all i know is, i was pissed when i pulled my oil cap and a brown sludge was affixed to my oil cap. i have around 20k left on my warentee. i wonder if i should clean the motor out. get it done before i expire

Matt

 

then why does your owner's manual say six qts?
or did you read the manual?

 

That's normal, especially during the winter months when the engine doesn't always get warm enough to boil off the water.

 

The 2 valve 5.4L takes 6 quarts, the 3 valve 5.4L takes 7 quarts. Should put both in about the middle of the hash marks on the dipstick, which in my opinion would be a good nickname for the engineer that decided that hash marks would be better than add or full on the dipstick.

 

Has anyone ever tried running an engine with way too much oil in it? Perhaps you have. What happens? If the engine does not smoke profusely because of oil leaking past the rings, then you get an engine vibration, and poor fuel economy. If you don't beleive me try putting 14 quarts of oil in a 2004 5.4 triton. I know I have done it. The hese undesireable affects are because with a higher than normal amounts of fluid inside a crankcase there is less room for air, which causes increased crankcase pressure. The pressure rises because fluids do NOT compress...pascal's law.

Inside the 5.4 triton V8 and the 4.6 triton V8 the parts are basically the same, subtle differences, except for one thing, the stroke is longer on the 5.4. It a taller block. The longer stroke in the block makes for more air space between the top and bottom of the bore. Hence a 5.4 has more air inside the crankcase than a 4.6.

If you put more oil in an engine you eliminate some of the air. This raises the crankcase pressure and can result in losses of fuel economy and performance... undesireable.

Putting more than 7 quarts is asking for trouble. If you are somewhere between 6 and 7 you should be fine on a 5.4, but all you really need is 6. I have worked at a Ford dealership, there we put 7 in all 5.4's and 6 in all 4.6's.

I always have driven my 5.4 with 7 in it and never had a problem. I am going to try switching to 6 and see if I can get any better gas mileage.

 

yeah i agree with kstate, i put in 6 and the stick still says low, i put in 6.5 and its in the middle, then i add a qt every 1500mi on top of that, i think it would take 7qts to top it off but idk...

 

You run the risk of washing out the bearings, it also reduces mpg because more oil is being carried/slung onto the crank journals, etc.

 

Different pans, never thought of that. Simple but good info.
My '01 4wd takes 6.5qts to top of "safe"range.

 

my truck is an 06 2 wd f250 and it takes seven quarts

 

It has the 5.4 ltr. In it. No matter what I do I can't stop the hitching.

 

I appreciate your response.

Thank you
-Adrien