Ford 3.5L V6 with 12 qt. of oil

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Oct 31, 2014
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I have a 2024 Ford Transit 150 with the naturally aspirated 3.5 v6 in it. I just learned that engine holds 12 quarts of oil. Surely, those people who think you need to change your oil every 3000-5000 miles, would agree that you could let this go longer. I decided to let my first oil change go to 12000 and let my dealer change it when they ran a special. The oil monitor was at 19%.
 
I just learned that engine holds 12 quarts of oil. Surely, those people who think you need to change your oil every 3000-5000 miles, would agree that you could let this go longer.
Dang.... I thought my Z06 was thirsty at 9 1/2 Qts on an oil change. Yes I agree you could let this go more miles. Slump capacity is one of the big reasons OTR trucks can go so many miles on an oil change.
 
Large sump capacity is one way manufacturers achieve long oil change intervals. We cannot double the sump and double the OCI though. A sump that is double, gains on average a 60% longer OCI. The oil filter might be the limiting factor. Even fuel dilution can cause issues here, as the large capacity takes longer to reach operating temperature.

With such a large sump, I'd go a long way before changing the oil. But I'd also make sure to use a very high quality synthetic designed for long oil change intervals.

An 8000 mile OCI (such as was common for Ford trucks with an OLM in the past) might move to a 12,500 mile OCI. With nothing but the change to a larger sump.
 
We just had a BMW that is supposed to hold 5 qts show up. When drained we got nearly 5 gallons out of it.
I mean if you just dilute the “wear metals” with more oil, you can post some stellar UOA’s here to increase your BITOG cred.

Dare I ask how well it was running? If it was running.
 
We just had a BMW that is supposed to hold 5 qts show up. When drained we got nearly 5 gallons out of it.
Reminds me of the 6.4 Powerstrokes where one of the municipalities told their drivers to shut the vehicles down when they went into regen. Then they would manually regen them at their shop until they hydrolocked. Then bring to us where we would drain 25-30 quarts of oil and diesel mixed, change the filter, add 15 quarts and send them on their way.
 
How on earth could an engine hold 20 quarts of oil when it's meant to hold 5?? This feels like a conversion calculation error.
It almost filled a 5 gallon bucket. Car was hydro locked and came in on a tow truck. The guy had to remove the sparkplugs then crank it over to push the oil out enough that the engine would turn over .
 
It almost filled a 5 gallon bucket. Car was hydro locked and came in on a tow truck. The guy had to remove the sparkplugs then crank it over to push the oil out enough that the engine would turn over .
Ah that explains it. Very unique case.
 
Just did some research. I just didn’t believe that a normally aspirated 3.5 needed that much oil….but indeed there were two different 3.5 normally aspirated engines (still the same) but one required 6qts and the other 12!
 
Goodness gracious. I suddenly love that engine now lol. I'd install a Fumoto valve just to watch it drain even longer...🤤

But knowing myself - IDK how much farther I could push it after 5000 miles... It's a weird mental block. $40.41+oil filter+tax.
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To push it past 5000 I'd have to at least go with synthetic. $47.51+oil filter+tax.
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Yup, that's what I'd run in it, regardless of what the manual recommends "for best fuel economy". Flame suit on.
 
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