Thats true, cause W Bush would know how to do anything to his Ford truck, unlike Kerry who doesnt know how to do....well, anything......

 

i agree

 

YAWN!!!

 

I call BS on this. I do not know of any "professional engine builders" that do this. They know the capacities of the engines they build and fill them with that amount. Simple as that.

 

I think everyone here has missed the possible problem. However, I don't have a 97 and am not totally sure of the answer.

But here goes, read the original posters description of the dipstick. "A cable with an aluminum bullet end" I don't but it sure sounds like an aftermarket dipstick.

I would say go to the stealership and have the part looked up and see if it is the same.

In addtion, you could do an oil change and put in a for sure 6 qt's and see what it does to the dipstick cold.


Fully warm or fully cold should give virtually the same level. The caveat is "fully" cold or warm not in the middle somewhere.

 

First off he has the right dipstick. It's a wire cable with an aluminum piece on the end that has and add-full.

I check my oil when the end is cold or cool. I would wait at least 30 minutes after turning it off to get a good reading.

Couple of things.

If you check it cool all the oil will be in the pan. If you check it hot, hot oil expands and will give a false reading. As long as you have oil showing on the dipstick you are in the ball park, remember your truck holds over 6 quarts, so 1/2 low is no big deal. On other cars that only hold 4 quarts 1/2 quart is a substantial amount.

Best bests are check it cold on level ground. Fill it to at least 1/2 way on the dipstick. Then you will never over fill or be under filled.

 

Man, if it ain't argueing about what brand of oil to use or what weight of oil to use, we have now found a way to argue about what is the proper way to check the oil.............

piperc, you take the cake on this one....... "the book is wrong" ......... That's funny............. Remember when we all didn't "have a clue about engines" because we were not running 20w50 in them......................... Another good one.........

So, according to you, when I check my oil at the gas station after driving my truck for several hours, towing my travel trailer in the middle of summer, I'm supposed to wait overnight in order to check the oil when it's cold????????????? Give me a freaking break!!

Well, maybe...... Just wait a few minutes, and check again, and it's gonna show you a level that will be pretty much what the level is going to be when it's cold.....

But, if you are running that 20w50 stuff, I guess it would take longer to drip back in the pan..........

Tell me..... What is the temp of your engine when it's running and actually using the oil???? From what I've been able to tell, it's HOT........ Is that not where you really want to be able to see what the level of your oil is..... I mean, pretty close to the same environment as when it's running????

Anyway, I don't even know why I'm bothering with this..... I've been able to ignore all of your other posts without getting all worked up after the 20w50 postings, but you just seem to have brought it out of me again!

 

20W50?? Why not just put pudding in the engine!!

 

i personally know an engine builer that prefers to check when cold.

 

Maybe that's because he just got tired of burning his hands when he checked it after a good run...

You all have missed the real point......Consistency is the real means to check your oil level regularly....Your first baseline measurment should always be when you KNOW it's full....Now if you KNOW where the measurement is on the dipstick when it's FULL and COLD, always check it that way....If you know where the measurement is when it's FULL and HOT, always check it that way....and yes on as level a surface as possible is best....

If you always use the same factors in any process and do it regularly, with proper baseline knowledge, you can't go wrong....

So, you all are correct ONLY if you always do it the same way and know for sure, your baseline units of measurement are correct....

.....Oh well,

 

finally! somebody who dosent point fingers at a "bad person"

 

First of all, let me say this: I feel so proud that I've been able to get such a booming response. I posted that the night before I left, I come back today from a 2 day trip, and see that you've all gone way beyond what I'd expected. I was figuring I'd get "You're a n00b" and some other flames and that'd be the end of it. So, now that I have a good understanding, lets move on to part 2: How much to add? My cousin whom I bought the truck from said that he'd usually go through about 1qt of oil every 3,000 miles (He had the oil changed 3k miles religously) so, is that good, bad or indifferent? Thanks - and try not to kill eachother, afterall, its just oil.
-M

 

kill, kill kill!!! Just kidding!!

1qt every 3k is usually pretty normal. A few things to check though that are common on these Ford trucks that cause oil loss, PCV valve, all PCV tubing, & leaking head gaskets.

Change the oil (Yourself if possible) and then check the level. (As I mentioned before)

Good luck. Welcome to the boards.