Dipsticking!

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We have two F-150 2.7 Ecoboosts. I have been checking the oil extremely often since we bought them. I was sampling the one today, and I checked the oil before started it, after it had been setting all night ( about 33 deg. F.) I have checked it after setting overnight before, but when temps were in the 50's or 60's overnight. I noticed then, as now, there is a huge difference between hot and cold. Even more so today. It is consistently a quart less reading off the dipstick when dead cold compared to 20-30 minutes after shutdown when hot. I think this is probably the biggest disparity I have seen on one of my personal vehicles.
 
A whole quart difference due to colder ambient temperature seems extreme. I usually only see ~20% change in oil level between say 60~70 deg F and 190~200 deg F when the oil is hot 20 after shutdown. Wouldn't expect that another 30 degrees colder in ambient temps wouldn't make the level then go down another 80% on the dipstick. Maybe it's only 1/2 qt between lower and upper marks on your dipstick?
 
perhaps the relationship is not linear due to a number of things - shape of pan or volume of components or pickup higher up in the pan. Also, the dipstick may feed in at a varying angle. in my experience, ford doesn't really go out of the way to make any of their dipsticks linear and incremental like other manufacturers have. I certainly wish topping off my transmission after exchanging fluid didn't take me a half hour of incremental adding and driving for the last half quart
 
My last few Fords (Explorer and my current F-150) have had horrible dip sticks. I’ve found I have to insert them just the right way (the humps/bumps facing down) to get a repeatable reading. I also have to give the dip stick at least 4-5 minutes to soak after I’ve cleaned it off, otherwise it won’t have a correct reading. I haven’t noticed a difference between hot and cold. Not sure how the 2.7 is, but I don’t have any confidence it’s any better.
 
I get over a quart difference on my IS, cold seasons show higher levels(fuel in oil). No measurable difference between hot and cold engine though.
 
"My last few Fords (Explorer and my current F-150) have had horrible dip sticks. I’ve found I have to insert them just the right way (the humps/bumps facing down) to get a repeatable reading. I also have to give the dip stick at least 4-5 minutes to soak after I’ve cleaned it off, otherwise it won’t have a correct reading. I haven’t noticed a difference between hot and cold. Not sure how the 2.7 is, but I don’t have any confidence it’s any better."





Totally agree. I usually have to make 8-10 pulls over a few minutes to get any consistent readings. My daughter's Focus is even worse.
 
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