I am having a hard time with the proper oil capacity for my 85 f150 the chilton says 6qts w/filter and the napa guy says 5 qts w/ filter can someone please tell me the proper oil capacity i should be using this is my first truck and newbie to fords, by the way this site has helped me troubleshoot alot or probs with my new ford.

 

Should be 6 quarts with a filter change.

 

Well, your gonna like this answer, the 86 I had was a 5.5 qt change with filter. Your 85 should be the same.

 

Yo,

I've been changing oil in my 1994 302 for sevral years i've always bought 7 quarts, 6 to fill and 1 just in case. I think the extra quart is for the oil filter if you dont prefill that is because the engine has to fill the oil filter which may take some oil. so either way just dont go adding to much. no more than 6 quarts.

 

Do an oil change and add oil until you hit the top of the dipstick mark. That is how much oil to use. You should run the engine a minute to fill the filter and then let it sit for a few minutes to check the mark and top up as needed. From tehn on, you can add the same amount every time you change.

Like the guys said, you need between 5.5 and 6 qts. Try that and see what you get. If you are way off, say 2 qts or more, I would start suspecting the dipstick is wrong for your engine or the tube may be pulled out of place, it happens.

If you are way high, say an inch over the mark with only 5.5 qts in the pan, I would start to suspect the engine is a car model, some car engines have very low oil capacity. Of course if you have owned the truck all it's life, this won't be a question.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Fill it up until it flows out the top of the valve cover.

Wait that doesn't sound right....lol...just kidding

I agree with the last post, some engines depend on the pan style on how much oil they hold. I have always been taught it was 6 in the Ford truck but 5.5 sounds good to me, they figure you don't want a half quart sitting around and only 1/2 quart either way won't kill you.

Rod

 

Look at the oil pan, if it has a sump in front and rear of the pan it will take 6 qts.. That's because the oil pump is in the front of the motor (sump) and the pick up screen is in the rear (sump). Also you should have two drain plugs. That's why it takes 6 qts.
Yogi
p.s. That's all I have ever owned is FORD 1976 Custom 500 351 M, 1974 Econoline Van 302, and now 2002 FORD RANGER 3.0 L Love my FORD

 

I have an 86 Ford F150. Manual calls for 6 quarts. 5 puts it to the full line every time with an FL1A filter. I still go ahead and throw 6 in it.

 

This thread is 7 YO. The OP probably graduated college, got married, had 3 kids, retired and moved to Florida by now.

 

Haha, true. Although, there has been a conflict of information on the mid 80's 5.0 trucks from what I've seen. I've read more than a few stories on here where their stock truck 5.0 engine shows full with 5 quarts. Mine does, too.