add oil to keep it in the cross hatches on the dipstick.
What we're saying is pay attention to your truck. If your engine always drops to a certain level and never goes below that, fill to that level. If your truck "uses" oil and it continues to go down, add oil to keep it in the cross hatches on the dipstick.
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
What's weird is we have 8 SD's and they ALL do this. Only one uses oil and has to be regularly topped off but we only bring it back up to about the middle of the crosshatch on the stick.
The rest the usage is barely noticeable even after 4-5k - we're changing @ 7500-8000mi intervals with some trucks going more like 9k.
The rest the usage is barely noticeable even after 4-5k - we're changing @ 7500-8000mi intervals with some trucks going more like 9k.
Hook it, I'll pull it.
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From: Grand Lake, La.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Carthage, Mo
Mine usually drops a half a quart. I ALWAYS check my oil level after I drive it the first time after a change, just to make sure I didn't spring a leak around the oil filter. On my old deuce & a half, the dipstick is hard to read. So I put in the required 22 qts, ran it, let it settle, & saw where it was on the dipstick. Turns out the proper level is in the middle of the word "check", so that's where I keep it. Don't forget there is probably some variation in the length of the dipstick tubes, etc. A 1/4" error there would make quite a difference.
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