Oil Level On Dipstick

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Oil Level On Dipstick

June 10, 2012, 09:18:18 PM

My 88 Cougar with a 5.0 liter and has 31,000 miles on it ( it was my Dad's baby). I took it to the dealer last fall to have the oil changed before I put it up for the winter. I checked the oil the other day and noticed that the oil level was over the full mark - maybe about a quart. I figured they did not drain the front part of the pan from the second oil plug, so I changed the oil tonight. I drained the oil from both plugs and replaced the filter and put 5 quarts in. I checked the oil after letting it run for a minute and it still shows over the full mark - again it looks like about a quart or so, judging from the hashmarks. I know I let it drain completely, only put 5 quarts in and was level with the engine very warm when I drained it. Why is it showing over? I have changed the oil in all my cars many, many times and have never had this happen before. I'm a little nervous to even drive it.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #1 – June 10, 2012, 09:23:31 PM

Is it possible that the dealership put the wrong dipstick back in?

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #2 – June 10, 2012, 10:35:18 PM

Don't worry about it as long as the engine doesn't ping. The guage isn't that exact, and as long as it gets enough oil, you have nothing to worry about.

If you hear it start to ping or chatter, time to add more.

I usually put 6 quarts in when I do an oil change and filter. The filter takes 1/2 or more quarts, and most of our 302's, especially with bad or clogged pcv valves, flutter rings or burn oil.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #3 – June 10, 2012, 10:56:57 PM

I think I might have found my answer - has anyone else heard or seen this?

http://forums.corral.net/forums/5-0-5-8-engine-tech/1264465-dipstick-93-5-0-where-oil-level-supposed-@-5qts-pic.html

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #4 – June 10, 2012, 11:02:54 PM

Quote from: Haystack;391965

Don't worry about it as long as the engine doesn't ping. The guage isn't that exact, and as long as it gets enough oil, you have nothing to worry about.

If you hear it start to ping or chatter, time to add more.

I usually put 6 quarts in when I do an oil change and filter. The filter takes 1/2 or more quarts, and most of our 302's, especially with bad or clogged pcv valves, flutter rings or burn oil.

I AM LOST FOR WORDS ON THIS THEORY AND ANSWER????? COMPLETELY SILLY TO SAY THE LEAST.:hick::hick: What are you talking about. Every stock 302 takes 5 Q with a filter change. Except some trucks as i remember.

Ford had always had dip sticks that read inaccurate. And having a little over fill on the oil is not an issue.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #5 – June 10, 2012, 11:06:22 PM

Then I'd do as the one guy suggested; drain oil, new filter, 5 qts new oil, start it, let it run for 5 minutes, then shut down. Let it sit overnight, mark the stick where the oil level is currently, and call it done.

I've changed the oil in mine 3 times, and apart from checking the oil occasionally for water or metal, I never pay it much mind as long as it's not low. Besides, I'd rather have a quart too much than low.

Of course, I've got an '89 Stang 5.0, so it is very likely mine has one of those "half-assed" dipsticks lol.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #6 – June 10, 2012, 11:21:21 PM

Mine reads right at the mark for full when I do a 5qt change. I always add another 6-8 ounces....

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #7 – June 10, 2012, 11:31:46 PM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;391969

I AM LOST FOR WORDS ON THIS THEORY AND ANSWER????? COMPLETELY SILLY TO SAY THE LEAST.:hick::hick: What are you talking about. Every stock 302 takes 5 Q with a filter change. Except some trucks as i remember.

Ford had always had dip sticks that read inaccurate. And having a little over fill on the oil is not an issue.

Most of my cars have had over 200k miles on them before I get rid of them. I drive them hard, and do little to maintain them. My last bird I was trying to blow up the motor. I constantly threw it in first merging on the freeway until it bounced off the rev limiter, and drove over 40k miles without an oil change, and over 80k miles in 2 years.

By the time this car left me, I was using close to 2 quarts a tank, and hardly a drip came from the pan/rear main.

The few times I did do an oil change on that car, I added 5 quarts on a dry filter, and usually wanted another half quart before it read full, so I usually just dumped 6 quarts in everytime I did an oil change.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #8 – June 11, 2012, 06:41:46 AM

Don't worry about it as long as the engine doesn't ping. The guage isn't that exact, and as long as it gets enough oil, you have nothing to worry about.

If you hear it start to ping or chatter, time to add more.

Does not PING???????????? If you here it ping or chatter time to add more?????????????????

I cant figure out what you mean ??? I am totally lost for words!!! ADD MORE WHAT??? OIL????

The early fords always read differently As 302 points out the early engines had issues with dip sticks. That is why i used to RE-MARK them when complaints came in. A small FILE mark on the stick after a proper oil change is all that is needed to fix the issue. And if by chance the engine is over filled a bit it makes no difference.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #9 – June 11, 2012, 06:59:25 AM

Yeah, what Tom said.
There's quite a difference between pinging, and upper valvetrain rattle, as you'd find with low oil. If you hear that deep metallic thumping, well, that's a whole new problem.

I had an '89 5.0 F150 that would have a knock in the lower end right after starting up after an oil change. I even put as much oil in the filter as I could before installing it, to have that much less of a dry start, but it still thumped for a couple of seconds til pressure came up. Finally in '06 it started knocking more, and had no oil pressure at idle. It's still sitting, going to hell...rather, it's already there...

Anyway, my point, and I think Tom's as well is that pinging as most of us think of it is caused by detonation, which if not solved, can be as bad as too low oil, in the long run. If you've ever had an engine with a wiped-out crank or rod bushing, you'll never forget that unholy sound of imminent death.
Pinging on the other hand, to me, can best be described at almost like a small ball bearing rattling around inside your engine. It's higher pitched and at a different frequency than you'd hear from a spun main or rod.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #10 – June 11, 2012, 07:30:26 AM

I don't check my oil on a car unless I care about it. It starts the chatter and make noise when you get about 1 1/2 quarts low. At this point I throw another 2 quarts in and call it good.

I have bought three cars and tried to blow up the motors in them so I could use my rebuilt block in them, and they just never seem to die. There was a period of time where I was putting 600-1200+ miles a week on my car, driving 50 miles each way to my day job, and delivering pizza in the foothills and mountains afternoons and weekends. I used 2-4 quarts of oil a week in from how worn out the engine was. Occassionally I wait till I got some valvetrain noise from the engine, then i'd dump two quarts in and call it good.

Oil Level On Dipstick

Reply #11 – June 11, 2012, 08:04:17 AM

My 88 5.0 bird has read over full on the dipstick since day 1. Back when my Dad owned the car, he did an oil change and let the car sit for several hours. He then put a couple of "dimples" on the dipstick where the oil was showing.