Oil is the lifeblood of any engine in a motor vehicle, and your 6.6L Duramax engine is no exception. Keeping the Duramax engine lubricated with quality engine oil will greatly improve your vehicle’s lifespan.
In addition, the 6.6 Duramax is designed to be a heavy-duty diesel engine, so you will need to keep an eye on the oil levels to know when the engine requires fresh oil. Engine size is usually a factor when determining how much an engine needs.
So the oil needs of a Duramax are high compared to other smaller engines. You will also want to follow manufacturer guidelines regarding the quantity of oil to put in the engine.
So how much engine oil should you put in your 6.6L Duramax engine?
All Duramax engines have a capacity of 10 to 11 quarts, depending on the engine’s mileage. More mileage engines consume more engine oil than low mileage engines.
Engine Oil Capacity of the 6.6 Duramax Engine
Engine oil capacity is measured using quarts. This represents a quarter of a gallon or 0.94L. A 6.6 Duramax engine will only require about 10 quarts of engine oil. Engine oil is often sold in 1-gallon containers.
This means that if a gallon container has 4 quarts, you will require about 3 gallons of engine oil to meet the oil requirements of the 6.6 Duramax engine. However, you will only use half a gallon of the third container to meet the 10-quart requirement.
In terms of cost, a gallon of engine oil usually costs around $20 to $30, depending on the brand. So your overall costs to fill your Duramax engine will range from $60 to $120.
Effects of Excess Engine Oil in the 6.6 Duramax
- The oil gauge will show a high reading than is normal.
- Too much oil can result in an overflow in the oil pan. When it overflows, it may pour on components like the crankshaft leading to the oil frothing, which does not lubricate the needed parts. You will also notice an oil leak resulting from high pressure blowing the gaskets and bolts in the engine.
- You will also notice blue exhaust smoke. It is usually a result of excess oil mixing with fuel in the combustion chamber.
- The Duramax engine will also suffer damage and wear.
- You may also have issues with your spark plugs.
Effects of Low Engine Oil in the 6.6 Duramax
- The oil pressure light will light up on the dashboard. This is usually one of the first signs you will notice when your engine oil is low.
- You will notice the smell of burnt oil in your vehicle’s interior.
- You will also notice your Duramax engine is performing less efficiently.
- You will also notice that the Duramax engine will start overheating since lubrication is minimal.
- You will also hear knocking sounds before the engine seizes up. This knocking sound results from the metal component creating a lot of friction and grinding to a halt.
Once you notice the following symptoms on your vehicle, find a safe place to park and open the hood of your engine. Find the dipstick and note the oil levels in your engine.
Which Oil is Recommended on a 6.6 Duramax
ou might be wondering which engine oil is the best for your 6.6L Duramax engine with many types of engine oil on the market. The best engine oil is the one that the manufacturer specifies to be used with your engine.
Manufacturers specify engine oil with the proper additives to help control the soot and wear of the engine. With the 6.6 Duramax being a diesel engine, some of the engines you come across used include Rotella T from Shell, Mobil Delvac, Delo, and Schaeffers. Another aspect to consider is whether the engine oil you intend to use is synthetic or regular.
What Happens When you use the wrong oil type on the 6.6 Duramax?
With various engine oils in the market, using oil that the manufacturer or a qualified technician does not specify will cause the following problems in your Duramax engine.
- It will be hard to start in cold weather. This will happen if the cold viscosity of your oil is too high such that it is too thick to lubricate the moving parts of your engine.
- You will notice the smell of burning oil if the heat viscosity of the oil is low such that the oil breaks down under hot conditions.
- You will also have poor fuel economy if you use too thick oil on your Duramax engine. Thicker oil increases resistance to the engine components causing a low fuel efficiency.
Conclusion
Keeping an eye on the engine oil levels is one of the basic ways to service your vehicle. You can choose the services of a qualified Duramax mechanic or technician to install new oil in your engine.