Ok First off this is the first NEW truck I have ever owned. I have had a 300 I-6 factory rebuilt engine once but that is the newest engine I have ever had. My question is this, tonight my dad ask me how many miles I have out on the truck (He is a alesman for a Ford Dealer and is the one I bought it from) and I told him about 650 (I bought it on 07/31/04). He then asked if I had checked the oil yet and I told him I haved checked it each time I have filled the gas tank, usually at about a half a tank. I told him last tank it looked like it was low but due to the low light and clean oil it was hard to tell and I figured at the time that the extra half quart was in the filter or the engine somewhere and just hadn't drained completely into the oil pan yet. The truck had been sitting all day in the driveway so we walked over to it and checked it. Sure enough we both verified that it was a half quart low. When going through the delivery when I bought it we checked it and it was right on full, so somehwere in 650 miles it has lost a half quart. He said tonight that usually at the first and most oil changes it is a hlaf quart low but I should have it checked tommorrow (08-11-04). Is this usual and has anyone else noticed this? I need to get this checked soon as I am leaving on a 600 mile round trip fly fishing trip on Thursday morning.

 

Sorry I forgot to mention, the truck has the 4.6L V-8 and it was sitting on level ground at the time. If this helps.

 

My 4.6 does not go off the full mark between oil changes (3500).. On My 98 4.6 always had to add some oil before time to change..Keep and eye out for leaks and should settle down after some miles???

 

Thanks, I am still taking it to the Ford Dealer to make them aware of it when I get off work at 7 a.m. just to be safe. The owners manual made no mention of this usage and I have seen no leaks but I just want to make sure.

 

No oil usage here...11K miles 5.4L. Never have noticed it low.

 

Ok I went to the Ford Dealer yesterday and the service manager and I looked at it. This is going to be funny but is somewhat confusing. On every truck I have ever had it says on the dipstick full at the top of the checkered area or add 1 qt. at the bottom of the checkered area. I had noticed that my new truck didn't say this. The service manager didn't notice this so we went and ask the oil change man. Of all the people in the service shop he was the one that siad on the new Fords they don't say full or add but if it is in the checkered area you are ok. Problem solved. When I was told that I almost felt stupid.

 

Birdhunter,

I am the owner of a 03 4.6 and this has been discussed on other forums so I think this is pretty much the skinny. 6 quarts of oil will be reflected about 1/2 way between add and full on the dipstick. When I bought my truck new, the oil was 1/2 way up the dipstick.

Been changing about the 3k mark and the oil doesn't really move from the 1/2 way mark. Putting in 6 quarts at the oil and filter change and the dip stick again reads about the 1/2 way mark. It will take 6 1/2 quarts to reflect at the top full mark. Not sure that is a good thing to do, but just so you know. I believe the manual says to add 6 quarts. Don't want to overfill.

Chip

 

It says that in the owners manual

 

Exactly, but only if it's read.