Pentastar oil fill mystery

[Cedar Plank]

Hello, first time posting and looking for guidance on oil fill. New to me 2021 ram 1500 classic with the 3.6l. Have been doing my own maintenance on vehicles for 50+ years and this has me baffled.
Manual states 5.6 liters (6 qt) for oil change with filter. Dealer confirmed based on VIN. Drained the oil completely, changed the filter and refilled with 5.3 liters (5.6qt). Ran the engine for a minute to check for leaks, then shut it off and waited about 15 minutes then checked the dipstick and it's just above MAX level. The dipstick is a POS and difficult to read reliably.
By rights, it's under filled by 0.3 liter or a third of a quart, but the dipstick says full.
What do I believe, the manual or the dipstick?
Thanks for any guidance you might have.

 

[Burla]

the pan is the pan, the dipstick is the unknown. My RAM needs 8 quarts to show full on my 7 quart RAM, why... the dipstick is in a non perfect position in the pan. I guess I have been overfilling for 16 years. Never an issue, never bubbles on dip stick at 8 quarts.

 

[Cedar Plank]

So, do I fill with 5.6 liters per the manual and ignore the dipstick overfill OR, leave the oil at 5.3 liters that shows full on the dipstick? In the end, I can't see 0.3 liters (0.33 qt) making a difference, but these discrepancies make me crazy.

 

[crackerjack1957]

So, do I fill with 5.6 liters per the manual and ignore the dipstick overfill OR, leave the oil at 5.3 liters that shows full on the dipstick? In the end, I can't see 0.3 liters (0.33 qt) making a difference, but these discrepancies make me crazy.

Simply put in the required amount per manual & scribe a line on the dipstick where full should read by the oil location on the stick afterwards.

 

[Grams]

The manual specifies the MAXimum to refill during an oil-change is 5.3L.

Therefore…DO NOT overfill….by adding more than 5.3 L.

The OEM knows what minimum their engines need …and they know what overfilling damage can occur…so they are placing a LIMIT on the MAXimum.

It’s a common misunderstanding for folks to misinterpret the instrucition as Requiring the 5.3 as the minimum…. but it’s not a minimum specification. It’s a MAXimum specification.

 

[star_deceiver]

Firstly, ignore the dipstick. If there’s oil on it, it’s good.

When I change the oil, I hand tighten the filter cap until it stops. No more. Add 6 liters of PUP 5w30. Reset the oil change meter. Never run more than 8000kms or 40% on the oil change meter. Good for another 4 months. This engine does not care if you’re a little high on the level and given the rake and angle your truck is sitting, the dipstick isn’t that accurate.

Secondly, change these out at the same time. Someday your housing will leak and it’s really easy to get to when you do the plugs.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

Firstly, ignore the dipstick. If there’s oil on it, it’s good.

When I change the oil, I hand tighten the filter cap until it stops. No more. Add 6 liters of PUP 5w30. Reset the oil change meter. Never run more than 8000kms or 40% on the oil change meter. Good for another 4 months. This engine does not care if you’re a little high on the level and given the rake and angle your truck is sitting, the dipstick isn’t that accurate.

Secondly, change these out at the same time. Someday your housing will leak and it’s really easy to get to when you do the plugs.

View attachment 585629

Looks like OEM plugs for the Pentastar got Champion plugs while the Hemi got NGK’s?

 

[Fake-Account27]

I have a penstar in my pacifica and 5.5 quarts is about what I use every time. I have been changing the oil this way since 2018.

 

[Grams]

Looks like OEM plugs for the Pentastar got Champion plugs while the Hemi got NGK’s?

I had a 2012 1500 which came with Bosch plugs. At 50K miles I replaced them with Champions. At 100K those Champions still looked fine….but I replaced them with more Champions….because I had already bought the replacements… and… I’d already done the hard work of removal, might as well install the new ones….but I made a mental note that 50K miles was not anywhere near their capability…. I decided to double the distance…(after-all, the truck was then approaching 10 years old anyway So at 220K miles (100K miles on those Champions)… I replaced all the spark plug leads/towers for good measure…and THIS time installed OEM BOSCH… Expensive …but I was about to take the truck on a long cross-country-trip pulling the Airstream to KY….
…where it was Totalled by another driver who ran a red light.

