Stupid question
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Stupid question
I'm going to start changing my own oil. The manual says to use 7 quarts but when I use to take it to my mechanic they only use 6 quarts. Should I go by what the manual says or by what the say?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,732
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From: SE Florida
Go by the dipstick. Put 6 quarts in, run it for a few seconds while checking for leaks, then shut it down. Wait a minute, then read the dipstick. You'll almost certainly be a quart low. Add the last quart.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
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On my V6 which is supposed to take 6 qts, it comes to right in-between the max and min lines on the stick. Use what the book says, change the filter, drive it around to fully warm up, park on level area and check oil to see where the 7 qts comes to on the stick in your truck. Then you'll know for sure. I totally reject the practice of going by the dipstick. The damn book says 7, you put in 7. Does anybody think some oil pans are bigger/smaller than others of a given year/model/engine? They are not. The owner's manual tells you what kind of oil and how much. Do that and you're good. I don't even check the dipstick on my truck after changing the oil - I know it comes to halfway between the marks with the stated 6 qts. I always double check I'm putting in a 5 qt jug and 1 qt more as I put it in.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2015
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Go by the manual. Your mechanic might be good, but it's unrealistic that he can accurately recall the capacity for every single vehicle that comes into his shop. 6 quarts is fairly common for a V8... my dad's Chevy and my old 5.8L V8 Dodge both took 6 quarts. He probably guessed, but your manual comes from the factory with all your truck's fluid specifications. No guesswork there.
Cross-Country
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From: North Dakota
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: West Virginia
Not a stupid question at all.
Places that perform oil changes do not use individual bottles (remember oil cans?) like we buy at the auto parts store. They purchase their oil in bulk in 55 gallon drums and pump oil in the motor. The pump has a meter that tells how much oil has been dispensed. So he's not actually remembering how many bottles of oil he poured into your engine. Or maybe his meter is out of calibration. Or maybe you've been driving around a quart low.
At any rate changing it yourself is a good step towards ensuring it is done right.
Places that perform oil changes do not use individual bottles (remember oil cans?) like we buy at the auto parts store. They purchase their oil in bulk in 55 gallon drums and pump oil in the motor. The pump has a meter that tells how much oil has been dispensed. So he's not actually remembering how many bottles of oil he poured into your engine. Or maybe his meter is out of calibration. Or maybe you've been driving around a quart low.
At any rate changing it yourself is a good step towards ensuring it is done right.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,512
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Not a stupid question at all.
Places that perform oil changes do not use individual bottles (remember oil cans?) like we buy at the auto parts store. They purchase their oil in bulk in 55 gallon drums and pump oil in the motor. The pump has a meter that tells how much oil has been dispensed. So he's not actually remembering how many bottles of oil he poured into your engine. Or maybe his meter is out of calibration. Or maybe you've been driving around a quart low.
At any rate changing it yourself is a good step towards ensuring it is done right.
Places that perform oil changes do not use individual bottles (remember oil cans?) like we buy at the auto parts store. They purchase their oil in bulk in 55 gallon drums and pump oil in the motor. The pump has a meter that tells how much oil has been dispensed. So he's not actually remembering how many bottles of oil he poured into your engine. Or maybe his meter is out of calibration. Or maybe you've been driving around a quart low.
At any rate changing it yourself is a good step towards ensuring it is done right.
Agreed. Besides that, you'll save yourself a lot of money in the long run. Be sure to follow the recommendations in your owner's manual for the type/weight of oil to use as well. Many people will suggest using synthetic. To me, that's a matter of opinion. If you change it every 3000 faithfully like I do then synthetic may or may not be worth the extra expense. I do use high mileage oil though since I'm into six figures now. What motor do you have, how many miles? Like 1 Saxman said, the 4.2 takes 6 quarts. I believe the 5.4 takes more than that. Not sure about the 4.6. If you suspect your truck to leak oil, then check it more frequently. Good luck!
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