Oil Capacity Question/Verification

@jfoj buy a new dipstick. And compare the length to the one in your truck. Maybe they put the wrong one in at the factory. Stranger things have happened.

jfoj said:

Word to the wise, check the oil immediately after an oil change. Verify for yourself the oil level on the dipstick. With all the engine failures and complaints about oil consumption, it would be wise to know EXACTLY where the oil fill is on a fresh oil change.

Will be interested to see over time if others see similar results.

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I have, every time I've changed the oil in my home garage (which is flat concreate), and every time 8 quarts fills it up to the top of the safe zone on the dipstick.

I also check it about once a week (I say "about" because sometimes it get missed and goes two weeks) and at around 50% oil life remaining on the dash it'll be down to the the middle to lower 1/3 of the safe zone on the dipstick.

I usually change the oil when about 15-20% oil life is left on the dash indictor and by that time if I weren't changing the oil, I would be considering maybe adding a quart as the level is at the bottom of the dipstick. But I just change the oil around then, new filter (I do prefill the filter which for some reason is controversial now), add 8 total quarts of oil to the engine , which puts the dipstick back at the top of the safe zone ,,,then rinse and repeat.

The attached PDF of a recent used oil analysis,,,so far my 6.2 is doing pretty good.

fondupot said:

The capacity of these motors is not subject to opinion. The spec is 8 quarts that’s what goes in. I would not continue to overfill the engine because excess oil in the crankcase causes foaming and will lead to engine damage.

Oil level when checked must be in level ground. Cold. Anywhere in the hash marks is acceptable “full.”

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You mean GM uses the same oil pan/ lines/ coolers on every engine and doesn't have a bunch of different parts hanging out around the assembly line,,,, man that must make mass production way easier if everything used the same parts,,, wonder if any other auto manufactures have figured this trick out.
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I agree with Fondupot above about the dipstick. What makes you think that a dipstick is the ultimate word on this? Things can and do happen on the assembly line. Also agree about being on level ground. It can make a difference if you are paying attention to the details. I think I am going to go out and check mine right now. My Dealer did an oil change about two weeks ago.

Something just crossed my mind on this. When you "dip the stick" are you going to the fully seated position or are you just "dipping" it? You need to put the dipstick all the way in when checking the oil level.

fondupot said:

@jfoj buy a new dipstick. And compare the length to the one in your truck. Maybe they put the wrong one in at the factory. Stranger things have happened.

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I am aware of prior dipstick and dipstick tube issue with other manufactures, however, this does not appear to be a dipstick or dipstick tube issue. I verified the oil level from the factory fill before the oil change. The oil was at the top of the hash marks on the dipstick with the factory fill.

GMCnewbee said:

Something just crossed my mind on this. When you "dip the stick" are you going to the fully seated position or are you just "dipping" it? You need to put the dipstick all the way in when checking the oil level.

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Quite well aware to FULLY seat dipstick due to the O-rings. It was fully inserted. I actually tried multiple times as well as waited hours before checking again to make sure oil had fully drained back into the pan.

What I was looking for is NOT what the oil capacity Spec as this is listed everywhere and I had planned on 8 qts, but the question has anyone seen their engine requiring 9 quarts to show up properly on the dipstick.

For comparison my build date on the vehicle is 8/2024 so it is a fairly current build.

All I can say is for future changes I am going to monitor final oil level with the top hash marks on the dipstick like I found the engine oil level as delivered from the assembly plant.

Let us know what you find/ figure out. I'm betting that your rig holds 8 quarts and something else is going on. Be pretty weird for just one truck to roll off the assembly line different from the literally thousands of others.
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@jfoj what oil filter are you using?