I always go with the dipstick. In my Owner's Manual under "Capacities" it does say that all capacities listed are APPROXIMATE. Not DEFINITE, APPROXIMATE. I take approximate to mean it might be what is listed or it may need less than is listed or it may need more. In my case it has always been less.
Dip Stick or Owner's Manual
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Originally Posted By: Chris11
I always go with the dipstick. In my Owner's Manual under "Capacities" it does say that all capacities listed are APPROXIMATE. Not DEFINITE, APPROXIMATE. I take approximate to mean it might be what is listed or it may need less than is listed or it may need more. In my case it has always been less.
For my Mercury it states a flat 6 quarts. No "approximate". Even if it did - I would think approximate would mean 5.9 - 6.1 quarts, not 5.0 - 7.0 quarts.
I'm assuming the o/p didn't buy the vehicle new. If it were mine, I would order a new dipstick and compare. It's not unheard of for a new vehicle to have the wrong dipstick installed.
Or check to see if there are any in a junkyard and compare, but I think the vehicle is a little too "new" to see that many in most junkyards.
I would go by the owner's manual myself, but might check the Ford website to see if the latest version of the owner's manual has been updated. For example, my Mercury has 3 different printings.
I always go with the dipstick. In my Owner's Manual under "Capacities" it does say that all capacities listed are APPROXIMATE. Not DEFINITE, APPROXIMATE. I take approximate to mean it might be what is listed or it may need less than is listed or it may need more. In my case it has always been less.
For my Mercury it states a flat 6 quarts. No "approximate". Even if it did - I would think approximate would mean 5.9 - 6.1 quarts, not 5.0 - 7.0 quarts.
I'm assuming the o/p didn't buy the vehicle new. If it were mine, I would order a new dipstick and compare. It's not unheard of for a new vehicle to have the wrong dipstick installed.
Or check to see if there are any in a junkyard and compare, but I think the vehicle is a little too "new" to see that many in most junkyards.
I would go by the owner's manual myself, but might check the Ford website to see if the latest version of the owner's manual has been updated. For example, my Mercury has 3 different printings.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Go by the OM, drain the oil, over night if it makes you feel better, put an OEM filter on, add 6 qts of oil. Run the engine park it on level ground, let it sit overnight, and make your own full mark. Done deal.
+1 End of story!
Go by the OM, drain the oil, over night if it makes you feel better, put an OEM filter on, add 6 qts of oil. Run the engine park it on level ground, let it sit overnight, and make your own full mark. Done deal.
+1 End of story!
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Go by the OM, drain the oil, over night if it makes you feel better, put an OEM filter on, add 6 qts of oil. Run the engine park it on level ground, let it sit overnight, and make your own full mark. Done deal.
good advice right here ^
Go by the OM, drain the oil, over night if it makes you feel better, put an OEM filter on, add 6 qts of oil. Run the engine park it on level ground, let it sit overnight, and make your own full mark. Done deal.
good advice right here ^
Just for fun:
Change your oil with a cold engine that's been sitting overnight. Let the oil drain for three or four minutes then reinstall the plug before you replace the filter, then fill it up with the usual amount of oil. Run the engine for a minute and then let it sit for an hour then check the level later and mark the level on the dipstick.
The next time you change your oil, do it fully warmed up after a drive of more than twenty minutes or so. Remove the filter, then drain the oil and let it drip for a half hour or so before reinstalling the plug and putting the new filter on. Fill it with the same amount of oil used last time and then run the engine for a minute. Let it sit for an hout or so, then check the level on the dipstick. If it's lower than the mark made at the last oil change, add enough oil to reach that mark and note how much oil it took.
I fully expect you'll see a difference of at least four ounces but not more than a quart and a half. Medium/heavy duty trucks and engines that take less than a gallon at an oil change excepted.
Change your oil with a cold engine that's been sitting overnight. Let the oil drain for three or four minutes then reinstall the plug before you replace the filter, then fill it up with the usual amount of oil. Run the engine for a minute and then let it sit for an hour then check the level later and mark the level on the dipstick.
The next time you change your oil, do it fully warmed up after a drive of more than twenty minutes or so. Remove the filter, then drain the oil and let it drip for a half hour or so before reinstalling the plug and putting the new filter on. Fill it with the same amount of oil used last time and then run the engine for a minute. Let it sit for an hout or so, then check the level on the dipstick. If it's lower than the mark made at the last oil change, add enough oil to reach that mark and note how much oil it took.
I fully expect you'll see a difference of at least four ounces but not more than a quart and a half. Medium/heavy duty trucks and engines that take less than a gallon at an oil change excepted.
I would like to think that the published fluid capacities in the owner's manual are based on total sump capacity and filter capacity as well as any residual oil in oil passageways, based on engine design. And if I know that I put in the designed oil system capacity, and the dipstick is not reading it as such, then the dipstick is not reading correctly. On any dipstick I've seen, the metal part is held onto the handle with two rivets-looking things and all it takes is a mm or two for the readings to be off. Some of them even have folds or twists and if those folds or twists aren't just right, then it will read off.
However, I've never had a problem filling rounding up from any half-quart listed capacities; if it said 4.5 I'd use 5, 5.5, I'd use 6. I figure a half quart spread over the surface area of the oil-pan isn't going to make the oil level go up that much to cause windage problems, maybe talking 1/4 inch to 3/8 at most depending on the size and shape of the oil pan.
However, I've never had a problem filling rounding up from any half-quart listed capacities; if it said 4.5 I'd use 5, 5.5, I'd use 6. I figure a half quart spread over the surface area of the oil-pan isn't going to make the oil level go up that much to cause windage problems, maybe talking 1/4 inch to 3/8 at most depending on the size and shape of the oil pan.
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