How are you checking your engine oil?

[SugarMouth]

I can not find a consistent answer on this one.

Ford says:
Make sure that your vehicle is on level ground.
Check the oil level before starting the engine, or switch the engine off after warm up and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the oil pan.
Note: Checking the oil level too soon could result in an inaccurate reading.

Except you get two different readings cold or 15 minutes after running it. 15 minutes after shut off on mine shows just under top hole. If checked cold it shows 1/4" above top hole.

Someone from a dealer said they check it 20-30 seconds after shut off which shows 5/8 in the hash on mine.

So with those three suggestions, I have three different readings.

Specifically, where should ours read and when?

 

[Birdofprey]

Level ground before you start it.

 

[SugarMouth]

Here is why I ask. This shows where the oil reads 5 minutes after shut down, 15 minutes after shut down and first thing in the morning cold.



With the appropriate amount of oil to avoid launch starvation where should this read and when is it read?

 

[Birdofprey]

Check it the first thing in the morning, before your first drive. All the oil will have drained back into the pan. I’ve seen on here Some guys are running a half a quart more than the required. That’s not enough to hurt anything. Maybe not a bad practice if you’re doing a lot of hard launches

 

[GearHead_1]

The one real constant is a cold engine.

 

[SugarMouth]

The one real constant is a cold engine.

Copy. Where with the recommended extra oil should it read when read cold?

 

[cheetoduster]

I check it cold if I can. The level of the parking garage I'm on is inclined, so I drive up to the top level and let it sit. It takes nearly an hour to get all the oil back down in the pan.

 

[SugarMouth]

I check it cold if I can. The level of the parking garage I'm on is inclined, so I drive up to the top level and let it sit. It takes nearly an hour to get all the oil back down in the pan.

Where with the recommended extra oil should it read when read cold?

 

[GearHead_1]

I don't know how to answer that with any specificity. When I change my oil I do it cold, I like to do it in the driveway, that entails starting it and driving it out of the garage. The oil is still cold but has been circulated through the engine.

I'm never in a hurry, and I'll let the oil drain for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour. I rotate the tires, clean and dress the wheel barrels, check the brakes, shake rattle and roll the front end and in general give it a once over during that time. It's now pretty empty, but no doubt there is still some hiding in there somewhere. I fill it with 6.5 quarts and walk away.

This all said, if you want to find out, do this over a couple of days. Next oil change, start by filling with 6 quarts and measure it cold the next morning. Once measured, add another pint and measure again on the next morning when cold again. This will give you a high watermark slightly beyond the full mark. You could even scratch a mark on the dipstick if you so desire.

 

[Cruising68]

Copy. Where with the recommended extra oil should it read when read cold?

Mine’s about 3/8 above the full hole. I run 6.5 qts.


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[SugarMouth]

Mine’s about 3/8 above the full hole. I run 6.5 qts.


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When cold? What year is yours?

 

[SugarMouth]

I don't know how to answer that with any specificity. When I change my oil I do it cold, I like to do it in the driveway, that entails starting it and driving it out of the garage. The oil is still cold but has been circulated through the engine. I'm never in a hurry, and I'll let the oil drain for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour. It's pretty empty, but no doubt there is still some hiding in there somewhere.

This all said, do this over a couple of days. Next oil change, start by filling with 6 quarts and measure it cold the next morning. Once measured, add another pint and measure again on the next morning when cold again. This will give you a high watermark slightly beyond the full mark. You could even scratch a mark on the dipstick if you so desire.

Ya I will be very specific my next change so I have an idea.

I just changed the oil last night, dropped the oil and added 6.5 without a thought this go around. I was looking for others who have already figured it out where proper oil fill shows and how it was measured. My issue is I had too much left in the pan as I was on ramps and I then pulled out a 1/4-1/2 ish qt to get where you see above. Next change I'll have both axles equally off the ground to extract more oil from the pan.

 

[Gadgtfreek]

I'm running 1/2 qt additional and checking after it's been sitting all night. Mine is right around where your cold mark is.

 

[SugarMouth]

I'm running 1/2 qt additional and checking after it's been sitting all night. Mine is right around where your cold mark is.

Ok so you are adding 6.5? Did you drain the oil on a ramp or level?

 

[Gadgtfreek]

Shop did "6", and I just added 1/2 qt to their result.