Is my oil dip stick inaccurate?

[doritoking]

I have a 5.0 V8 (10 quarts) and I just had my 2nd oil change the other day and noticed that the oil level on the dipstick is once again just above the minimum line/hole. It was at this level when i bought the car, and after the 1st oil change.

In the past, I added almost a whole quart until the level reached the top of the hatch marks because I was worried the level would drop below minimum. Due to the consistency of the oil level on the stick after multiple oil changes, I'm wondering if my dip stick is just not accurate?

Should I fill to the max line (about 11 quarts), or leave it at the current level just above the minimum? Should I just measure the distance of the current level to max, draw a new line below the current level with that same distance, and treat that as my actual minimum line? I've never noticed any frothing or bubbles on the dipstick after filling to the max line, so I don't think I'm overfilling.

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[Rockytop77]

I’d add about half a quart and get it in the middle if you are worried about overfilling. I would definitely not add another line on the dipstick. As long as it’s between the top and bottom line it’s ok. If you went somewhere and had your oil changed chances are they put a little less than 10 quarts and just ship it cause it was in the cross hatch, if I had to guess. Also the distance between top and bottom line is usually a quart.

 

[Linkster1666]

Just had mine serviced, oil appears to be 1/2 quart low.

So now we play the guessing game:

1) did the tech do his job and leave it short for profit?
2) did the tech leave it short so I could add Cera Tec?
3) am I pants shittingly scared of life and should be driving a Prius??

 

[Mr. Met]

Did you check it according to Fords procedure?

 

[mrgooden]

Oil pan holds 10 Quarts, oil Filter about 1/2. But, I always go to max.

Richard

 

[ORRadtech]

Unless you physically put the oil in the car you have zero idea exactly how much oil is in it.

Why in the world would you expect the dipstick to be inaccurate? It's just like hundreds of thousands of others Ford put in Mustangs unless you think they just randomly put an odd one in a car to screw with you...

Far more likely there's barely enough oil than a faulty dipstick.

 

[ice445]

It's easy to overthink this. Unless the level is way below the bottom hole or way above the top hole, there's zero things to be concerned about. This isn't a precise measuring device, "close enough" will do it. IMO The top hole is the actual maximum line, so if you have film over that hole but not above it, you're basically bang on. But anything in the cross hatch range is fine too.

 

[Andy13186]

Add a quart or so. Atleast half quart.

 

[Hack]

If the oil level on the dipstick is between the lines, don't add oil. Only add oil if it's below the bottom line. That is what the manual says to do, so there's no reason to do anything different.

 

[tobaccokid]

I’d add about half a quart and get it in the middle if you are worried about overfilling. I would definitely not add another line on the dipstick. As long as it’s between the top and bottom line it’s ok. If you went somewhere and had your oil changed chances are they put a little less than 10 quarts and just ship it cause it was in the cross hatch, if I had to guess. Also the distance between top and bottom line is usually a quart.

Exactly - great answer

 

[velocityblue5.0]

i mean, i can barely read my dip stick bc they’re impossible to read…i think i have enough. who knows. haven’t done my first change yet so i assume i’m good lol but that dipstick is godawful to read

 

[boB]

Someone on this group wrote "it takes 10 quarts, put in 10 quarts and be done with it". I check the dipstick as a baseline only to see if it goes down before the next oil change.

 

[Justpassingas]

Being a new bee to the 5.0 I made a fool of myself because I contacted the dealer after my second oil change thinking I was down a quart and vented on them…level was at the bottom mark 200 miles after oil change…I keep it between the marks now.

 

[nustang]

had the same experience on my oil change.
ran the engine and left it for a while, no change.
added half a qt.

Oil change places in my experience will do a top off if low.
I was lucky I had some of same oil kicking around from prev. car.

 

[Zrussian13]

10qts of oil puts me at the middle between the hash marks. Consistent for the last 15 oil changes.

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