When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm having a disbute with my dealer over oil fill level. I had three free oil changes from the dealer. I noticed after the first one what I thought was an over fill on the oil. Just got the oil changed today for the second time. Unfortunately I wasn't able to be there, my wife dropped it off and picked it up. I specifically left them a note about how I thought the oil was too full and had my wife ask them to show her it's OK when she picked it up. Needless to say they told her it was fine before they changed it and now after they changed it. The service manager even pulled the dip stick and showed her.
Here's the problem I think the MAX level is the point where the angle starts up from the bottom of the recessed section. They have the oil such that it ends at about the last letter in the MAX, right before where the plastic starts to bend towards the steel shaft of the dip stick. The owners manual shows a dip stick for a gasser but not the desiel. Can anyone verify what Ford thinks the full mark is on a 06 PSD.
thanks for the help
If you do a little search on here, there was a big discussion about this I believe last July or August (bout the time I bought my truck). They hold 15 qts, but you could never get out all of it. Most of us only put in 14 to 14.5 qts. They say on here that overfilling is a no-no. Maybe someone like KW or Loney can chime and tell us why, as I forgot.
thanks for the reply. I have read the posts about overfilling, that's why I'm concerned about it. The disbute is that the dealer says it's not over full and I say it is. So, where exactly on the dip stick is the point that Ford considers the MAX level, that's what I'm arguing with my dearler about?
the dipstick is a real pain to accurately read(i'm sure you've seen that) next time you check your oil, dont put it all the way in,where the oil level is, add the amount that you kept it out of the tube. It usually makes it easier to see that way. 14.5--15 quarts is pretty accurate.
When I changed my own at home, I simply added oil until it was 1/2 way into the crosshatch area on dipstick. That satifies both Ford (anywhere in crosshatch is okay) and this forum (only put in 14-14.5 quarts.). As i was using gallon jugs, I don't know exactly how much I actually used. Works for me.
Actually, it doesn't really matter where the "MAX" line is. A matter of semantics.
Ford has previously recommended mid-hash marks.
In addition, the B.M. noted below states not to fill beyond the "MIN" line on the dip stick.
Maybe next time to you will need to print this out and hand it to your service tech.
Oil Level Check Tip: When checking the oil level on the 6.0, the vehicle must be on a level surface and the dipstick must be fully seated into the tube to ensure an accuarte reading. Do not add oil if the level is above the "MIN" line on the dipstick. Broadcast Message 1512, 1574
I put in 14.5 quarts, and that usually is around the max line. An extra 1/2 quart is not going to hurt anything. You would have to put several more quarts in to notice a difference (I don't recommend trying that).
I'm not sure that the marks on the dipstick can be used as anything but a general reference where the oil level is. There is a thread in the V10 section quite awhile back on this issue because the V10 stick ('99-'04 ?, 2valve) shows half a qt low when the specified 6 qts were added. This had a lot of guys adding 6 1/2 qts to make the stick show 'full'. Some guys were/are adding 7qts. Now, the 3 valve motor does specify 7 qts but I'm not sure what the stick shows the level at with 7.
I don't believe that adding the specified 15 qts is overfilling the 6.0L, or will cause the oil to foam. I do believe the oil level is fine when above the 'add' mark.
But, once overfilled, by any amount, foaming can and likely will be induced and bad things happen.
I'm not going to say that overfilling with oil is not a problem, but I've seen these engines with fuel in the oil and many quarts overfilled that still ran fine.
I had one truck that had somewhere around 30 quarts of oil and fuel in the crankcase. It ran fine until it was up to operating temperature, then it started to run rough. A fresh set of injectors and an oil change had it running like new. So, I don't think an extra 1/2 quart of oil is going to be noticed.
Well, there certainly isn't anything to debate about it. But, Ford sent the B.M. for a reason. As posted here during the '03 / '04 6.0 releases folks had surging issues when adding 15+ qts. Issues went away when they drain some out.
As it is with mods...do what makes you warm and fuzzy.