oil capacity

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Oct 17, 2003 | 11:24 PM

jwdenney2

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Mountain Pass

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oil capacity

How much oil does a 1998 4.6L (F150) hold? What grade of oil should I put in (I use Motorcraft! but don't know whether 5w20 or 10w30 or...).

Thanks in advance for your help.

Oct 18, 2003 | 12:44 AM

LxMan1

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From: Louisville,Ky.

Hi, It should hold 6 qts. It may take 6.5 to actually hit the full mark on the stick, but Ford says 6.
I would use 5W30 in your 98.
Jimmy

Oct 27, 2003 | 11:31 AM

cwhitten

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What do you think of an idiot that changed the oil in his 5.4 and only put in 5 quarts? He has 65,000 miles on his truck and I helped him change his oil. He only brought 5 quarts!! He told me that he changed the oil every 4,000 and used only 5 quarts!! The dipstick never checked the dipstick! Has he severly damaged his truck? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Oct 27, 2003 | 11:38 AM

LxMan1

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From: Louisville,Ky.

Hi CWhitten and welcome to FTE

He probably hasn't done any mojor damage, but if it was to use a little oil, he wouldn't have much on reserve before it go into the danger zone.
Make sure that from now on, they use at least 6 quarts. The more oil in the pan, will help keep the oil a little cooler because it has a little longer to sit in the pan before going thru the engine again.
Jimmy

Oct 28, 2003 | 07:28 AM

cwhitten

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using only 5 quarts in 5.4 engine

Thanks lxman. I was concerned about three things: Oil temp, oil breakdown, and (most importantly) lack of lubrication due to low oil level (not slinging as much oil). Any comments on these, especially the "oil slinging", would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

2000 F-150 4x4 offroad 5.4

Oct 28, 2003 | 07:57 AM

daytoncobra

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From: Dayton,Ohio

One quart will really not hurt too much. Running a quart low is an old racing trick. I have seen a car pick up a tenth of a second in the 1/4 mile by doing this. Alot of racers do this. By running a quart low, it is less "work" for the crank to spin, not as much fluid resistance. The problem comes in when, for whatever reason, you are more than a quart low.

I personally wouldn't run a quart low but if the truck has been and not abused it will be fine.

Oct 28, 2003 | 03:25 PM

cwhitten

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Thanks daytoncobra. I feel the same way. I just wanted to get some other opinions, before I told my friend not to worry about it. He was talking of selling his truck. He says he has not abused his truck (hasn't pulled anything significant yet and changes oil every 4000). He just assumed that the engine oil capacity was 5 quarts. You know what happens when you ASSUME! He is real sick about this!!! I am going to put his worries to rest and let him know that the engine should be OK.