Dipstick vs quoted sump capacity??

[4D-56]

Just put 6 qts of Amsoil SS 5W20 in my friends 2010 F150 4.6 (code W) The stick is asking for approx a half qt more. Quoted sump capacity is 6 qts.

His older 2004 4.2 V6 was similar, quoted 6 and took 6 3?4 to please the sick reading.

what would you folks do with this??

 

[dparm]

Use the dipstick, but make sure you're reading it according to the manufacturer's procedure. Some companies want you to run the motor for a few minutes, turn it off, wait a few more, and THEN read it.

 

[Roadkingnc]

Six quarts is the correct amount and yes it will read in the center of the normal range. Its the way ford made them.
Adding another half quart wont hurt anything but your wallet but if it makes you feel better add it. Most people overfill them to the upper line on the dipstick.
Remember its the operating range between add and full, it isn't reading wrong.

 

[4D-56]

Thanks for these perspectives. Prob gonna get another qt.

 

[oldhp]

I have never had a dipstick be correct yet.
2012 Equinox 2.4, 5qts in, stick shows 1/4'ish too full. Put 4qts in so I know when it is really 1qt low and it shows 1/2qt low.
2012 RAM 5.7, when full with 7qts+filter, it shows 1/4 qt low, 1qt low shows as 1 1/4 qts low.
I just remark my dipsticks to show where 1qt low is really at and where full is really at.

 

[SLCraig]

I always go with the dipstick.. Even if it was slightly inaccurate its not going to be off by a quart or more, so its no big deal.

 

[CurtisB]

My 2008 F150 4.6l is exactly the same as you described. I normally fill my sump with 6 litres which is probably around 6.3 quarts, that puts it right to the full mark. Is your friends truck a 2wd? If so the low front end rake may be what throws the dipstick reading off, which is what I suspect with mine. Remember the modular 4.6l was placed in other Ford vehicles with varying suspension angles and In some it may just throw off the dipstick reading.

 

[79sunrunner]

Added the 7 quarts as instructed in my old Jaguar, ended up being a quart over full >:< only made that mistake once. Also the Fiat says 4 quarts, and the level is only at the 3/4 mark on the dipstick. I'm happy with that.

 

[79sunrunner]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
I always go with the dipstick.. Even if it was slightly inaccurate its not going to be off by a quart or more, so its no big deal.

Easy to say in the new BMWs without a dipstick. I suspect an angry dparm while servicing one day.....

 

[Flareside302]

Pretty much all the ford 4.6/5.4's I've ever worked on, (hundreds) they always show half qt low..

 

[4D-56]

Originally Posted By: CurtisB
My 2008 F150 4.6l is exactly the same as you described. I normally fill my sump with 6 litres which is probably around 6.3 quarts, that puts it right to the full mark. Is your friends truck a 2wd? If so the low front end rake may be what throws the dipstick reading off, which is what I suspect with mine. Remember the modular 4.6l was placed in other Ford vehicles with varying suspension angles and In some it may just throw off the dipstick reading.


Yes, its a 2WD.

Truthfully, after working on his older '04 4.2 (filter SO easy to get to) I found the 2010 awkward to do (not raised) the filter is in a funky place in relation to the frame crossmember and hence steering rack. Maybe next time ill just remove the air intake pipe and reach down from above. It has the air deflector down below the front bumper and a plastic drip tray for the oil that comes from removing the filter, I took it off so that I could actually get to the filter! Maybe i missed the easy way to do it?

Again, thanks for the perspectives, I nearly didnt post this but there are different ways to look at it.

Prob gonna run this Amsoil for 15K so I wont be under there for a while now

next up is 100% Amsoil in the trans with a new Wix filter.

 

[Merkava_4]

I go by the dipstick, not the quoted the capacity. I put a 1/2 quart more in than the quoted capacity.

 

[KrisZ]

I go by the dipstick as well.

 

[demarpaint]

I've always gone by the sump capacity stated in the owners manual. I only had one Ford which the dipstick was slightly off, I made my own FULL mark in it. 26+ years later she's still running and not using any oil so I guess it had no negative impact that I can detect. All my other vehicles were/are spot on with the amount of oil stated in the owners manual.

 

[default]

The dipstick tells you the max level the oil can be at before interfering with the crank, giving a reasonable amount of space. More oil in the system is never a bad thing, undefilling it because putting in the stated capacity doesn't bring it up to full is asinine.