Oil Change
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I need some help. I am doing my first oil change, and am having trouble reading the dipstick. The manual says to fill to the max mark - but does not indicate if the max mark is the top of the hatched region, or the top circular hole in the dipstick (I added an arrow to the picture below - pointing to the upper hole). What is confusing me is that the manual says there is a min mark and a max mark. The lower and upper holes could easily be these marks, but then most cars go by the hatched markings. I just don't want to mess up my first oil change.
#2
If you filled with the recommended amount of oil, where on the dipstick did it take it to? Guessing, I'd think the max mark is the top hole, and you'd add oil if the level fell into the hatched area when checking the oil.
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Originally posted by lodom@December 8, 2004, 10:04 PM
If you filled with the recommended amount of oil, where on the dipstick did it take it to? Guessing, I'd think the max mark is the top hole, and you'd add oil if the level fell into the hatched area when checking the oil.
If you filled with the recommended amount of oil, where on the dipstick did it take it to? Guessing, I'd think the max mark is the top hole, and you'd add oil if the level fell into the hatched area when checking the oil.
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Originally posted by r22tech@December 8, 2004, 10:20 PM
Top hole is Full or "max", top of hash marks is 1 quart low, bottom of hash is 2 quarts low and is "min" for this engine before damage.
Top hole is Full or "max", top of hash marks is 1 quart low, bottom of hash is 2 quarts low and is "min" for this engine before damage.
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(its been a while since I had a Ford)
#7
Looks like you got it figured out, but I'll add this anyway:
I usually stick to the recommendation in the manual. For most, if not all modular motors, it's 6 quarts. I know on the trucks, 6 quarts will leave you in the upper half of the cross hatch markings. Guys who filled up to the top of the hatches in V10's had some adverse effects.
On top of that, the dipsticks really aren't a scientific measuring device. There has been known to be quite a bit of variance between them on other vehicles.
I usually stick to the recommendation in the manual. For most, if not all modular motors, it's 6 quarts. I know on the trucks, 6 quarts will leave you in the upper half of the cross hatch markings. Guys who filled up to the top of the hatches in V10's had some adverse effects.
On top of that, the dipsticks really aren't a scientific measuring device. There has been known to be quite a bit of variance between them on other vehicles.
#8
Originally posted by Berol@December 9, 2004, 7:08 PM
Looks like you got it figured out, but I'll add this anyway:
I usually stick to the recommendation in the manual. For most, if not all modular motors, it's 6 quarts. I know on the trucks, 6 quarts will leave you in the upper half of the cross hatch markings. Guys who filled up to the top of the hatches in V10's had some adverse effects.
On top of that, the dipsticks really aren't a scientific measuring device. There has been known to be quite a bit of variance between them on other vehicles.
Looks like you got it figured out, but I'll add this anyway:
I usually stick to the recommendation in the manual. For most, if not all modular motors, it's 6 quarts. I know on the trucks, 6 quarts will leave you in the upper half of the cross hatch markings. Guys who filled up to the top of the hatches in V10's had some adverse effects.
On top of that, the dipsticks really aren't a scientific measuring device. There has been known to be quite a bit of variance between them on other vehicles.
#10
Originally posted by upstate@December 9, 2004, 8:27 PM
I have been cautioned about over filling. Any mechanic you talk to will tell you its better to be one quart low than one quart over.
I have been cautioned about over filling. Any mechanic you talk to will tell you its better to be one quart low than one quart over.
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#12
The full mark is the top of the hatched area. The "hole" means you have gone way over the amount of oil your should put into the motor. I worked at an oil change place for 5 years. You never, ever want to over fill. I have seen some cars come back with oil spurting out of the dipstick tube. Also your oil pressure can go up significantly.
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Originally posted by davids2toys@July 18, 2005, 9:13 AM
The book calls for 6 qts with the filter...that puts me 1/2 way up the hash marks. I am going by what the books says for capacity, I think the dipstick is wrong. :bang:
The book calls for 6 qts with the filter...that puts me 1/2 way up the hash marks. I am going by what the books says for capacity, I think the dipstick is wrong. :bang:
#15
When I filled it with six quarts, it came to about the top of the hash marks. I figure thats the safest place for me so I don't overfill and don't underfill. (And who wants to put in seven quarts when you can just buy a case of 6 and be done with it?)
#16
The reason they have a range on the dipstick is because this is the "safe" operating area. Your car will not have any damage if oil is kept in this range. If its below the lower hole, you can starve the system for oil and under-lubricate. If its above the upper hole, the crank can "whip" the oil in the pan and this causes drag on the crank and foaming of the oil, along with possible pushing out the dipstick tube.
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Originally posted by Flyinlow@July 18, 2005, 9:36 AM
The reason they have a range on the dipstick is because this is the "safe" operating area. Your car will not have any damage if oil is kept in this range. If its below the lower hole, you can starve the system for oil and under-lubricate. If its above the upper hole, the crank can "whip" the oil in the pan and this causes drag on the crank and foaming of the oil, along with possible pushing out the dipstick tube.
The reason they have a range on the dipstick is because this is the "safe" operating area. Your car will not have any damage if oil is kept in this range. If its below the lower hole, you can starve the system for oil and under-lubricate. If its above the upper hole, the crank can "whip" the oil in the pan and this causes drag on the crank and foaming of the oil, along with possible pushing out the dipstick tube.
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