Moral: U.S. made Champion Spark Plugs are just fine.

 

[mdc1990zr1]

I had a 2012 1500 which came with Bosch plugs. At 50K miles I replaced them with Champions. At 100K those Champions still looked fine….but I replaced them with more Champions….because I had already bought the replacements… and… I’d already done the hard work of removal, might as well install the new ones….but I made a mental note that 50K miles was not anywhere near their capability…. I decided to double the distance…(after-all, the truck was then approaching 10 years old anyway So at 220K miles (100K miles on those Champions)… I replaced all the spark plug leads/towers for good measure…and THIS time installed OEM BOSCH… Expensive …but I was about to take the truck on a long cross-country-trip pulling the Airstream to KY….
…where it was Totalled by another driver who ran a red light.

Moral: U.S. made Champion Spark Plugs are just fine.

View attachment 585648

US made Champions in my Wrangler every 30K are just fine too

 

[Cedar Plank]

Appreciate all the replies re the oil level. My (OCD) main concern was not knowing how "overfilled" it was because I couldn't see the level on the stupid dipstick. So I drained 1/2 liter out to get an accurate reading on the dipstick. Added oil to get the level up to the full mark. In the end, I ended up putting in 5.3 liters in total. It is what it is, regardless what the manual states. The engine must be holding the other 0.3 liters somewhere when its drained. Dipstick says full and I'm OK with that.

With regards to the oil filler/cooler, I have done a lot of reading about these. Its probably in my future, but good to know what to expect and how to fix it. Thoughts on the DORMAN brand?

 

[crackerjack1957]

Appreciate all the replies re the oil level. My (OCD) main concern was not knowing how "overfilled" it was because I couldn't see the level on the stupid dipstick. So I drained 1/2 liter out to get an accurate reading on the dipstick. Added oil to get the level up to the full mark. In the end, I ended up putting in 5.3 liters in total. It is what it is, regardless what the manual states. The engine must be holding the other 0.3 liters somewhere when its drained. Dipstick says full and I'm OK with that.

With regards to the oil filler/cooler, I have done a lot of reading about these. Its probably in my future, but good to know what to expect and how to fix it. Thoughts on the DORMAN brand?

Dorman aluminum replacement is the go to.

Also they made a 5 quart or a 6 quart oil pan for the 3.6 Pentastar.
The DS (classic) has the 6-quart
The DT has the 5-quart

Pdf

 

[star_deceiver]

Buy the Dorman.

 

[Gary Fields]

Be happy you have a dipstick. I would have added 5.3 and taken a short drive. Check oil as soon as you stop. If oil is frothy or foamy you have too much. If it's clear you are OK. Sometimes did sticks are not properly calibrated. They can be bent and they are at an angle to the pan.

 

[BigTerry66]

So, do I fill with 5.6 liters per the manual and ignore the dipstick overfill OR, leave the oil at 5.3 liters that shows full on the dipstick? In the end, I can't see 0.3 liters (0.33 qt) making a difference, but these discrepancies make me crazy.

If it full on the stick don't worry..but do check again in a week to be sure... my 2 cent!

 

[Tominator223]

On the mark should by ok. My hemi came with champions. Still running good at over 325 on engine & 427 on truck. Champion plugs are pretty much done at 80-85 thousand miles. That’s what I found after forgetting when I changed em the last time

 

[grizzstang]

The dipstick in our 2013 Wrangler 3.6L looks like this and it is hard to read.

Are they still using this style in the 2021 Ram 3.6L ?

I would like to try the dipstick from our 2022 Cherokee 3.2L in it to see if it reads the same as it looks more like the dipstick in my Ram.

 

[Yardbird]

Pentastar dipstick readings change according to how long the engine has been siting after shutdown.

If left sitting a while, all the oil in the filter housing will run back into the pan.

Mine always checks slightly high after sitting, and I always make sure the correct amount is put in the engine.

 

[Cedar Plank]

Grizzstang, yes it's the same dipstick in the 2021 Ram. Horrible design all around. The upper lip collects oil from the tube on the way in, making it pretty much impossible to get an accurate reading.

 

[star_deceiver]

Maybe, on future engine models, they’ll make a built in sensor so you can see the oil level on the dash….. do away with that pesky dipstick…

There’s oil on it. It’s not foamy. You’re good.