doesnt the 5.4 take 6 quarts? i put 6 in and its still low on my dipstick.

Matt

 

That's normal Matt. There have been some heated discussions in the past about it. Some swear by the dipstick others by the engineers who say 6 qts is all you need. I put 6 in mine and don't worry about it.

 

I agree, some people get way too bent out of shape if the oil level isn't at the very top of the dipstick.

 

I work at Team Ford ( Las Vegas ) we put 7.3 qts , to the top of the stick. 04 to present 5.4 3V engines.

 

Wow thats significantly higher than recommended! i wouldn't recommend anything more than the 6 quarts, as too much oil can be just as bad as too little. the crank'll whip up the oil into a froth that the pump can't circulate and you still end up with oil starvation, especially in the heads.

 

That is spot on.

 

I go by the dipstick, thats what it is there for. Mine takes around 7qts and has over 200K trouble free miles. A universally arbitrary number in a manual is not going to tell me what every single 5.4L's capacity is.

 

What GALAXIE641 said.

 

dam, i buy valvoline 5-30 full synth by the case
(6 quarts) and it took 7. bastids

Matt

 

99 5.4 requires 6 quarts this is in the safe zone. mine requires 6.5 to reach max

 

6.5 qts is correct for early 5.4 L We put 6.3 qts ( to the middle of the stick )

 

dam, i buy valvoline 5-30 full synth by the case
(6 quarts) and it took 7. bastids

Matt

Its a consiracy between ford and oil companies. Kinda like the hot dog companies and the hot dog bun companies. (10 dogs per package, 8 buns per package)

6 quarts doesn't even touch the "safe Zone". I end up puting 7 quarts in and adding a Quart at about the 2000 mile mark. Oil disapears (no oil in driveway, no smoke) where it goes is any one's guess.

 

i have a 2000 f150 7700 series with a 5.4 and it takes about 7.5 qts

 

The 5.4 in 2wd trucks takes 6 and in 4x4 trucks it takes 7. The pans are different.

 

Here's something you will encounter with piston aviation engines. The dipsticks will show full at say 8 qts. So you change the oil and filter and top it off at 8 qts. A couple hours of flying and it's down to 6.5 and it will stay in the safe zone for many hours more. After a while you learn to just top it off at 6.5 instead of the 8 since the other quart and a half are blown out. Some engines are worse than others at this but they all function very well when not topped off with oil. If you sleep better with the dipstick reading full, ok. Your engine can't read the dipstick though and only knows when there is too much crankcase pressure or there is foaming from the crank splashing the oil.

One of the planes I fly will hold 12 qts but that would be a waste since it just blows it out. It runs very well at 9 and can be ran all the way down to 4. When the stick says it's at 8, I add a quart to make it 9.