Engine Oil Level/ Dip Stick

[RedRaptorME]

I know this has been discussed, but I am just wondering how to read the dip stick on the GT 350. For example, right now at 700 miles, my dip stick is showing oil just barely covering the upper hole in the dip stick. I was told by a ford technician that as long as you got oil covering the square box with the cross hatch's you were ok. That box is just below the lower hole in the dip stick.

When are you guys having to add oil to your engine based on dipstick levels ?

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[The Chairman]

I know this has been discussed, but I am just wondering how to read the dip stick on the GT 350. For example, right now at 700 miles, my dip stick is showing oil just barely covering the upper hole in the dip stick. I was told by a ford technician that as long as you got oil covering the square box with the cross hatch's you were ok. That box is just below the lower hole in the dip stick.

When are you guys having to add oil to your engine based on dipstick levels ?

I did a little test once when I changed the oil. I put in 9 quarts, started the engine for a short while, then checked the dip stick: I found that the oil was at the bottom hole of the cross hatch area. Then I added the 10th quart and it came up to the top hole. So from my little test, I surmise the cross hatch area is roughly one quart. My car has never been below the top of the cross hatch area. So I’m not burning any oil.

 

[RedRaptorME]

I did a little test once when I changed the oil. I put in 9 quarts, started the engine for a short while, then checked the dip stick: I found that the oil was at the bottom hole of the cross hatch area. Then I added the 10th quart and it came up to the top hole. So from my little test, I surmise the cross hatch area is roughly one quart. My car has never been below the top of the cross hatch area. So I’m not burning any oil.

very helpful. thank you.

 

[JAJ]

I know this has been discussed, but I am just wondering how to read the dip stick on the GT 350. For example, right now at 700 miles, my dip stick is showing oil just barely covering the upper hole in the dip stick. I was told by a ford technician that as long as you got oil covering the square box with the cross hatch's you were ok. That box is just below the lower hole in the dip stick.

When are you guys having to add oil to your engine based on dipstick levels ?

If the hole closest to the end of the dipstick has oil in it, you're fine - get on with the rest of your day. If the bottom hole doesn't have oil in it, add oil. The oil level will measure lower when the engine is cold, so a cold check might indicate "add" when a hot check might not. To handle this, because I check mine either way depending on what's happening on the day, my practice is to add 1/2 a quart if the lowest hole is exposed. If it's cold, then it won't be overfilled when it heats up, and if it's hot, the oil level will be back in the middle of the cross hatches.

 

[Nfs1000f]

When I purchased my car used a 1509 miles I checked the oil and it showed that it was still between the hashmarks and added and half a quart. This before I learned not to add oil until it reaches below the bottom hole. At my first oil change shortly thereafter, after warming the car and letting it sit, 10 quarts was at the halfway point between the two holes.

 

[Angry50]

If the hole closest to the end of the dipstick has oil in it, you're fine - get on with the rest of your day. If the bottom hole doesn't have oil in it, add oil. The oil level will measure lower when the engine is cold, so a cold check might indicate "add" when a hot check might not. To handle this, because I check mine either way depending on what's happening on the day, my practice is to add 1/2 a quart if the lowest hole is exposed. If it's cold, then it won't be overfilled when it heats up, and if it's hot, the oil level will be back in the middle of the cross hatches.

From my understanding it would show more when cold due to the oil all being drained into the pan. and after running it would be distributed in the engine. i think the manual says to let it sit for 15min after running then check

When I purchased my car used a 1509 miles I checked the oil and it showed that it was still between the hashmarks and added and half a quart. This before I learned not to add oil until it reaches below the bottom hole. At my first oil change shortly thereafter, after warming the car and letting it sit, 10 quarts was at the halfway point between the two holes.

mine came from factory filled to top hole. when i check it warm or cold i dont see any noticeable difference.

 

[JAJ]

From my understanding it would show more when cold due to the oil all being drained into the pan. and after running it would be distributed in the engine. i think the manual says to let it sit for 15min after running then check


mine came from factory filled to top hole. when i check it warm or cold i dont see any noticeable difference.

Everybody seems to have a different experience. Back when I obsessed about keeping it full, it didn't seem to make a difference (as you are seeing) whether it was hot or cold. When it's lower on the dipstick, the warmer it is, the higher it reads. You're probably right about the drain-down, but the oil itself expands when it gets hot, and with 10 quarts, the amount it expands is considerable - enough to read higher on the dipstick.

 

[Angry50]

Everybody seems to have a different experience. Back when I obsessed about keeping it full, it didn't seem to make a difference (as you are seeing) whether it was hot or cold. When it's lower on the dipstick, the warmer it is, the higher it reads. You're probably right about the drain-down, but the oil itself expands when it gets hot, and with 10 quarts, the amount it expands is considerable - enough to read higher on the dipstick.

its hard to confirm that when what i have seen contradicts what youre saying. i check mine regularly, sometimes early morning before work and sometimes in the evening a few minutes after getting home. never see a difference on the dip stick. always at top hole

 

[JAJ]

its hard to confirm that when what i have seen contradicts what youre saying. i check mine regularly, sometimes early morning before work and sometimes in the evening a few minutes after getting home. never see a difference on the dip stick. always at top hole

I don't think there's a contradiction - when I was keeping mine at the top hole, and there was no difference hot or cold, just like you're seeing. What I've found, now that I run it lower down the dipstick (and mine consumes a quart every 1500 - 2000 miles so it works its way down) and down at the low end of the dipstick, hot or cold does make a difference. It can read just above the lowest hole cold and later it's maybe a third of the way up into the crosshatch hot without adding oil.

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