engine oil level
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Columbia, MO
Originally Posted by B-Man
Yet another reason to change your truck's oil yourself... Why add extra when Ford clearly states 6 quarts ?? 
Ford says 6 quarts. That means the engine requires 6 quarts. If the location of oil on some stupid cross hatch pattern bothers you, do the following:
Warm the engine up, drive the truck to a level spot and drain the oil. Let it sit for a full 30 minutes with the drain plug and oil filter removed.
Remove the dipstick and grind the markings away on it with a Dremel.
Install the drain plug and new filter, add 5 quarts to the crankcase and start the truck. Let it run for 15 minutes. Drive it to a level parking area. Shut the truck off and let it for a full 30 minutes.
Come out and check the oil level on the dipstick. Mark it with a scratch awl - this is the "Low" oil level for your truck, while parked in that particular spot.
Add 1 quart of oil, let the truck sit for at least 30 minutes and check the level on the dipstick. Mark it with a scratch awl - this is the "Normal" oil level for your truck, while parked in that particular spot.
If you check the oil at a level spot and it is between those 2 lines, you are good. If it makes you feel better, you can add a crosshatch pattern between the two lines...
Ford says 6 quarts. That means the engine requires 6 quarts. If the location of oil on some stupid cross hatch pattern bothers you, do the following:
Warm the engine up, drive the truck to a level spot and drain the oil. Let it sit for a full 30 minutes with the drain plug and oil filter removed.
Remove the dipstick and grind the markings away on it with a Dremel.
Install the drain plug and new filter, add 5 quarts to the crankcase and start the truck. Let it run for 15 minutes. Drive it to a level parking area. Shut the truck off and let it for a full 30 minutes.
Come out and check the oil level on the dipstick. Mark it with a scratch awl - this is the "Low" oil level for your truck, while parked in that particular spot.
Add 1 quart of oil, let the truck sit for at least 30 minutes and check the level on the dipstick. Mark it with a scratch awl - this is the "Normal" oil level for your truck, while parked in that particular spot.
If you check the oil at a level spot and it is between those 2 lines, you are good. If it makes you feel better, you can add a crosshatch pattern between the two lines...
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From: Walnut Creek,Ca
haha im proud to say that there was no problems with any cars i worked on in the three months i was there cause unlike 2/3 of the staff, i cared about vehicles and the work i did. anyways id just stick to what the manual says.
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O.K., now I know I'll hear some kind of grief over this, but it is really simple........ Top of the crosshatched area= full...... Bottom of the crosshatched area= low or (add 1 Qt.). There is absolutely no harm that will come from running with oil level at the full mark, that is why it's there. I'm not trying to show up anyone, but i have been filling engine oil to the full mark on any and every truck, van or car for over 20 years, (including my own at 6.5 qts.), not one issue or complaint ever. I am not trying to tease or point fingers but alot of people on this forum seem to be paranoid about many common sense issues, not knowing is one thing, but telling people not to run at the full oil mark is redundant. I am not looking for an argument, if my statement sounds argumentive then I apologize now.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25,641
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From: MI
Dannggg LOL 
Heres what I do - Add 6 quarts - Takes 15 seconds to cycle - so I start it let it cycle once - shut it down. Check in about an hour or so after the majority back in the pan.
I've always heard over filling is bad for it. SO , I just don't do it.
I'm @ 1/4" down from the top hash mark when I'm full and it stays right their until the next change
Heres what I do - Add 6 quarts - Takes 15 seconds to cycle - so I start it let it cycle once - shut it down. Check in about an hour or so after the majority back in the pan.
I've always heard over filling is bad for it. SO , I just don't do it.
I'm @ 1/4" down from the top hash mark when I'm full and it stays right their until the next change
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The only thing that constitues 'overfilling' on a motor is an "engine running" oil level in the pan high enough for the crankshaft to splash around in the oil and cause foaming. You absolutely do not want this. With that said though, I'll all but guarantee there's some safety margin built in to prevent this as far as dip stick level is concerned and right up to and including the full mark will not put you in this condition. Also, splitting hairs over a 1/2 qt or so is not putting you in danger of reaching that level.
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From: farmington hills, MI
my 97 book says 6 quarts of 5W30 how come everyone elses says to use 5W20? after i put all 6 in mine and check the oil its only half way up the checkerd spot on my dipstick. also do you guys fill your oil fitlers up with oil before you put it on? ive heard people say to fill it up other just say put oil on the gasket. im so confuzed
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From: Abilene
I agree
But I don't see why Ford would retool an oil pan just for 1 quart, plus the crank sits up higher up in the block compared too a 351/302 so maybe windage is not a problem??
Need someone to drill a few holes in their oil pan and see how high the oil level is with 7 quart's
I'll send them the RTV to plug them up afterwards
I've put 6qt's in then another 1/2 qt to bring it to max then just pour the other half in too.
