Had a sputtering issue while pulling a fifth wheel over the weekend. Started thinking about the oil level seeing as I had the truck at the dealer for a bed plate leak a few weeks ago. Decided to change the oil and drained about 16.5-17 quarts. Could the oil level have caused my problem. No CEL or codes. Thanks again.

 

From what I understand - yes it could. Also - are you sure that you did not have a few gallons of fuel in with the oil from leaking injectors?

 

I thought of that, it did not smell like fuel. I saved some of it for a sample. Thanks for the quick response.

 

Sounds like it could have been the problem, you should only run 14 quarts max. From what I always heard when you get over 14-15 quarts the crankshaft beats on the oil causing it foam, which screws with the injectors and pumps.

I know the dealer always overfilled my 6.0 as well. You want your oil level at the very bottom of the dipstick.

 

The oil system holds 15 qts of oil... but 1 qt or so is always held in the high-pressure oil pump (which never drains)... so this is why people claim to use only 14qts of oil.

Too bad dealers don't get trained on this technique... they just get trained to read the manual... and the manual states that the motor holds 15qts and that is what they pour in!!!

Send sample to Blackstone for analysis and see... just for peace of mind about fuel dilution... but I bet that you were way over-filled!!!

On edit - On second thought... 17qts seems like way to much oil.... even for the dealer to have put into your motor. I would now really want to have a Blackstone report for fuel dilution!!!!!

 

14 or 15 qts. has been a debate since the 6.0 came to Ford. Doesn't make a diff. there should never be 16.5 to 17 qts come out. If there is no fuel in the oil the dealer either added to much oil or which I think is more concievable, put the drain plug in to soon and didn't change the filter until the drain was done. That would put your level right about where u found it.
1. Drain crankcase
2. Install drain plug. Too soon, tech in a hurry, or oil not hot.
3. Pull old oil filter. 1 qt. goes back to oil pan.
4. Add 15 qts. of oil.
5. Do the math.
6.

 

Yep... I forgot about that scenerio.

I bet this is what happened!!!!

Good catch!!!!

 

The system actually holds more like 18-19 quarts and 3-4 never drain out.

And.........oh never mind

 

or maybe the dealership didn't loosen the oil filter cap to release the anti-cyphon valve. would that not do the same thing?

 

see i did the same thing put 14 qts of oil in and the engine sounded bad loud and rough when i put 15 qts in the engine quieted down and it smoothed out and runs like a champ, i have power and its a lot quieter.

 

Most of the time when I get my oil changed it takes 14-14.5 of oil but once in a while it will take 15 quarts. Have never gone beyond that amount except for the one time a tech put four gallons in the engine and I just drove out of the dealers lot and right back in the truck didn't sound right and that is when I found out he had put 18 quarts in the engine and I had them drain it back to the right level service manager told me it wouldn't do anything until they started it to pull it into the shop to drain. He just got a funny look on his face and had the diesel mechanic to the drain and he also took the truck over to the diesel shop side of the shop and checked everything out and came back and said that if they where going to do oil changes on the diesels they had better keep closer check on the amount of oil going in as it could mess the engine up big time. The service manager was very kind after that and the last time I went in the diesel mechanic came over and changed the oil and put the new oil in and the service manager just watched and said nothing and the diesel mechanic was so happy that I have a fumoto valve as he could change the oil much faster.
I do need to send a sample into blackstone though to see at what mileage I should be changing the oil.

 

This is an easy answer... change it yourself since you have a Fumoto valve and use a name-brand CJ4 5W-40 synthetic oil (for what you paid the dealer to do and use you could use synthetic oil). As far as the mileage and when to change your oil... the #1 consensous is every 5,000 miles.

The 6.0L motor shears the oil down and there is nothing wrong with it for 5,000 miles... but after that... your loosing protection... even if your oil still has additives left in it.

No matter what brand of oil, type or if using a by-pass oil filter.... changing the oil and using only a Motorcraft or Racor (OEM supplier to Motoracrft) is the ONLY way to go.... every 5,000 miles!!!!!

 

It has been found that around 4-5k the oil shears down to ~30wt oil (from 15w40). This is why most picked the magical 5k mile limit. This does not happen in the common rail systems only the HEUI systems.

 

beachbumcook
I would change my own oil but at my age crawling around on the cold ground isn't something I do anymore. When I have some place to change it out of the weather I will definitely change my own oil as right now its running about $130 every 5000 miles.
building a garage will set me back around $40,000 so the oil change is rather cheap at the moment.
I want blackstone to check to be sure that the engine working ok and that the oil is doing what it is supposed to do. As to the 5,000 mile change I am not sure I could accept a longer time period as 6 liters just seem to be hard on oil.
I have read where some go longer and some even go the 7500 that ford says they can but oil is so much cheaper then a new engine I think I will keep changing the oil at 5000 miles.

 

Understand 100%.