So my Jeeps 5.9 has 124k on it now, and I've done quite a bit to it, such as fixing the viscous coupler in the np249 transfercase, and replacing the timing chain and blown gasket on the timing cover. Bunch of other stuff as well like the typical fluid changes, brake, tranny, coolant flush, diff's ect. Anyway to the point, I checked my oil level the other day like i'd say a month ago just for the heck of it. (engine was burning hot tho) and the oil level was on the line where it says ADD right before OK. So i put almost a quart of oil in and it put the oil level to on the middle of the ok mark.

Its been a month now and i checked the oil level just now when the engine has been off for like 5 hours. The level was in the middle of the OK mark. I decided to turn the engine on, and park on a more level surface. Turned it off engine temp was like 160f before i turned it off. Checked the level again and this time it was on the ADD line again. I figure the oil was just on top of the engine from being on so i waited 10 min checked it again and its almost in the middle of the OK section again "slightly lower then before".

Now my question is this, how come the oil is on the ADD mark when i check it after its been running ? I coulda sworn i put a quart in and it moved it up to the middle of the OK mark "after its been running" It seems like my oil level has gone down half a mark. I'd say half a quart of oil or so. Am i just checking the oil level wrong ? Or what ? Cause when we fixed the timing cover gasket leak and replaced the timing chain we also did a compression check "dry and with oil squirts" all the cylinders were around 162 dry, and 167 wet. One tho was 150 dry and 155 wet.. However these numbers tell me that i dont have a ring problem at least i dont think i do.

We also checked the spark plugs and smelt them and they were pretty clean, 7-8 had some carbon on the ring, and what looked like oil on the threads tho. Im not sure if that oil is from the leaking valve cover and its getting into the threads or what.. Checked the plenum by pretty much climbing and kneeling on the engine to get a better look down the throttle body with a flash light and its pretty darn clean inside there. Normal engine blowback particles i can see on the pan but there is no oil from what i can see.


I have pictures of the plugs in question and the plenum (the plenum pan pic is an older one but it still looks like that). Maybe im just reading my oil level wrong or something. Or maybe im losing oil from leaks in the valve covers and the rear main seal. My gas mileage hasnt changed i dont think anyway, im still hovering around 12-13.5mpg city, and recently got 18.6mpg on the freeway at 65mph.


Here is 1 spark plug, you see the oil on the threads ? I dunno if that means im burning oil or what because the arm on the plug and the rest of it is actually pretty clean and doesnt look oil fouled at all.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMAG0163.jpg


This is another plug, you can see the carbon on it, and the oil thats on the ring of the plug. Both plugs however are in the back 7-8 and the ceramic part of the plugs had oil on them from the leaky valve covers.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMAG0164.jpg


This is inside my air intake.. Old pic but i just checked thouroughly and it still looks like this.. I dont see any oil do you ? Looks pretty clean to me.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...2/HPIM1749.jpg

 

The back plugs having oil on the threads is more than likely from the leaking valve covers. The engine tilts toward the back a bit, so, if the valve covers leak, that's where it usually is.

When you run the engine, the oil gets tossed everywhere...... some sits up in the heads, some sits in the valley, some more is stuck to various parts.... over time, it will drain back down into the pain. Ten minutes ain't enough for all of it to get back there. If on a warm engine, that was just shut down, you are halfway between add, and full, you are doing fine. Overfilling it will cause the crank to whip air into the oil, and frothy oil doesn't lubricate worth a damn.

 

Well on a warm engine after it was shut down, it was actually on the ADD line. The top of the add line. It only got near half way on the OK mark if i waited for 10 minutes. Is this ok or no ? What has me concerned is the oil level being on ADD after its shut off..

 

So long as it is full when the engine is stone cold. Kinda indicates crap building up inside the engine, so, it takes longer for the oil to drain back.