Stupid oil changing question

[Mac]

Hey all, I have a really dumb question for you all. As a diesel rookie, having owned this 2016 eco diesel for three weeks now, I have been watching the oil-change indicator drop along with the oil level indicator. It occurred to me that as the oil level indicator dropped i could/should add oil to top it off as it burns the oil down. I figured it would refresh the oil as it burns and extend the life of the oil and length of time between when I would need an oil change. I asked the dealer about it when I was in for the EGR cooler recall. They said to not worry about the oil level and just get the oil changed in time, which I am happy to do. So my question is, if I add oil as it burns will I be able to go more miles between oil changes? Would that be good for the engine? Or should I not worry about it and just change the oil on time? Thanks

 

[BoostN]

How much oil are you burning? ..or a better question, how often are you having to "add oil" ? Something sure doesn't sound right..

 

[Mac]

Haven't been burning much at all. Or at least I think so? So far i have put 2500 miles on the truck and watched the oil level indicator drop at the same rate as the as the oil change indicator. Since I have bought the truck, both indicators have dropped from about 3/4 full to 1/2. They seem to be right in sync with each other. So, at this rate, the oil level indicator will be low right as the oil change indicator will show it is time for an oil change. Is that unusual? Should I not be dropping oil at that rate? Please don't tell me it's the spark plugs. Jokes over.

 

[Ronald Doupe]

Are you talking about the dip stick on the engine?. If is at the add mark put some in, if not don't

 

[Mac]

Good point. I was just looking at the oil indicator in the dash, I should look at the dipstick.

 

[CAVEMANN]

I've had my 17 since December, did an oil change in February and my dipstick is still at the full mark, no obvious oil consumption at all. It's at about 6000 miles since the last oil change & the oil life monitor is at 50 something percent, I haven't seen an oil level indicator on the dash & if I had I would still ignore it in favor of the dipstick. IMO if your engine is using oil at that rate you have a problem or leak, I check mine before every trip. The actual condition of the oil is not monitored, just the distance and maybe the operating conditions/parameters, the oil life monitor goes by mileage speed etc.

 

[carlhenry]

i have not ever seen a oil level indicator on mine got a dipstick though

 

[Brady]

Take pictures and post what you are talking about.

 

[CAVEMANN]

I hope you're not talking about the oil pressure gauge.

 

[CAVEMANN]

Mac, please come back, inquiring minds want to know to what you found/ figured out.

 

[Mac]

Ha! Yes, I am back. It took me a minute to take a picture of the gauge. You didn't scare me away. And as the thread states, this is stupid. Anyway, this is the gauge I have been looking at, I have only had the truck a month. I thought there were two discernable lines in it, one bold white line I took to be the "oil change" gauge, and then I thought there was a grey line that I took to be the oil level gauge. This truck is so smart I thought that technology had found a way to monitor the oil level digitally on my dash. Alas, as the good ol' dip stick had confirmed, my oil level is fine.

 

[CAVEMANN]

That's completely differentt than my oil life monitor.

 

[Ecopete]

Yeah, these trucks are maybe just a little too smart for some people! But unfortunately not smart enough to have a gauge for engine life left. Years ago we used to have something called an odometer that you could actually go by for that lol!
What you're looking at there is exactly the same oil life reading as the main center screen oil life readout just a different location. You can change the 4 corners of the dash to whatever gauge or reading you want to see.
Hope that helps understand what you're seeing