Checking Oil
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: Land of the Free
Checking Oil
Ok, so i thought i knew how to check engine oil. But today i felt like i didnt or at least im not trusting the reading i kept think i was seeing. I know that a new engine will consume some oil while the rings are still seating. Which can take a while to on a diesel. So last week i checked the oil, and after several readings i was pretty sure it was on the bottom of the crosshatch. so i added a bit, rechecked, added more, rechecked and added the rest of the quart. then rechecked. it looked like it was the at the top of the crosshatch. perfect.
today, i checked and it was either halfway up the crosshatch (where i would expect) or way over the top mark on the cable. almost an inch over the top mark above the crosshatch.
now the oil isnt "diesel black" yet so its not as obvious as to where to actual level is vs "smear" from pulling thru the dipstick tube. I noticed the dipstick is experiencing a few curves before it gets to the sump. so i dont know if im getting erroneous readings or if somehow my engine is making oil. (which i remember hearing or reading about, but know very little on the subject).
thought id check in for either some info or a sanity check. thanks in advance.
Jason
today, i checked and it was either halfway up the crosshatch (where i would expect) or way over the top mark on the cable. almost an inch over the top mark above the crosshatch.
now the oil isnt "diesel black" yet so its not as obvious as to where to actual level is vs "smear" from pulling thru the dipstick tube. I noticed the dipstick is experiencing a few curves before it gets to the sump. so i dont know if im getting erroneous readings or if somehow my engine is making oil. (which i remember hearing or reading about, but know very little on the subject).
thought id check in for either some info or a sanity check. thanks in advance.
Jason
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 3
From: Altoona, Ia
Mine was making oil pretty good before I deleted it. Best guess, in 4,000 miles my truck made 1/2 qt, maybe even closer to 1 qt and the oil was black as night and very thin.
I changed the oil and deleted it the same week. So far (3,000 miles) I've not made any oil and the oil looks much better.
Not saying that's what your truck is doing, only sharing my experience. Regen cycles will put fuel into the oil (making oil) combine with excessive idling while the engine is cold, the engine will wet stack and make oil.
I found it very beneficial to delete the crap that was doing no good for my engine. YMMV.
Andrew
I changed the oil and deleted it the same week. So far (3,000 miles) I've not made any oil and the oil looks much better.
Not saying that's what your truck is doing, only sharing my experience. Regen cycles will put fuel into the oil (making oil) combine with excessive idling while the engine is cold, the engine will wet stack and make oil.
I found it very beneficial to delete the crap that was doing no good for my engine. YMMV.
Andrew
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: Land of the Free
couldnt have said it any better
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: Land of the Free
Mine was making oil pretty good before I deleted it. Best guess, in 4,000 miles my truck made 1/2 qt, maybe even closer to 1 qt and the oil was black as night and very thin.
I changed the oil and deleted it the same week. So far (3,000 miles) I've not made any oil and the oil looks much better.
Not saying that's what your truck is doing, only sharing my experience. Regen cycles will put fuel into the oil (making oil) combine with excessive idling while the engine is cold, the engine will wet stack and make oil.
I found it very beneficial to delete the crap that was doing no good for my engine. YMMV.
Andrew
I changed the oil and deleted it the same week. So far (3,000 miles) I've not made any oil and the oil looks much better.
Not saying that's what your truck is doing, only sharing my experience. Regen cycles will put fuel into the oil (making oil) combine with excessive idling while the engine is cold, the engine will wet stack and make oil.
I found it very beneficial to delete the crap that was doing no good for my engine. YMMV.
Andrew
well i aint deletin NOTHIN...lol
except maybe some truck payments...
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After a fresh oil change and running the engine for 15-20 miles, my oil level is usually slightly above half in the hatched area the next morning.
I'll try to remember to confirm this next oil change but that's what I seem to remember.
I'll try to remember to confirm this next oil change but that's what I seem to remember.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: Land of the Free
Also i find that checking the oil is a pita compared to my 6.4 because the disptick is nearly on the centerline of the truck, and far enough back that i need and stepstool and to lean to get to it. Im about 5'9" ish....not super tall but not super short.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
I know what you mean about the effort required to check the oil. I'm 6' and it's pretty much all I have to reach the stick. When my back hurts I get pretty angry with the dipstick........
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 460
Likes: 50
From: Washington state
Checking oil
No matter what you do it is very difficult to read the correct oil level on our 6.7. Engines. I find by letting the truck sit overnight and with only one pull you can see the level better. In an ideal world you are supposed to check the oil when it is hot. If you try to check the oil multiple times it picks up oil from the diptube and confuses the reading. Some owners have suggested pulling the dipstick out an inch or two pausing for a short time and then withdrawing the dipstick. I find that no matter what I do it is a lousy dipstick to read. That's probably my only complaint about my truck after 25,000 miles of driving. My truck has never made oil. 