Yesterday the engine oil was changed on my 99 F-150 5.4L. I dropped the truck off with two 5-quart jugs. I drove it home fifty miles. Today I got the oil out of the back and noticed only 3 quarts remained in the jug. I promptly checked the oil and found it over the max. I drained enough oil to get it down to the max (about half a quart).

My question is, could fifty miles have hurt it?

 

It could but if your truck is running and sounds fine then you should be okay.

 

No...a 1/2 quart over the mark will not do a thing. You could have left it and been just fine. Obviously draining was the right call not knowing exactly how overfull it was, but what you had was safe!

 

Ah. No problem. If it ain't leaking now it ain't gonna leak in the future.

 

K, thanks guys. I figured everything would be okay since I caught it fast and the truck is running fine, not to mention it was only half a quart over the max.

 

Max is overfilled, -not safe to go over that. Could froth the oil. This will cause the main bearing to go dry periodically.

Damage could be done, -really no way to tell without dismantling.

The best thing to do is what you did. In general, keep as close to 6 quarts as you can. That's about 1/4" down from max.

 

My truck takes 6 quarts so it sounds like (assuming yours takes 6 also) what you had left in the jug was about right. Personally, I wouldn't have worried about a little overfill, but as jbrew said.... over filling can cause problems. Though in this case probably unnecessary to drain... better to be safe than extremely sorry!!

 

Details are correct, yes; but a 1/2 quart will not do it.

 

Just to be clear. He put 7 quarts of oil in my truck. It now has about 6.5 and is right at the max line.

Thanks again for all the feedback guys.

 

The middle between MIN and MAX is where you want it. The owners manual says anything between min/max is acceptable.

If it was my truck I would drain the extra half quart.

 

Ain't THAT a mis-statement

Hey Guys... I have Life long cam cover gaskets!!!! Since they aren't leaking now............................ they never will!!

I was just wondering where the "leaking' issue came in here

 

I'll check the oil in the morning and probably drain a little more. Thanks!

 

A half quart IS NOT gonna matter.The oil pan is large enough to spread out that much to be minimal. Don't pull the plug and waste good fresh oil for that little bit.If the stick looks like it is way over, then yes... pull the plug for a few seconds. If it is right at the MAX line as you have said... Do Nothing.

Think of it like this (as off the wall as this may be)....... the average normal temp of the human body is 98 degrees. If your temp becomes 100.... will you run to the doctor for an ice bath?? I think not.

 

Good call, by draining the extra oil, I would drain a little more, just to get it in the cross lines.

 

I would definitely drain it down to where it should be. I 'd rather run it a little low vs to much.