Engine oil dipstick

Topic: Engine oil dipstick (Read 1957 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine oil dipstick

October 17, 2019, 11:20:09 am

Good morning,
This past Monday I took our coach for an oil change at Cummins in Savannah GA.
They put 10 gallons of oil in along with a new filter.
I checked the oil this morning and it was about 1/2 to one inch above the full line on the dipstick.
Cummins manual state's 10.3 gallons to fill.
Has anyone else come across this issue pertaining to the inaccuracy of the dipstick.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #1 – October 17, 2019, 11:33:22 am

There are many posts describing this exact issue, with instructions for calibrating the dipstick. Search for dipstick calibration.
oil level dipstick

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #2 – October 17, 2019, 12:19:19 pm

I was told that Foretravel put a smaller oil pan in our coaches due to it sticking out too much at the bottom. It should be 8.3 gallons. That is what I put in mine. The factory M11 does have 10.3 gallons of oil, but not on our coach. You should check with Foretravel to verify.
John M.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #3 – October 17, 2019, 12:41:05 pm

Our ISM11 holds 38 qts (9.5 gallons). It usually reads just above the full mark After an oil change into the "overfilled" word. Maybe the o or the v.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #4 – October 17, 2019, 12:47:03 pm

As does ours

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #5 – October 17, 2019, 01:37:44 pm

At 8.3 mine falls in the dipstick range. No going over. Question, if there is too much oil will it blow out the vent tube next to the oil filter at the bottom?
John M.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #6 – October 17, 2019, 02:00:53 pm

I have never had any come out the breather tube on the engine bottom (except when my engine ate an air filter.). Mine uses no measurable oil, stays the same place on the dipstick from one change to the next.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #7 – October 17, 2019, 03:10:55 pm

The crankshaft won't foam the oil when the crankcase is overfilled?

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #8 – October 18, 2019, 10:04:29 am

It may foam the oil depending on how much of the crankshaft hits into the oil,but the breather tube comes out the top of the valve cover,it would take alot to force oil out that way.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #9 – October 18, 2019, 10:27:34 am

I've learned on ours to fill to half way between full and add lines. If it gets much above that, I start getting oil out the breather tube. It uses no oil between changes.

Rich

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #10 – October 18, 2019, 10:31:44 am

Remember, the engine manufacturer (at least on Caterpillar and Cummins) did NOT supply the dipstick or dipstick tube.

Always a good idea to CALIBRATE the engine oil dipstick.

Free when changing oil.

Anyone needing instructions, let us know.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #11 – October 18, 2019, 10:50:39 am

I calibrated mine going by the Wolfe directive and found that I had been putting in an extra 2 litres of oil for a long time and was wondering why I had oil drips on the ground. I filed a little notch in the side of dipstick for a full mark which is now almost in line with the lower marking in the normal range.
JohnH

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #12 – October 18, 2019, 11:06:10 am

John, although I have a CAT 3126 mine is full at the same point. (At the bottom of the normal range)

John

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #13 – October 18, 2019, 05:26:01 pm

Here is a related question. What is the best time to check your oil when on the road? We have and ISC350 and I always check the oil just before we leave in the morning. The engine is at ambient temp and it has had at least 8 hours for all the oil to drain. Necessary to wait for the engine to cool? After turning off the engine, how long should one wait to check the oil?

George

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #14 – October 18, 2019, 05:29:04 pm

In the morning is perfect.

I would wait at least an hour after running the engine to check oil level.

Doesn't really matter if the engine is warm or stone cold.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #15 – October 19, 2019, 12:44:13 pm

I would like the instructions on calibrating the dip stick. When mine broke the mechanic built a new one using the top half with a new bottom. It would be nice to know where I'm at with it since it's not time for an oil change yet.

Keith

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #16 – October 19, 2019, 01:15:53 pm

From a short article I wrote over a decade ago for the FMCA Magazine:

CALIBRATING THE ENGINE OIL DIP STICK

We continue to see questions about oil "consumption" and oil on radiators and toads on the FMCA Forum and other RV websites. It seems to be universal across all brands of diesel engines.

THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE IS AN OVERFILLED CRANKCASE. CALIBRATING THE ENGINE OIL DIP STICK TO ENSURE THE CORRECT OIL LEVEL IN THE PAN "FIXES" OVER 90% OF THESE PROBLEMS.

If you "think" your engine has an oil consumption problem, you are seeing oil mist on your toad or you just want to verify that yours is correct; you need to verify that you are using the correct amount of oil. Note: the quantities listed INCLUDE the oil filter and is the total amount of oil you put in when changing oil and filter.

Now, CALIBRATE THE DIP STICK. Since the same engines/dip sticks are used in many different applications with different angles of installation, do not ASSUME that the dip stick is correctly marked. Calibration costs $0.

At the next oil change, drain oil, remove old filter (as usual). Then install the drain plug and new oil filter and add the engine's correct oil capacity LESS THE NUMBER OF QUARTS you want between the "ADD" and "FULL" marks (let's say 2 quarts). So for an engine with 20 quart capacity you would add 18 quarts. Run the engine a few minutes, shut off and wait until oil has descended into the pan (at least 30 minutes and an hour is safer). Pull the dip stick and use a file or dremel tool to mark the oil level "ADD". Add the remaining two quarts, let the oil settle in the pan, pull the dipstick and mark this the "FULL" mark.

In many/most cases, you will find that your engine "throws out" the access oil and then "consumption" settles down to next to nothing. Put in the correct amount and your "consumption" issues may go away.

This applies to all ages (including brand new) of motorhomes and boats with every brand of engine.

Also, when checking the oil level with the dipstick it is safest to do it in the morning after the oil has had all night to flow back to the pan.

Do not add oil until the level reaches the ADD mark.

Finally, make a sticker to affix near oil fill: OIL CAPACITY INCLUDING FILTER: xx QUARTS.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #17 – October 19, 2019, 02:42:26 pm

I might need to calibrate or at least check my dipstick.

When in Alaska, I found my oil at the add mark. I added a gallon, bring it to halfway between add and full. It was still at halfway when I got home.

I believe this is the original factory installed dipstick.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #18 – October 20, 2019, 10:16:01 am

From being on the forum the last few years it seems this is more prevelant on the M-11 engine and not so on the 8.3

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #19 – October 20, 2019, 10:19:01 am

Quote

it seems this is more prevelant on the M-11 engine and not so on the 8.3

That is my experience. My M11 was off by two quarts but this 8.3 is right on.
jor

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #20 – October 23, 2019, 01:38:40 pm

UPDATE,
I met with some fellow Foretravel members this past weekend at Gone Fishing RV Resort. Thanks PROPMAN!

Speaking with them about my oil level issues, John Kerbs suggested i check my oil pan for a part number. I did that to find several part numbers listed and one of those marked with an "X". when you look up that part number it states that it holds 9 gallons on the high mark and 8 on the low mark.
I also checked with Cummins quick serve and it only shows one part number for the oil pan for my engine, which is not on my oil pan.
I will be removing one gallon of oil and see where it lines up on the dipstick.

Re: Engine oil dipstick

Reply #21 – November 26, 2019, 04:38:15 pm

I just changed the oil and filter in our 1995 U320 with Cummins M11 engine. The oil pan holds exactly nine gallons (36 quarts) and the Cummins-recommended LF9009 filter holds one gallon (4 quarts) for a total of 10 gallons (40 quarts) when changing oil and filter.

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