Measuring oil - Cold vs Warm

[rick81721]

4. Fast forward to today where I am just under 1000 miles. I drove the car pretty gently in the first 500 miles, a few brief runs up to 6k RPMs from 500 to 700 miles. From 700 to about 825 miles, several wots, several shifts at 8250 rpm. When I returned from that run, hot oil level was 1/8 inch above bottom hole. And Ford sez this is "ok."
5. Today, knocked out about 150 more miles, mostly highway, rarely ever going more that 4k rpm, mostly cruising in 5th at 80 mph. very limited decelerations using engine. Hot oil reading is still above bottom hole by maybe 1/16th of an inch and Ford sez this is "ok."

Do I have an oil usage problem? Maybe and maybe not.

Are you waiting long enough after shutting down to take a reading? Seems odd to see such a drop after 1 easy drive of 150 miles. I'd do some cold readings after she's been sitting overnight.

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[johnny1]

The owners supplement says to shut off engine and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. And that oil should be between the top and bottom hole on dip stick. Says nothing about checking it on a cold engine (like over night sitting) I've always checked my vehicles before starting them in the morning. I don't know, maybe this voodoo engine has a more accurate reading on dip stick when the oil is warmed up (and let sit for 15 minutes after turning engine off as stated)

 

[Wriggly]

The owners supplement says to shut off engine and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. And that oil should be between the top and bottom hole on dip stick. Says nothing about checking it on a cold engine (like over night sitting) I've always checked my vehicles before starting them in the morning. I don't know, maybe this voodoo engine has a more accurate reading on dip stick when the oil is warmed up (and let sit for 15 minutes after turning engine off as stated)

I have consistently seen negligible difference between hot and cold checks. My car is at 2560 miles currently and the level is just about a sixteenth of an inch below the upper hole. I'd guess that the consumption on my example is pretty good at this point and speculate it'll use about a quart every 7500-8000 miles.

I'm content with the results I'm experiencing.

 

[BlkGT3]

All this worry over a few on ounces of oil. Let's put in perspective if you are one qt. low you still have 90% of the oil in the engine. A few ounces difference between cold and hot is nothing to get your shorts tight about. If it is showing on the hash marks drive the car. When it gets a qt. low add oil. Easy Peezy ;)

Peter

 

[Krogen]

Gosh.... I don't recall reading so many obsessions about checking a car's oil level! It's really simple. If it's at or below the bottom hole, add a quart.

The capacity is 10 quarts; we're talking 10% here. There could be more capacity variation from car to car than that. Just make sure it doesn't get very far below the bottom hole and don't overfill it.

 

[geddy lee]

Hi folks,

I found the thread as I am dealing with the exct question - what is the correct oil level when hot/cold.

I have been a the Ford dealship for an oil change - and this morning when the engine was cold I checked the oil level :
It is at the top hasmark - prolly a tiny tiny tiny bit above the the hashmark (see the picture)

Would you guys consider it as ok - or overfilled ?

 

[Deleted member 37397]

Hi folks,

I found the thread as I am dealing with the exct question - what is the correct oil level when hot/cold.

I have been a the Ford dealship for an oil change - and this morning when the engine was cold I checked the oil level :
It is at the top hasmark - prolly a tiny tiny tiny bit above the the hashmark (see the picture)

Would you guys consider it as ok - or overfilled ?

Did you happen to check it 15 minutes after you parked it at home? Curious where the level was.

 

[Hack]

Hi folks,

I found the thread as I am dealing with the exct question - what is the correct oil level when hot/cold.

I have been a the Ford dealship for an oil change - and this morning when the engine was cold I checked the oil level :
It is at the top hasmark - prolly a tiny tiny tiny bit above the the hashmark (see the picture)

Would you guys consider it as ok - or overfilled ?

Looks ok to me. I wouldn't touch it.

 

[geddy lee]

Not yet, I will do so this afternoon (I am located in Germany - so don't worry :-D)
I will check it in the same place and take a pic.

EDIT : I guess it will reach until the upper hole - hope it will not exceed it.

Next question : What is the correct direction for the disptick to insert - the hashmark showing on the upper side (towards the passenger side) or the hashmark on the lower side (pointing to the driver side)

My picture was taken with the hashrmark on upper side - pointing to the passenger side)

 

[DCShelby]

It really does not matter which direction you use.

 

[JAJ]

Not yet, I will do so this afternoon (I am located in Germany - so don't worry :-D)
I will check it in the same place and take a pic.

EDIT : I guess it will reach until the upper hole - hope it will not exceed it.

Next question : What is the correct direction for the disptick to insert - the hashmark showing on the upper side (towards the passenger side) or the hashmark on the lower side (pointing to the driver side)

My picture was taken with the hashrmark on upper side - pointing to the passenger side)

So, Ford's instructions are that "full" is anywhere between the two holes. That means that the hash marks don't count - maybe they're for a different engine or something. What you're seeing on the dipstick after an oil change is what we all see - solidly between the holes and maybe slightly above the hash marks that don't count.

The way I manage my oil level - my car consumes about a litre every 3,000 km - is to check it occasionally hot or cold and add 1/2 quart or litre when it gets close to the lower hole. It doesn't matter if it's hot or cold that way - it never gets too low, and because you're only adding half a bottle, it never overfills either.

 

[galaxy]

Next question : What is the correct direction for the disptick to insert - the hashmark showing on the upper side (towards the passenger side) or the hashmark on the lower side (pointing to the driver side)

Which ever one makes you feel better! Seriously!

 

[geddy lee]

So, back from a 45 Minute drive - motor still warm the car was sitting for 15 minutes in the garage - and here you go :

I am not sure but somehow I am far away from being happy At least this is what they call : Do not add any oil.
But is it already too much ?

 

[Nfs1000f]

Don’t sweat it. It’s not enough to matter.

 

[JAJ]

So, back from a 45 Minute drive - motor still warm the car was sitting for 15 minutes in the garage - and here you go :

I am not sure but somehow I am far away from being happy At least this is what they call : Do not add any oil.
But is it already too much ?

It's fine - don't worry about it. The patchy coverage at the very top could just be pickup from inside the tube - it doesn't get solidly covered until below the upper hole.

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