how to calculate dipstick?
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how to calculate dipstick?
Does anyone know FOR SURE, how much oil is represented between the empty and full marks on a 3.5 ecoboost engine dipstick? In the old days, with v8's, it used to be one quart, but I need to know the answer in regards to my ecoboost. I have asked a couple of service managers at different dealerships and they did not know, at least they did not guess and lie to me. On the dipstick there are hash marks and also holes to represent full and empty, Why?
Thank You
Thank You
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Puyallup, WA
The hash marks are not "full" and are not "empty"... Anywhere in between the hash marks is fine and acceptable.. In my experience, it's usually best right in the middle of the hash marks..
What I do on the first oil change I do on a new to me vehicle is drain the oil and put in one quart LESS then the manual says it takes. 5 in this case..
Read where this measures on YOUR dipstick and that's your ONE QT LOW level.
Add the last qt, start the engine, let the filter fill up, shut it off, let it sit a couple of minutes and check the stick again and that's YOUR "FULL" mark. You could also start it up with the 5 qts to fill the filter first if you want, but it really does not make that much of a difference, as the filter holds less than 1/2 qt anyway..
I've got a new 2013 that is still fresh from the dealer with only 2000 miles on it and the oil level is at the very top of the hash marks... I've not done the first oil change yet, but I will in about another month and I'll do the above procedure to determine MY one qt low level and it's 6 qt level.. The dealer gave me a 'free' oil change card, but I'm going to do the first one myself at around 3000 miles just for my own peace of mind..
I'll use the 'free' one later on, just to see what they do with it, but I'll be checking the dip stick before I leave the premises, that's for sure! Not sure why, but they always seem to over fill for some reason??
Good luck!
Mitch
What I do on the first oil change I do on a new to me vehicle is drain the oil and put in one quart LESS then the manual says it takes. 5 in this case..
Read where this measures on YOUR dipstick and that's your ONE QT LOW level.
Add the last qt, start the engine, let the filter fill up, shut it off, let it sit a couple of minutes and check the stick again and that's YOUR "FULL" mark. You could also start it up with the 5 qts to fill the filter first if you want, but it really does not make that much of a difference, as the filter holds less than 1/2 qt anyway..
I've got a new 2013 that is still fresh from the dealer with only 2000 miles on it and the oil level is at the very top of the hash marks... I've not done the first oil change yet, but I will in about another month and I'll do the above procedure to determine MY one qt low level and it's 6 qt level.. The dealer gave me a 'free' oil change card, but I'm going to do the first one myself at around 3000 miles just for my own peace of mind..
I'll use the 'free' one later on, just to see what they do with it, but I'll be checking the dip stick before I leave the premises, that's for sure! Not sure why, but they always seem to over fill for some reason??
Good luck!
Mitch
Last edited by MitchF150; Apr 6, 2014 at 09:59 PM.
