Could someone verify the correct amount of oil, a dakota 5.2 needs, including filter?
I "think" its 5qts, but not sure.
Thanks for your help.

 

Pretty sure it's 5 quarts...... That's what I always put in my 5.9 when I changed the oil.....

 

Thanks for the input.

Ill tell you what my problem is.
On the stand, with short filter, and engine primed, I am reading about 2 qts low from full mark.
I am using the following,
Spectra oil pan, CRP25A (rockauto shows for 92-03 5.2 dakota.
Melling pick up tube 200S (rockauto shows for 87-03 dakota
The dipstick and tube is from the 2000 5.9 ram 2500 truck that the motor came out of.

According to rockauto, the dipstick tube is the same, dakota and ram....
But the dipstick is a different part number.
I, of course suspect the dipstick is the problem.
I am going to measure mine, (from a 2500 ram) and ask someone to compare the measurement to a dakota dipstick, before I order one.

Now I suspect the dipstick is my problem.

FWIW I am surprised that the oil level in the engines would be different. I understand different size pan sumps with the different capacities, but again, I would have though oil level, (distance from crankshaft to the actual oil ) would have been the same.

 

Is the oil pan a different part number on the full size trucks??

 

Yes, the ram is 9&3/8 vs 8&13/16 on the dakota in depth. In addition, the ram has a longer sump.
Spectra part numbers
CRP19A for the Ram
CRP25A for the Dakota.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised that the truck dipsitick as an inch or so longer than the dak stick then.....

 

actually, it seems too short.
With 5qts I show about 2qts from being to the full mark.

 

Still have the dak stick? Or is that one for the 3.9?

 

Mine is a 87, so its the LA based engine. The 87 dipstick is 31in. so its way too short.

 

You are measuring primed.

Measure unprimed and I bet you show 1 qt low.

If you have a HV pump, then run 5.5-6 qts.

The heads and valley hold ALOT of oil that does not drain back, especially with as-cast surfaces.

Very common to burn a few dozen polishing pads smoothing out the surfaces on the heads and valley to make the oil drain back better.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/B1V1hs3FbtK9ahbUA