Dip Stick Woes

[neil]

I am hoping that someone out there can help me.  

 

I have a 2003 6.6L Duramax Crew Cab and I just changed my oil for the first time.  It has just over 1000 miles.  I went to the dealer and got the correct filter.  I also bought 3 gallons of Shell Rotella 15W-40.  I was happy to see that the filter was easily accessable.  I drained the pan, put the drain screw back in.  I struggled to get the original oil filter off, but was successful (that thing was on tight!!!!!).  Put the new filter on and tightened it down 1-1/4 turns past the gasket contact point.  Now is where the trouble began.  I put in 8 quarts, let it drain down a few minutes and then checked the dipstick (has a yellow handle).  It showed full on the dipstick markings.  I thought it took 11 quarts with a new filter, so I was surprised to see it registering full.  And I checked it about 5 times and it read the same.  Well, I continued to add another quart at a time, each time checking the dipstick multiple times and still it was reading full.  So I stopped at 11 quarts (still read full), started the engine and it ran fine with oil pressure reading about 40 at idle and about 90 while driving down the street.  

 

So my question is...How do I check the correct oil level if the dipstick always reads full.  

 

When I say it reads full, I mean that oil has collected on the end of the stick all the way up to the "F".  

 

Can anyone help me!!!!!!

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Neil

[CMNTMXR81]

It'll be overly full until you run the engine cause all the oil is in the pan.  Once you run it, then it'll get pumped through the galleries, filter and want not.

 

After it's ran a few minutes, shut it off and recheck.  It should be a little bit lower...closer to normal.

[bluenote]

Unless they've changed the specs for the '03s, your Duramax takes 10 quarts total.  Also, my '01 oil pressure gauge only goes up to 80, and it rarely maxes it out, so I wonder if your oil is a little overfilled and it's giving you higher pressure than normal?  Good Luck on tracking down the problem!

[neil]

Thanks for the info.  However, when I changed the oil, no matter how full the pan was, I still read full.  Somehow the end of the distick is getting oil on it while removing or inserting the dipstick.  I don't know wheat I am doing wrong.

 

As far as the gauges go, my gauge on my 2003 D/A reads from 0 to 120 with major tick marks every 30psi.