Oil capacity!

Blue Thunder · 07-22-2007, 03:40 PM

Did my second change yesterday. Got it good and warm and then let it sit on the ramps for a good hour before taking out the drain plug. Despite what the manual says, it's holding 7 quarts of Pennzoil Platinum and still is well below the "full" mark on the dip stick today. These motors must hold oil up in the heads for a good while after being shut down. DIY oil changes mean you can take the time to get ALL of the old oil out in a change.

**Arachnid** · 07-22-2007, 04:07 PM

You will get better results from pulling the plug while the oil is hot, it doesn't give a chance for contaminants to set up in the engine. As far as oil capacacity, are you checking the oil level with the truck on an incline? You shouldn't be showing an oil level "well below the full mark" if you put in 7 quarts.

Blue Thunder · 07-22-2007, 06:44 PM

Yep, still hot to touch as it came out. Level was checked both yesterday and today on the level. I guess it just holds a lot. It took more than 6.5 quarts on the first change as well.

SOCALTITANKC4X4LE · 07-22-2007, 07:12 PM

When I change the oil and the filter, my truck takes 7.5 quarts.

TitanBlue · 07-23-2007, 05:07 PM

Seems like most people are happy with 7 quarts to be filled. That's what I use, and have never been near low at oil change time.

An interesting thing to do, is get a Used Oil Analysis from Blackstone Labs for 22 bucks. It is sent as a PDF about 4 days after mailing in the sample. Very enlightening, with guidance provided by the lab, and old reports included for comparison in future reports.

baseballfanz · 07-23-2007, 05:10 PM

I use 7qt everytime, it put me at a little bit above the halfway mark between high and low.

54warrior · 07-23-2007, 06:57 PM

I am a tight wad so I run 6.5 qts. and am happy with it being just a tad below the full mark. It's always on that mark. I try to change my oil at 3000 miles, but sometimes it makes it to 4000 or so.

**helomech** · 07-23-2007, 09:07 PM

There is no reason to put more than 6.5 quarts, no matter what the dipstick shows. The dipstick is made cheap and the lines will be different from truck to truck. Put 6.5 quarts in there and then check the dipstick. Make a mark where the oil is and this will be your new full line. A extra half quart wont anything, but why. I would not put more than 7 quarts in, no matter where it is showing on the dipstick.

EVO8 · 07-23-2007, 10:58 PM

The magic number is 7.

parks5855 · 07-23-2007, 11:25 PM

6.5 qts. per the owners manual. On my truck this puts me exactly half way between the high and the low marks on the dipstick. 7 quarts is probably fine but I don't know that I'd go much more than that.....not only would it be a waste of money but you might start having some windage issues (parasitic power loss due to oil drag on the crank externals). Brian

**helomech** · 07-24-2007, 08:54 AM

No offense, but what makes some people believe they know more about how much oil these particular engines need than the engineers who built it. Like I said before the dipstick is for reference only. It is made cheap and can vary greatly from truck to truck. Go by the owners manual and you can't go wrong, true a little more won't kill the engine, but it isn't better than the correct amount.

**roy365** · 07-24-2007, 10:49 AM

when i switched from peanut oil to vegetable oil it did take a bit more to fill it.

BuckyBadger · 07-24-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVO8

The magic number is 7.

Mine too. Did it 2 days ago

Learjet · 07-25-2007, 03:43 PM

6 3/4 quarts and my level is exactly on full after a change.

EVO8 · 07-27-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learjet

6 3/4 quarts and my level is exactly on full after a change.

Run your truck for 10 minutes and let it cool down for 15 minutes then recheck it. It will be in the middle between low and high. That is the reason why 7 quarts is the magic number. If you put 7 quarts in and run for 10 minutes and let it cool down for 15 and recheck, oil is just at or below the high mark. Giving yourself extra oil is better then running low on oil for weeks without knowing it.