So I wrote back a few weeks ago about how I was having my oil pressure light come on for a second or two after starting and figured out that by replacing the purolator filter w/ a motorcraft filter it seemed to have solved the problem.

Keyword: seemed

Anyway, I noticed now that sometimes on the first start after the engine has been sitting awhile I'll still get an oil pressure light, but very briefly, maybe half to one second at the most.

Now, I have a motorcraft filter in the engine and I'm pretty sure the oil is at the correct level, although it seems like its impossible to get a good reading w/ the dipstick. (I tried just dipsticking it like you would any car and then I also tried the "short stick method".

The stick usually comes back somewhat gray. It looks a little lighter then what I would expect the oil to be since when I changed it the oil was pitch black. I find it hard to believe that the oil could be that low because i'm pretty sure now that I have put in the 15 quarts judging from the amount I have left after the change.

Any ideas anyone? Should the dipstick have definitively black oil on it? I'm wondering if it is getting spread around on the dipstick when I pull it back out...

From what I can tell on the grayish oil on the dipstick it looks ok. Also, it only does this is its been sitting. If say I stop for fuel or run in somewhere and out real quick its not an issue.

 

The gray oil would worry me, a lot. Only time I've ever seen gray oil was on a boat that had been flooded and gotten a lot of water into the crank case. It was fresh water and as I recall I was able to cook the water out. Problem is, where would you be getting water in the oil from. I don't know the answer but if I were you I'd be finding out. Is your coolant level correct and consistant? Coolant is gold, what color does gold and black make? Could look gray. Some of the smart guys will come on here and tell us, just stand by. You should probably consider changing the oil and sending a sample to Blackstone. Or, if you're still under warranty take it to ford and see what they say.

 

I guess I should clarify, the oil that comes out of the drain plug isn't grey. It's black, like pitch black. But the dipstick is grey, kind of like its getting smeared or rubbed when it comes out. I'm not too worried about it being coolant because well I'll probably jinx myself now but the coolant level hasn't changed at all since the day I owned it. Granted now that I say that I'll probably find a radiator leak tomorrow.

I guess what I am also curious about it do you all have issues when you check you're oil as in it's hard to get an accurate reading on the dipstick w/o it being smeared all over the entire thing?

 

This I think you should take in to the dealer. It might just be a sensor or something. They can put it on the computer and check for any pending codes.

Having the correct filters in will help so there are no issues against you.

It might be a weak bypass valve or something.

This I would take in sooner rather than later.

Motor is covered up to 100K miles.

 

Sometimes things are exactly what they look like. If there is no black on your dip stick the oil is probably low. That gray fob on the end of the dip stick should be black with oil up to the full level. In fact mines always over that. So I would say you have two clues, 1. The oil pressure light, 2. No oil showing on the dip stick. I think your oil might be low. Probably best course is to get it changed, then check dip stick so you will have a good starting point, then drive and check often. Because, if the oil is disappearing you must find how and why. I would not hesitate. Oil is cheap compared to crankshafts and pistons.

 

I doubt its coolant cause if it was your level woulod be rasing not lowering. Change the oil mark it with a sharpie and recheck it