Very Strange Dipstick Reading on 6V92

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Ok, so I changed my oil in my 6V92 (suggested 8.5 gallons by MCI in Los Alamitos, CA) and I took a dipstick reading, one side of the dipstick had a drop of oil on the bottom (i.e. no reading) but the opposite side of the dipstick had oil for 1.5 inches up the dipstick (over full).

I have been changing oil in engines for over 40 years and checked this over 10 times in disbelief as well did a very experienced engine mechanic and neither of us could understand this phenomena.   

Has anyone ever seen this before in a 6V92 or ANY engine?  BTW, it doesn't look like the dry side of the dipstick has been wiped clean by pulling it out, it is as dry as when it went in and the opposite side is heavily coated with oil.  This is very strange.

Also, does this engine take 8.5 gallons with a dry oil filter?  Just wanted to be sure as it shows over filled on the dipstick.

Gary

[bevans6]

Mine did that just the other day.  I'm not running it right now so I haven't double checked or figured it out.  Bus has been sitting, pulled the dipstick, it was dry, back in and out, showed right where it should be on one side!  very odd I thought.  Hasn't done it again since.

Brian

[luvrbus]

You guys need a oil sample taken they will do that when fuel is present.   



good luck

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

This happened immediately after changing the oil so there shouldn't be any fuel in the drain pan.

Any other ideas?

Gary

[Dreamscape]

I've never seen that happen, but Clifford might be right. I'd do an oil sample just to make sure. His thought makes sense. How do you know you didn't have fuel in the oil before the change?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Well, I guess I didn't know for sure if there was fuel in the oil before, but the previous owner didn't change the oil for several years so if there was fuel in there, I think I would have seen it as pored the old oil back into the 1 gal oil containers using a funnel.  Because it was so long since the last oil change, if there was any fuel in the oil, there probably would have been quite a bit I suspect.  How much does it cost to have the fuel analyzed and where do get it done?

[luvrbus]

Gary, it could have been something on the stick left behind by the rag. Have you a sample ran I have good luck with the Cat dealers the kit is around 20 bucks.


good luck

[hargreaves]

We get this quite regularly on our transit buses. There is a cushion on the top of the dipstick on the underside that goes over the tube. After a while it seems to separate and go down the tube. it gets stuck at the fitting that joins the tube to the block. As the dipstick is inserted and then drawn back out the side that rubs against this cushion cleans itself. It is quite simple to check this just by removing the dipstick tube and checking it.        Good luck        Gerry

[lostagain]

I get the same thing on the dip stick of a generator I have. Isuzu 2 cyl. diesel. I'll have to look at the tube for a "cushion" that would wipe the oil on one side.

JC

[gus]

I have an airplane oil tank that does the same thing. The dip stick neck is pretty short and so is the dip stick but there is almost a quart difference in the two readings (Out of 4 quarts total!).

I finally checked it when I filled it after draining so I would know exactly the quantity, then I checked each side. Now I use the same side of the dipstick all the time so I know it is accurate.

Why this happens is a mystery to me, the dipstick is so thin I sure don't see how it does this.

[Van]

Flip the dip around the other side , still doing it?

[zimtok]

I know this is no very likely but...
Could the dipstick be under a point where the oil is dripping into the pan?
If oil dripped onto the dipstick it would be higher on the side it dripped onto and lower on the bottom side....


.

[SmoothJazz]

Gary,

All of the 6V92 engines that I ran only took 6.5 gallons which included the filter change.

Dan

[luvrbus]

I never changed the oil in a 6v92 that took 8.5 gals always 6.5 with the filter and some only 5.5 gals




good luck

[Busted Knuckle]

As usual I am a week late and $1,000,000.00 short.
But I agree with the 6.? range on a 6V92 of all the buses I have changed oil in over the yrs they all had Detroits in them but 1 (the church slow rider's bus came from bought an MCI with a Cummins in it).

And they have ranged from 6 gallons to 10 gallons.
I have had mechanics doing the majority of the shop work now for several yrs and my memory is not fresh on which engine took what. But 6.5 +/- does sound right for a 6V92

What is strange is my uncle once had to MCI's with 8V71's in them both built the same month, same yr and one of them took 7 gallons and the other took 8.? the reason those stick in my mind I always thought it was strange that there was such a difference in them.

Our '05's with DD 60's in them take 10 gallons (40 qts according to service manual! LOL) and get changed at least once a month. ($ ouch!)
FWIW   BK