my manual says my 2001 ranger v6 3.0 takes 4.5 but it still shows it being about a half quart short when i put in 4 quarts and a 16oz bottle of oil treatment is this because of the half quart that gets sucked up by the filter and instead of throwing that other half quart away should i just throw it in will it hurt anything?


thanks everyone
Tom

 

1/2 quart under won't hurt but a 1/2 over could cause some damage, in rare cases anyways. The 3.0 is different but on my 2.3 I put a little in the filter and put the rest in the crank only 4 quarts and it was perfect. Calls for 4 quarts I believe. Is your truck on a incline when you check it? The filter does normally take up a 1/4 to 1/2.. but I think the auto companies are allowing for that in their measurements.

 

Fill the oil level to full, period.

 

Good answers guys!!!!

The 4.5 qts is with the filter.

Well lets see, just to attempt to cover some more of the bases, are you using the specified FL-400S filter, or maybe a larger capacity one, like a FL-1A, that takes about 1 qt to fill, or about 1/2 qt more than the FL-400S & of course as has been said, you should be on level ground when measuring & make sure you have the right dipstick & oil pan!!!!

There have been incidences of engines coming from the factory with the incorrect dip stick in them & of gararges getting them crossed up & folks replacing the dip stick & oil pan with a different one!!!!
I don't suppose the oil pan has been messed with has it????

Just some additional thoughts for consideration.

 

no as far as i know the oil pan has never been messed with the dipstick on the other hand i wouldnt know like you said mechanics get em crossed... anyway to know for sure i have the right dipstick. im using a fram 3600 i took them out of the box at the store and compared it to the motorcraft the internal capacity could be more but the actuall dimensions are identical.

im going to go ahead an assume even tho is says 4.5quarts im gonna have to put 5 in because 4.5 left me about 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart low.


Thanks for all the help guys,
Tom

 

Indicating 1/2 to 3/4 of a qt low, sounds like something isn't right to me.

Are you waiting a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the pan, before you check it on level ground????

Are you certain the dip stick is seated fully????

Are you certain you have the correct dipstick for this engine????

If not, check it out with the Dealer, before you add more oil, as too much in the crankcase can get churned up with air by the crankshaft & thats a recipe for engine damage!!!!

 

My 98 Ranger 3.0 has the same problem. The owners manual shows that it takes 4.5 quarts but it doesnt read full until I put in 5 quarts. I have 160,000 plus miles on it and it uses no oil at all. According to the math, I have changed the oil and filter 53 times so far. With that in mind, I guess that adding the extra 1/2 quart doesnt hurt it any. PS. My mother has an older Mustang with a 2.3. It has a problem with the dip stick. It only takes 1/2 quart to bring it to the full line when the dip stick indicates that one quart should be added. When compared with other Ford products, the hash marks on the Mustang dip stick are only half as long. (The owners manual for the Mustang calls for 5 quarts, which makes it read full.) Both vehicles were purchased new and we do all of our own work so no one has monkeyed with the dip sticks. My vote is to put in what ever it takes to make it read full. Good Luck

 

I had this conversation in another forum. The dipstick is the only method I pesonally have ever used to fill my vehicle. It is there for a reason. The specs in your manual are sometimes right, sometimes not. What will you use if you buy a used vehicle with no manual?? You will use the dipstick. Your dealer will use the same method if you let themchange your oil. As will any other shop, or quick change place. I change all my own oil on all three vehicles, and have over 500,000 miles driven in the last 6-7 years, and I fill it to full on the dipstick. I have never had an engine failure, or problem of any kind even remotely related to oil. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.

 

Maybe try checking the level at operating temperature, allowing a couple minutes for drain back.

I fill my 3.0 to 5 quarts, not precharging my filter (mounted sideways). And the dipstick is always within an 1/8" after running and settling for a couple minutes.