6.7 Cummins Oil Capacity (How Much Oil Does it Take?)

Performing your own oil changes is a great way to save money if you happen to have the mechanical knowledge to do so with confidence. In order to maintain a healthy truck you need regular oil changes and these are not a cheap endeavor.

In this post we will be looking at the Cummins 6.7-liter diesel engine and how much oil it takes to keep this power house properly lubricated and running in top condition.

What Is the 6.7-liter Cummins Engine?

The diesel powered 6.7-liter Cummins engine is currently the most powerful engine option for Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks. This beast of an engine can produce up to 400 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of diesel engine torque.

Using this engine the RAM 2500 3500 pickup is capable of over 31,000 lbs. of towing power when paired with the AISIN AS69RC six-speed automatic transmission. It also offers best in class fuel economy as well as up to 15,000 mile oil change intervals.

Does 6.7-Liters Mean the Required Oil?

This is a mistake some people may fall foul of when they are not aware of some of the terminology surrounding engines. The error is understandable as engines require oil which is measured by liquid volume and there is a liquid volume number attached to the engine.

So okay, let's clear this up quickly. The 6.7-liters does not indicate the maximum amount of oil required for the engine. This number actually refers to something called the engine's displacement. The volume taken up by the engine's cylinders is referred to as displacement.

One liter of displacement is considered to equate to roughly 61 cubic inches of internal space in the engine. So in the Cummins 6.7-liter engine roughly 408.7 cubic inches of internal engine space is taken up by the cylinders. Unsurprisingly this is a physically large and heavy engine.

Why Do Engines Need Oil?

To fully understand engines and their need for oil it boils down to one basic analogy, essentially motor oil is the blood of the engine. If we as humans had no blood then we would not function. There would be nothing to move nutrients around our bodies and make all of our key biological functions running.

The internal combustion engine is vastly less complex than the human body but it too requires a form of blood to keep all of its systems working together in harmony. The components inside the engine are metal and many of them are cogs and gears.

Oil lubricates the engine to make sure that components can turn with each other without wearing away or grinding metal on metal. An engine with no oil may run but it would quickly break down as friction destroyed important parts.

It is therefore vital that we make sure that our truck engine has enough oil and enough of the right oil to make it run smoothly. This is why we need to answer the question of how much oil the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine actually requires.

6.7-liter Cummins Oil Capacity With Filter

The maximum quantity of oil that should be in the Cummins 6.7-liter diesel engine is 12 quarts. This means when you drain the engine of its oil you will need 12 quarts to refill it. Around one quart of this oil actually is held in the oil filter so this is something that should be noted.

Another important factor is that sometimes when RAM owners drain the oil in preparation for an oil change there is actually less than 12 quarts in the collection pan. This is not unusual as oil can be burned off and there is always the possibility of a small oil leak.

A large discrepancy however could be a sign of a more severe leaking issue so you should be aware of this.

6.7-liter Cummins Oil Capacity Without Filter

As mentioned 1 quart of the engine oil is held in the oil filter so if there is no oil filter the actual capacity is 11 quarts. You of course need the oil filter to clean out the debris collected in the oil as it circulates the engine.

What Is the Capacity in Liters?

We fully understand that some people are more comfortable with certain units of measurement so quarts may not make too much sense to you. So for those who think in liters rather than quarts the capacity of a 6.7-liter Cummins is 11.4 liters. This means you will likely require just over two 5-liter bottles of engine oil.

Again remember there is no correlation between the 6.7-liter aspect of the engines description and the oil required to properly run the Cummins diesel engine.

What Is the Capacity in Gallons

We’ll go ahead and do one more conversion for you in terms of liquid volume in case you feel more comfortable working in gallons. In this instance the Cummins 6.7-liter diesel engine requires slightly over 3 gallons of the appropriate motor oil.

It is important to note that this applies to all 6.7-liter Cummins engines since 2008 but regardless, always double check your owners manuals if you are in any doubt.

When Should I Change The Oil and Filter?

As mentioned the clean running 6.7-liter Cummins diesel has a very impressive oil change range. It is suggested that you have an oil change every 15,000 miles or 24,000 kilometers of driving distance. This is around a year's worth of average driving but if you reach the year without meeting the mileage you should get an oil change regardless.

The older the oil gets and the more use it sees moving through the engine the more its efficacy decreases. Fresh oil always helps the engine function at its top capacity.

If you are ever in doubt about when to get an oil change you will be given a reminder by the truck itself. A warning to change oil will pop up on your truck's display and will remain active until you change the oil and have this reset.

How to Change Oil Yourself

You can go to a professional to have your oil changed or you can do this yourself if you feel confident to do so. Below you will find the procedure to do this. Check your owner manual for instructions on how to reset the oil change warning light.

You Will Need

• Safety gloves
• 14mm Ratchet wrench
• Oil collection pan
• New Oil Filter
• A suitable car jack
• Wheel blocks

The Process

• Before starting, ensure you know where the oil drain plug is located on your vehicle. This will be underneath the vehicle and usually closer to the front
• Use wheel blocks to block the rear tires. This will ensure the vehicle will not roll backward as you work under the vehicle
• Use a jack that is suitable for the weight of your vehicle as you will be raising the entire front end. As a general rule you need a jack that can comfortably lift 75% of the maximum gross weight of your entire vehicle. Safety can not be stressed enough here as you will be working under a very heavy piece of machinery
• Wearing your safety gloves use your ratchet wrench to remove the drain plug making sure that the oil collection pan is directly underneath ready to catch the flow of the oil. You do not need to cover your driveway with oil, that's not a good look
• It should take about 5 – 10 minutes for the oil to drain completely once it does replace the oil plug nut and attach a new oil filter (check your users manual for instructions for this)
• Lift the hood of your vehicle and locate the oil reservoir. Open this up and refill with the correct amount and type of oil for your specific vehicle. You will need a funnel to this cleanly Give the oil a few minutes to move through the engine and then test the level with the dipstick, top up if needed
• Clean up any spilled oil with a cloth before replacing the engine cap and shutting the hood
• Get into your vehicle and start it up. Allow it to idle and warm up for a few minutes you will hopefully notice the noise has lessened

Conclusion

The oil capacity of the 6.7-liter Cummins engine is 12 quarts, 11.4 liters or 3.012 gallons. Much like all diesel engines the best oil to use is 15W40 multigrade oil, This works well at a wide range of temperatures. You will also find recommendations in your owner's manual as well as on Cummins own website.

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