2000 5.4 excursion oil problem

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May 13, 2013 | 09:13 AM

borwish

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2000 5.4 excursion oil problem

A good while ago my father bought a 2000 excursion 5.4. He mainly got it to haul stuff around, so he doesn't drive it often. He was driving it a few days ago when the check engine light briefly came on and went back off before he got to work. I happened by a few hours later and looked around and saw that the oil level was a few inches higher than the max mark on the dipstick. I couldn't detect any water or gas in the oil and the coolant and transmission levels were fine. I took it a few miles away to my house to change the oil.

I did a normal oil change and added 6 quarts of oil with a new filter. When I transfered the old oil to a jug for recycling only about 2.75 quarts were in the pan. I checked the oil level again and it shows a few inches too high still. I drove it about two miles to circulate the oil and it was still high and looked dirtier than it should. What issue am I looking at here?

It was 5000 miles since the last oil change and it might have had only 5 quarts added at that time. Dipstick number F81E-6750-JA

Any and all advice is welcomed,

Thanks in advance,

John

May 13, 2013 | 10:37 AM

az_r2d1

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From: Colorado

so the check engine light came on ? not the low oil pressure light ?
First thing to check is for codes. If you don't have a code reader go to autozone or oreillys and have the codes read. It's probably not related.

Is the recommenced oil change amount 6 qts for this engine ? I don't know, most here have the 6.8l v10 gas engine. 2.75 qrts drained sounds way too low. If it was that low, it would have seized due to oil starvation.

I hope you also made sure you were using the correct dipstick and drain for oil and not transmission.

Any coolant levels dropping in the past ?
I'd also throw this out in the appropriate engine forum.

May 13, 2013 | 11:13 AM

EXv10

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From: Mt. Shasta California

I would go by the amount of oil in the pan and not on the stick until you get to the bottom of this. Check it cold in the morning.

May 13, 2013 | 01:41 PM

borwish

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He said that it was the check engine light that came on briefly. If it had been the oil light then I assume that he would have stopped driving and checked it immediately.

The owner's manual states that his 5.4L takes 6 quarts or 5.7 liters. Official Ford Parts Site | Buy Motorcraft & OEM Ford Parts Online | FordParts.com seems to indicate that he has the correct dipstick.

Thanks for the advise,

John

May 13, 2013 | 03:17 PM

az_r2d1

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From: Colorado

Unless the oil wasn't changed in a long long time it should run out like water if it's hot.
Has he had issues before with oil changes?

May 13, 2013 | 07:44 PM

borwish

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Not that I know of. It is certainly possible that this is only the second oil change it's had since he got it because he doesn't drive it regularly.

May 13, 2013 | 07:49 PM

Tom

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From: Isanti, MN

No clue about the oil level, so you're saying that only 2.75 quarts came out of the engine? It's possible that there is a lot of sludge built up, how many miles are on it?

Also what were the codes?