Does Ford have a dipstick accuracy problem?

[rpt50]

My family now has two newer Fords, a '12 Fusion 4 cylinder, and a 17 FIST that I bought new. If I follow the manual on oil capacity for either of these cars, they are both "over filled" as measure by the dip stick. At first I thought it was my use of Fram filters, as sometimes they appear to be of smaller volume than the OEM equivalent, but I get the same result even with motorcraft filters. I did not see this issue on previous Ford trucks that I have owned, or any other vehicle for that matter.

I've been going by the dipstick level and putting in a little less oil so that it measures full on the dipstick. What do you guys do?

 

[slopoke]

Add oil til the indication on the dipstick is full.

 

[Goat]

Id put the recommended amount in especially if the owners manual recommended amount is above the lines on the dipstick.
The owners manual is specific about the amount of oil. An oil dip stick is not.
Measure the length of your dip stick from the top where it starts at the tube to the tip and measure distance between the full line and the tip. Post it and someone will measure theirs to compare.
Id sooner run a little more oil than less anyway. And I do.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

is there an aftermarket dipstick that is easier to read?

 

[green_henry]

My family now has two newer Fords, a '12 Fusion 4 cylinder, and a 17 FIST that I bought new. If I follow the manual on oil capacity for either of these cars, they are both "over filled" as measure by the dip stick. At first I thought it was my use of Fram filters, as sometimes they appear to be of smaller volume than the OEM equivalent, but I get the same result even with motorcraft filters. I did not see this issue on previous Ford trucks that I have owned, or any other vehicle for that matter.

I've been going by the dipstick level and putting in a little less oil so that it measures full on the dipstick. What do you guys do?

This is my experience with the FiST as well. It has read on the high side with Mobil1 and WIX filters. How thoroughly do our engines drain? Is there a spot where it collects? Does it drain more thoroughly if it's level rather than jacked up in front?

 

[FiSTerMr]

Better to be slightly under-filled than over-filled; as per the oil gurus on BITOG.
I get it to be EXACTLY on the FULL line. I have a predetermined spot in my apt garage that is perfectly level (checked it with a level ruler). It's usually a smidge over 4 qts.

 

[HardBoiledEgg]

I use more like 5qts. Well overfilled. 115k and counting.

0 problems with reading the dip stick

 

[FiSTerMr]

Id put the recommended amount in especially if the owners manual recommended amount is above the lines on the dipstick.
The owners manual is specific about the amount of oil. An oil dip stick is not.
Measure the length of your dip stick from the top where it starts at the tube to the tip and measure distance between the full line and the tip. Post it and someone will measure theirs to compare.
Id sooner run a little more oil than less anyway. And I do.

Yes and no.... do you think you get every drop out when draining? Doubtful. So adding 4.25 qts is prbably putting it a touch over spec (not that I think it would harm anything, but still).
The dipstick is designed to sit in the oil pan at the precise physical level in relation to the internals. Unless you have a defective dipstick, I would trust it over a number in the book. Lest we not forget the whole thing about under-filling the trans; thanks to the spec # being off in relation to the actual physical measurements.

 

[FiSTerMr]

I use more like 5qts. Well overfilled. 115k and counting.

0 problems with reading the dip stick

Probably even a full quart over would be fine as well, but why do it?? More (and unneeded) oil is wasteful. And why risk havng a foaming issue.... over-filling can cause a whipping effect, and aerating the oil. Not good.

 

[green_henry]

Probably even a full quart over would be fine as well, but why do it?? More (and unneeded) oil is wasteful. And why risk havng a foaming issue.... over-filling can cause a whipping effect, and aerating the oil. Not good.

There were a few good arguments in the BITOG thread (e.g., https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/202790) in favor of overfilling: better heat dissipation (similar to the argument for a bigger oil filter), less risk of starvation in track conditions, etc. But, yes, if you notice foaming, it's too high; I haven't noticed any yet.

 

[FiSTerMr]

...better heat dissipation (similar to the argument for a bigger oil filter), less risk of starvation in track conditions, etc....

I see. Thank you for the response, as I was truly curious and not trying to be a dick.

Being that my car is 100% all stock and don't plan on tracking it and thus do not need to worry about heat dissipation; I'll stick to keeping it at the full level on the dipstick, no more no less.

2017 w/Recaros - bone stock

 

[PunkST]

is there an aftermarket dipstick that is easier to read?

Id love to have the simple flat metal one. The plastic pill on a cable is an awful design. Plus making it grey? 🤦 what ding dong engineer though that was a good idea.

 

[PunkST]

Probably even a full quart over would be fine as well, but why do it?? More (and unneeded) oil is wasteful. And why risk havng a foaming issue.... over-filling can cause a whipping effect, and aerating the oil. Not good.

I use 5 qts. As well. Im running the bigger fl400s filter so it balances out capacity wise.

 

[FiSTerMr]

I use 5 qts. As well. Im running the bigger fl400s filter so it balances out capacity wise.

That makes sense.

2017 w/Recaros - bone stock

 

[Brianmc27]

Id love to have the simple flat metal one. The plastic pill on a cable is an awful design. Plus making it grey? 🤦 what ding dong engineer though that was a good idea.

If you clean the stupid plastic pill off with an alcohol swab prior to dipping its 1000x easier to read. I thought I was going blind the first few times I tried reading the oil leve.

 

[PunkST]

I prefer the metal stick with two notches.

 

[Goat]

I use more like 5qts. Well overfilled. 115k and counting.

0 problems with reading the dip stick

I put a quart over in all my cars. A friend of mine that has several collector cars ....v8....50s American..puts a quart over in them. He's 77 and been doing it for decades. He's a master mechanic that had his own auto repair business, retired now and is a multimillionaire.

 

[HardBoiledEgg]

Yeah this forum is weird. Most here think we drive some perfect amazing car. And over think way too much. You guys would cry if you saw what I out in my car.

I've ran
Rotella 5-40 diesel
Mostly Liquid Molly 5-40 gas
Ford 5-20
Ford 5-30
Ford 5-50
Ford Diesel 5-30


Everything full Synthetic, and changed at least every 5k sometimes less

My car has 115k and car does not burn a drop of oil or smoke. Been catless since 11k and tuned since 40k roughly.

Before 1k it has six oil changes

Oil is oil. Your engine needs oil in it and that's basically all it cares about. I've been in this industry for years and I've been maintaining our fleet before I could work. Stop thinking so damn hard. Do what makes you sleep at night. Cause oil is like car politics.....everyone has an opinion and the other is always wrong.

And once again I stick to my guns. There is 0 issues with this dipstick. Go try reading the level on a 2.7 F150 or a Nissan with the VG30 or VQ35....then tell me about issues reading the stick. End thread

 

[FiSTerMr]

Yeah this forum is weird. Most here think we drive some perfect amazing car. And over think way too much....

Didn't you replace the trans already?
It's ok to overthink things, if that's what makes you happy. Just like it's ok to underthink things. Hey, it's your money.

 

[lowda9]

I have never filled my car with oil to the full specs according to the manual. I usually only use about 3/4 of the approximately 5L jug. I go with what the dipstick says. You will not drain all the oil out of your engine, there will always be residual oil left in the oil lines, turbo, and all the oily film protecting your engine internals.