Indeed. On the '97-98, the dipstick wasn't reading properly. It was a known problem them that has pretty much disappeared into obscurity on this board.

The bottom line is drain out the old oil, change the filter, fill it with 6 quarts, start it, turn it off, let the oil settle for a bit, and check it. WHEREVER THE OIL IS ON THE DIPSTICK IS FULL. The capacity of our engines is 6 quarts. Period. The dipstick is a gauge, and as with all gauges, they can be off a bit.

Now, will 7 quarts cause any long-term damage? It's debatable.... But if the engine is only supposed to take 6, why would you put in any more?

-Joe

 

Very good info.
The tbs is for 2002-3's. I wonder how far off the stick is in 1998?

 

If my momory serves, the '97-98 dipsticks (on the 4.6 at least) were a round wire-type. From what I recall, those weren't very accurate at all, and needed 7 qts to reach the high mark on the scale. The updated dipsticks were the traditional flat steel material and seem to be more accurate (i.e. 6 qts took it up to the full mark).

That's what I recall from a ways back-when....

-Joe

 

Dunno on the 97-98's..... Mine is bang on according to the way that TSB reads on 'how' you are supposed to check your oil level and where one qt is supposed to bring the level up to when it's at the MIN mark....

But, just like GIJoe suggested, drain the oil, put in six qts, start it up, let sit for a few minutes, check. That's your six qt "full" mark. As stated in the "guide", it should be in the middle of the MIN and MAX marks, which is considered the acceptable level.

Now, bringing it up to the MAX mark might not be necessarly bad, but you are not "increasing" the protection of the engine by doing it.... Like was mentioned before, if anything, it brings the level closer to the crank, which if it does hit the oil, will cause it to foam and that's not a good thing...

Each to their own however....

Mitch

 

On the 98 it takes 6.5 quarts to bring to the max mark. On the 99 it takes 7 quarts. On the 00 it takes 6.75 quarts. I would guess there is variability in the total oil capacities in the blocks. All dipsticks measured the same lengths. All are 4.6L.

 

Nope. All are the same dipstick, but the dipstick is not the end-all of oil capacity. Oil capacity is determined by the engineers that designed the engine, not the dipstick that built and/or installed the dipstick. The engine's capacity is six quarts, not, "whatever it takes to bring the level up to the full mark on the dipstick." Sure, the engine could probably hold 5 or 6 gallons.... shorten the dipstick a half inch and make it 8 quarts, right?

The bottom line is it's your truck. Do what you want, but it doesn't change the fact that the engine oil capacity for the modular motors in the F-series trucks is 6 quarts regardless of where it falls in the cross-hatching on the stick.

-Joe

 

My '02 5.4L takes 6 quarts. Its what the handbook recommends and puits me right in the middle of the safe zone. Even after running it for a bit to let the filter fill.

 

I just had to quote that! It's the most perfect statement I've read yet regarding this topic!

Thanks Joe!



Mitch

 

GIJoeCam
What he said! ^^^

 

Thats about sums it up.

 

5.4 overhead cams no push rod

 

Who said they did?

 

Did my oil change just yesterday afternoon on my 5.4 Screw. Took just a tad over 6 qts. to be slightly under the MAX hash on the stick....

Do whatcha like, but the thing that bugs me is when you start the engine just after filling it with the new oil... man is it a little louder than usual! I've probably done 1000 oil changes in my lifetime so far and I can't recall a time when I heard an engine as loud as the 5.4 during the first start after an oil change!

 

If you prefill the filter, it won't be as bad. You can get almost half a quart in and still not spill it when you install the filter.

 

If I recall correctly, my owner's manual states that you are to wait 15 minutes or before starting engine for the day before checking your oil level. I'd bet there's a half a quart more after that 15 minutes goes by.
Thought I'd mention it, nobody else did !!!
Denis.