But I don't see why Ford would retool an oil pan just for 1 quart, plus the crank sits up higher up in the block compared too a 351/302 so maybe windage is not a problem??
Need someone to drill a few holes in their oil pan and see how high the oil level is with 7 quart's
I'll send them the RTV to plug them up afterwards I've put 6qt's in then another 1/2 qt to bring it to max then just pour the other half in too.
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Originally Posted by Galaxy
The only thing that constitues 'overfilling' on a motor is an "engine running" oil level in the pan high enough for the crankshaft to splash around in the oil and cause foaming. You absolutely do not want this. With that said though, I'll all but guarantee there's some safety margin built in to prevent this as far as dip stick level is concerned and right up to and including the full mark will not put you in this condition. Also, splitting hairs over a 1/2 qt or so is not putting you in danger of reaching that level.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25,641
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From: MI
Originally Posted by kingfish51
No Jiffy Lube puts in the extra so that there is a little extra time for you to find that they didn't tighten the drain plug properly. You might see the leak before it runs out.
I know that happens . We purchased a new Camaro once - It was the last year Chevy sponsored the International Race of Champions, so yea an IROC Z..Had the oil changed at a Uncle Eds quicky lube franchise..
New Concrete driveway - next day there was a 5' circle of oil underneath the car. They didn't tighten the oil drain bolt. Mannn, that was upsetting..
We didn't have that car long, maybe 2 months - It was stolen. I remember them finding half of that car on Mark twain and Tireman in Detroit MI. It was cut in half - behind the rear seats ? They never did find the front of the car.
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From: farmington hills, MI
that sucks Jbrew. yeah my brothers girlfriends mazda got stolen right out of our drive way we live about 300 yards from a police station!!!!!! and stolen right out of our drive way while my mom and brother were there. they found the car in detroit all the windows broken on blocks with no tires and bullet holes in the car. id hate them try to steal my truck i got a 12 gauge suprise for them
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From: Joplin MO
my 97 book says 6 quarts of 5W30 how come everyone elses says to use 5W20?
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Along Lake Erie
Originally Posted by TECHDOC
O.K., now I know I'll hear some kind of grief over this, but it is really simple........ Top of the crosshatched area= full...... Bottom of the crosshatched area= low or (add 1 Qt.). There is absolutely no harm that will come from running with oil level at the full mark, that is why it's there. I'm not trying to show up anyone, but i have been filling engine oil to the full mark on any and every truck, van or car for over 20 years, (including my own at 6.5 qts.), not one issue or complaint ever. I am not trying to tease or point fingers but alot of people on this forum seem to be paranoid about many common sense issues, not knowing is one thing, but telling people not to run at the full oil mark is redundant. I am not looking for an argument, if my statement sounds argumentive then I apologize now.
Will it hurt to run an extra 1/2 quart? Not likely. Is it necessary to fill it to the top of the cross-hatched area? Absolutely not.
Originally Posted by racingjake
But I don't see why Ford would retool an oil pan just for 1 quart, plus the crank sits up higher up in the block compared too a 351/302 so maybe windage is not a problem??
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Mount Airy,MD
Something else to consider is that extra half quart you put in is not going to make it be lubricated any better. Just a half quart that you unnecessarily wasted. And if you keep topping off, even more wasted.
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Originally Posted by GIJoeCam
I beg to differ. Unless you know something the engineers in Dearborn who designed the engines don't, the engine is full when the proper VOLUME of oil is in the engine. In my case, that's 6 quarts. Anything more, regardless of what some inaccurate Chinese-made metal stick says, is just a waste of oil, plane and simple.
Will it hurt to run an extra 1/2 quart? Not likely. Is it necessary to fill it to the top of the cross-hatched area? Absolutely not.
The oil capacity determined by the engineers is based on more than just the level in the oil pan. Larger oil galleries in an engine flow more oil, but also require more oil to fill. Additional systems (like dual cams versus single cams) require additional quantities of oil. There's way more to it than just where the level in the oil pan falls.
Will it hurt to run an extra 1/2 quart? Not likely. Is it necessary to fill it to the top of the cross-hatched area? Absolutely not.
The oil capacity determined by the engineers is based on more than just the level in the oil pan. Larger oil galleries in an engine flow more oil, but also require more oil to fill. Additional systems (like dual cams versus single cams) require additional quantities of oil. There's way more to it than just where the level in the oil pan falls.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: MI
Originally Posted by TECHDOC
there needs to be some oil in the pan for the pickup screen to be submerged in oil, if not, the oil pump would run dry and, well you know what happens then
I know what happens - Heard the BIG BANG!
I was in the passenger seat of the vehicle this belongs to when the pump ran dry (I scraped some of the crap off the screen - it was totally plugged though) - I pulled the oil filter and that was dry as well 