I was reading the owners manual of my 75 f150 and it says for the 360 and 390 use 6 quarts of oil. I had a 360 but now I have a 390 and when the mechanic put the oil in the new motor, he put 5 quarts and it reads full on the dip stick. Here is the question for the ages. Should I run 6 quarts and ignore what the dip stick says or run 5 quarts and go by the stick? What do ya'll run in your 390's? Thanks for any advice!

 

6 quarts.
William in Atlanta

 

i also run 6 quarts
76 f250 390
joel

 

1 - Having done probably 1000+ oil changes on Fords and on different vehicles, I can tell you the stick is not 100% accurate. There can be variations in dipsticks, tubes, and how far back they are placed into the block/pan. Hardly any variation between engines, blocks, and pans.

2 - You have to run the engine 5 minutes and let it cool down much longer to get an accurate reading.

3 - Do not count on the dipstick in the truck being the correct one. I have seen dipsticks ordered that came in that would not even fit into the vehicle for which it was ordered.

4 - Blocked oil passages might effect the level seen on the stick shortly after doing an oil change.

5 - Fill the truck to spec., run, let it sit for a while, then check and mark the dipstick for the proper level.

 

I don't know where 6qts. is coming from, my FEs are full with 5 and a filter, my V6 Taurus is full with 5, the W and I-4 that I have owned all are full with 5. For over 30 years 5 qts. has been used for my Ford engines and now you tell me they need 6. What's up?
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John

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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

John is right. The FE with exception of the 427/428CJ/SCJ all took 5 quarts. There is no need to put in anymore unless you have a high volume pump. The further away from the oil your crank is the better.

 

Ford put out a service bulleten (forever ago), that advised 6 quarts in FE Trucks. With only 5 quarts and the FE oiling design issue, sometimes the bearings would starve for oil. I have used 6 quarts on oil change and always keep my truck at least a 1/2 quart over full.
William in Atlanta

 

With 5 qts. and the filter my 360 is a qt. low..The owners man. calls for 6 qts and that is what I run..Now a friend of mine was running a 390 out of a car in his pickup and his dip stick showed full at 5..Is there a diffence in oil pans?..

 

Would the deep rear sump on my 74 FWD make the need for 6 quarts more necessary?

 

I run a oilpan from a 391 FT engine in my 66 with a 390. It is about 7 inches deep the entire length. The oilpan has a 9 quart capacity. I feel safer with that pan as I have a Melling high volume pump and the FE retains so much oil in the valve covers at highway speeds. Maybe it is overkill but I spent this summer rebuilding this engine after the old oilpump locked up. If I had the stock pan, I think I would run 6 quarts.

 

Truckfarmer! About that oil pan off a 391? Is your truck a 4x4? Do you have a part number, anyone else have a part number? I recently saw a oil pan off a FE motor that was about 7 inches deep and basically looked like a box, open at the top. I passed on it because I thought it would hit the crossmember of my 66 2wheel drive. Hell if it will fit I'll go get it. Post back
William in Atlanta

 

William, my truck is a 66 2WD. It clears the crossmember fine. I was concerned and put a thick washer on the motor mount stud as a spacer. That would only raise it about 3/16". Make sure you get the oilpump pickup tube too. I removed the dipstick that was mounted to the pan and used the one in the block. I figured that the block dipstick was calibrated for that engine.

 

Truckfarmer! Thank You! I'll go after it ASAP!
William in Atlanta

 

What about when you add the Engine Restore lubrication? Should you still put 6 quarts in and the Engine Restore, or do 5 quarts and add the Engine Restore. On the directions of the Engine Restore it says to add it to the normal fill. I was thinking that if it was 6 quarts of oil, and then you add the formula, you'd have about 7 quarts, thats a little too much. Should I put 5 quarts in and then add the formula, or do six and add the formula, I'm confused.

Thanks

-Brad

1970 F-250 2wd 4sp. 360FE
1979 F-250 4x4 4sp. 400M