In the case of my '03, 15 qts. is too much. I am totally convinced that my initial surging problems were from over filled oil levels. I changed to 13.5, run the truck, let it settle good, then I usually end of with just under 14 qts. to put it at the top of the hash marks. I have figured out it is easier to check the level if I do not push the dipstick all the way down until it stops, but put the bottom of the dipstick handle flush on the top of the dipstick oiltube. Once you get the oil level above the plastic part onto the wire,(which is where mine is at 15 qts.), it is virtually impossible to tell where the oil level is. I have never had a surging problem after going back to 14 qts.(yes I got the flash too, but that didn't completely solve the problem). Besides, there is the issue of the oil kept in the system that does not drain out, so theoretically, I still have 15 qts. in the system after adding only 14 at oil change time. Just IMHO, but I am one of the original 6.0 owners, have been through a lot of the drivability issues associated with this motor, and the oil level was one of the first issues ie. problems associated with this motor. Mine was very finicky on that point. Maybe the new oils solved some of that foaming problem, because mine was using CH4 when it was new, then CI4. Now I'm using CI4+ (until the synthetic Rotella gets the new CJ rating). Just some personal experience that someone might experiment with.

 

I use Mobil 1 Delvac 1. I don't consider it abuse. I think I change the oil too much!!

 

I do 15 qts. without any issues

 

Same here, I just dump in the 15 quarts and we drive it for 7 weeks/7,500 miles and do it all over again. Coming up on 77,000 miles of troublefree operation on this 2004.

 

Well for all you non believers, the symptoms that DID occur from overfilling was enough for Ford to issue a TSB and change the color of the dipstick to make it easier to read. Ford probably just had a bunch of extra money lying around that they had nothing better to do with, which is the only reason imaginable for the above to have ever happened. That is my take on it. BTW my 03 did romp when filled wiht 15 qts, never did it again when filled to the bottom hash mark. As for my 05, I couldn't tell you, as it has never been filled above the lower hash mark.

 

The obvious question is why, if one risked overfilling with 15 quarts, did they continue to crank out owners manuals stating 15 quarts is the refill capacity after they spent that boatload of money changing the color of the dipsticks and issueing a TSB?

 

I had one of those 03's too. It was so finiky anything over 13qts would just give it fits. I had free oil changes with my first purchase and they'd overfill it EVERY time. It would be romping before I ever got out off the lot. Morons. Service manager knew it before I ever got back in his office and he'd have them drain it out. I guess those of us that have been in this leaky little boat from the launch don't know anything about these engines, huh Ryan?

 

Didnt' realize this thread would get so long. Thought it was a simple question. Anyways.....I think I will continue doing the 14 qts of regular Shell Rotella with changes every 5,000 miles. That system seemed to work just fine with my 04.

On a side note, I got my fumoto valve on which was step one to easy oil changes. Step two is the lift on the truck. With no lift it makes it difficult to slide the 5 gallon bucket under it.....but not impossible. Speaking of lifting it, I have a new question or two.....must go post a new thread

 

Well I have one of them 04s and 75,000 miles of experiance with it tells me 15 quarts works just fine.
Perhaps what worked or didn't work in 2003 is no longer an issue.

 

Amen Tim..........

 

Well to be honest with you, several things have changed since then. Flashes, pilot injection removed, 3rd API oil classification in oil, the list goes on and on. If 15 works for you, then by all means stick with whats working. For me, I refuse to complain/waist dealers techs time trying to find and cure an issue as simple as oil foaming, by not over filling the crankcase.