I got a 92 Ram D-150 with the 318 V8 in it. I just bought it the other day. Changed the oil in it over the week end, the manual says to change with 4 quarts(4.5 with filter). It took over 5 quarts before I could get it register on the dip stick. I put on a new filter and it took close to 5.5 quarts. To those that have a similar truck, how many quarts is your truck taking? Wondering why the manual says 4.5 quarts, yet my truck took closer to 5.5 quarts....

 

Since you are working on a 20 year old truck the first questions that surface are: Does it have a stock oil pan? Does it have a stock dipstick and dipstick tube? Is the dipstick tube completely seated in its hole?

 

Not sure on the pan being stock, any way for me to know looking at it? The dip stick appears to be original, and yes it is seated properly.

 

Where is the oil level now? You should check the oil level about 5 minutes after shutting down a fully warmed engine. The truck should be level. My 89 manual calls for 4 qts + 1 for the filter.

 

My dip stick has a "add oil" and a "Safe" level. After putting in over 5 quarts I'm in the safe zone on the dip stick. I've check it on level ground after engine has warm up already, I know the basic of oil changing, just wondering what others are putting into there truck of the same age. I found it odd that mine takes over 5 quarts, when the manual calls for only 4 quarts(4.5 with filter).

 

i use a ph8a filter on my truck and i think i usually have to put nearly 6qts in to bring it up to the full line.