I'd try to get the dealer to give up the first oil change for free. I did mine myself and ended up all bloody from the fan blade. The oil filter was practically welded on. Must have screwed it on dry at the factory. FYI

Clark

 

...bloody from the fan blade? Aren't you supposed to shut the engine off when changing the filter?

 

Only if the fan blades are metal and not plastic then you are required to shut the engine off.

 

I noticed on the dipstick that there is a little hole at the bottom and one a little ways up. The bottom part of the cross hatch lines up with the bottom hole, but the top hole is a little higher than the cross hatch. Does anyone know if the top hole is the absolute max level or is the top of the cross hatch the max level? I am thinking the area of the cross hatch means add one quart if oil is at the bottom and that will bring the oil level to the top of the cross hatch. I think the top hole just above the cross hatch means this is the absolute MAX level, don't fill past here. How accurate are the dipsticks, I heard the previous 5.4L engine was off by a bit?

I put about 7.25 quarts in for my oil change.

 

I am not sure about the dipstick, but I still would not put more oil than the Ford manual states. Put 7 quarts in and make a note of where it sits on the dipstick for future reference.

 

I just put in 7 quarts and forget about it. This brings the level up to within about 4mm of the top line. That puts it between the upper and lower marks, which makes it just right.

I don't know about the holes. Now that you mention it, I wonder about this myself.

I did my first oil change at 3500 miles. The filter was on real tight. I practically desroyed it removing it, using a plier type of filter tool. BTW the best way to get at the oil filter is from the top. You have to remove the air filter element, then release the intake pipe from the airbox. Easy to do by reacing in thru the hole where the filter element was, and pushing on the top of the pipe where it snaps into the airbox. Comes right out. Move the intake pipe up and let it lie on the top of the engine. Allows real good access to the oil filter.

 

>>>>Just put in the required 7qts and you'll be fine. This must be something inherrent with Ford's dip stick design on their newer models. My 2002 5.4 SCrew and 2003 Mustang GT 4.6 are both the same way. Both take 6qts and both look like they need another half quart to be at full capacity. If the weathers bad and I need to make an oil change on either of my vehicles I end up taking it to a local shop. They always think they need another half quart in the vehicles. I never let them do it and the majority of the time I change it myself I only put what the manufacturer recommends for the oil capicity.