The manual for my '09 Ram states to check oil level,
run engine for about 10 min. With the engine off, wait about 5 min. then check the level.
If I were to add oil to bring it up to the top line, then hours after the first check, it would be above the top line on the stick.

What part of the dip stick would 7 qts bring it to?
Is one quart from the add line to the top line? The manual also says, checking oil on a cold engine is not accurate.

How do you guys check your oil?

 

I have always ran it for a few seconds, let sit for a couple minutes and checked.

I have also noticed when I change the oil if I put in 7 QTS it only reaches to 3/4 high in the safe range.

I just did mine Friday, also checked before I drained it, she was still full

 

mine takes close to 8 qts.

 

Mine takes 7.7 litres according to manual or 8.1 US quarts.

 

The ideal way of checking your oil is to get the engine up to operating temp, then turning it off and let it sit for several minutes. Then check the oil level.

You should warm the engine because as oil warms up, or any fluid for that matter, its density decreases (it expands). It you fill it while cold to the upper limit the oil will expand and potentially reach the level of the crank at the bottom of its stroke once the oils heats up. If the crank hits the oil while rotating it can aerate the oil making the oil pump unable to pump the oil through your engine.

Also you need to wait a few minutes after shutdown to check the oil so that the oil in the heads and in the lifter valley can drain back into the oil pan.

 

I ran my '09 til it was good and hot.
I waited 5 minuets and check the oil level.
I then, checked again in one hour. It was quite a bit higher than it was after the 5 minuet check.
There must be a lot of oil up in the engine.
I don't remember this with any Ford I ever had.
Jack

 

Thats because this engine has the MDS feature. It uses the engine oil to activate/ deactivate the four cylinders used in the MDS feature.

 

That was what I was thinking.
Jack

 

I always check my oil when I get gas depending where I am. Or in my case I get the guy at the full serve to do it since I am crippled, anyway I get him to let the tank fill first before he checks the oil because like you said if its been running it may show more5 minutes after the first check. So I would guess with this truck, get home after a nice warm up drive. Come home, have a beer or 2 depends how you drink then go out and check the oil. Should be a fairly accurate spot. Who knows for sure. One thing you can do is do it the same way all the time then if it goes down you know you are using oil. If it keeps going up then you need to wait longer.