What would you do?

[sfam198]

My question is about the amount of oil/transmission fluid/gear oil, etc. listed in the manual as opposed to what it actually takes to bring it up to full.

My manual says that the engine takes 6 quarts of oil. In order to bring it up to the full mark on the dipstick, I need to put in 7 quarts. Should I be putting in the 7 quarts, or just leave it at 6 and assume that the dipstick is inaccurate?

My transmission (manual) says it takes 3.75 quarts. I just changed the oil in it yesterday and it took 5.5 quarts to fill it up to the bottom of the fill hole (where I have always filled it up to). Should I be putting in the full 5.5 quarts, or just leave it at the specified 3.75?

The same question goes for the transfer case and axles. Should I just put in the amount that is specified or should I put in enough to "fill" them?

This might seem like a stupid question, but with synthetic oils throughout, the cost savings of a quart here and there are pretty big if I don't need to be putting all that oil in.

 

[Kestas]

For transfer cases and axles, I would trust the fill hole location and fill until overflowing.

Transmissions drain differently than crankcases. The longer you drain, the more you get out.

 

[sfam198]

i realize that automatic transmissions will drain more the longer the drain plug is out, but is a manual transmission the same way? they way i see it, it isn't any different than the transfer case. there is a drain plug and a fill plug. should i just fill the transmission up until it is overflowing as well?

 

[sfam198]

and what about the engine? 6 or 7 quarts? for anyone that's interested, this is a 98 Ford F150 w/ a 4.6L engine.

 

[rpn453]

I don't know about your particular engine, but I'd definitely use the fill plugs over any listed capacities to determine the proper fluid level in diffs and trannies.

 

[alreadygone]

Most diffs and transfers aren't supposed to be filled to overflowing!(no matter how your daddy said to do it) Most modern boxes call for 1/2 to 3/4 inch below hole to allow for expansion.

Best I can recall, all Ford 4.6 I've checked only held 6.

Bob

 

[mechtech2]

I question the validity and accuracy of the engine dipstick. That disparity is huge.
Maybe it is not seated properly, or it's guide tube.
Maybe you have a larger oil pan [unlikely]?
The difference in the tranny is more than huge. Something is amiss in your technique or supplied data.