Recently leveled my front end. Just checked oil after about 2500k since last synthetic change and i am about a quart low. I just topped it off and then it occurred to me that maybe it is reading a little low because the front end was raised? Anything to that theory?

 

Certainly possible, but not a quart. The book says to check the level on a level surface. That certainly applies with the rake the trucks have when stock. Raising the nose changed the "level" stance for sure.

That is a good question, though. I may just check my oil with an attempt to "compensate" for the raised nose just to see if it's any different. I suspect it'll be very minor.

**EDIT** I just tried it - Parked the truck nose down in my driveway and then level in my driveway: the difference was < two of the hash marks on the stick.

 

My truck sits about dead level with the 4" suspension lift and after filling with exactly 7 qts will read a hair low on the stick, maybe 1/4 quart, but not a full quart...

 

By a hair low, you mean still in the "good" range on the dipstick right? Mine was just below that. Added a full quart and now it is just below mid way of "good". I have seen no visible signs or smells of burning oil but i have had some oil loss since switching to synthetic. At the first change after switching, i had lost a lot. Since then, i keep a closer eye on it and this is the first time i have had to actually add any.

 

Yeah, by a hair low I'm talking like just below the full line even though I know 7 qts takes it to full.

A lot of guys report oil loss after first going to synthetic on high mileage vehicles. I know synthetic molecules are a lot smaller than conventional and will expose leaks and I'd imagine you'd get some initial blow-by also where the conventional couldn't make it past the rings on an older engine. Most guys say it stops after a few changes...

 

This makes me wonder about my truck cause when I bought it (used) the owner said that it takes 7 and a half quarts for an oil change...I thought to myself "this guys crazy" BUT sure enough the first oil change I did it took right at 7.5 quarts of oil to fill it up and thats with me putting oil in the filter before screwing it on. Its a 04 1500 4x4 hemi ram and it seems to me that it has a leveling kit on it as it seems to have no rake. If it does have a leveling kit it was done before the last owner bought it which was around 65,000 miles.

 

The full capacity is seven quarts unless you use a larger filter. Refill amount is about 6 1/2 quarts, since not all drains out. There is a larger filter, but I've forgotten the number.

 

All mine must drain out, because it has always taken a full 7 quarts on refill. And i ALWAYS change filters when changing the oil.

 

85K on my odometer. Im about 3500 on a 5000mi oil change using RP and right at 1/2 qrt low. I know my rear main leaks a very very little but nothing Im going to do about it any time soon.

 

There is no way it ALL drains out. Jes ain't possible.