Oil dipstick level - Ford dealer charged me 5.5 Qts.

[rangerrj]

Had my 2004 Ranger 4X4 in the local Ford shop yesterday for new tires and to check out a brake issue. I had them change the oil and filter since the truck was there in the air which is a job I normally do myself. I was looking at the bill after I got home and noticed that I was billed for 5 and a half quarts of oil. The 4.0 takes 5. I went out to the truck and pulled the dip stick and the oil level was right at the upper hole in the dipstick which is way above the hash marks by a good inch. I always thought that the oil level is suppose to be between the upper and lower levels of the hash marks. Before I yell at somebody, can somebody confirm my belief? The operators manual is confusing as it shows the hash marks between the two holes with no empty space between the hash marks an the holes. Dipstick is the original one. I have a couple of GM products which are different of course. I always use Motorcraft filter and 5 Qts. of oil after I let the pan drain for at least an hour. Can anybody confirm where the oil should be before I drain half a quart out?

 

[cr_the_machinist]

If it's the original dipstick, it won't lie.

 

[rangerrj]

It's the original dipstick alright. Just want to make sure that I am right in which the oil level should be within the cross hatches and not all the way up to the upper hole in the dipstick that is probably an inch or more above the cross hatches. I just can't remember for sure where it should be on this vehicle when it is full. I always make sure that it is never below the cross hatches which it never has been yet so far and want to keep it this way. Blows my mind that a Ford tech could have dumped 5 and a half quarts into a 4.0. A fellow worker has an Escape with a 3.0 and that takes 6 quarts.

 

[holyford86]

Just looked it up, 4.0 takes 5 quarts with filter, someone messed up

 

[rangerrj]

Yep, 5 Qts is all she needs, but I am trying to confirm that the oil level is over the full mark. The mechanic has the oil at the upper hole on the dipstick as if that is the full mark and not the top of the hatch marks that start at the lower hole on the dip stick. Is the top of the hatch marks the full mark or is the upper hole on the dipstick the full mark as the mechanic assumed. I tried to attach an image of the dipstick so you can see what I am looking at. The oil level is at the upper hole. Is it over filled?

 

[pcollins]

The oil level should stop at the very top of those crosshatches when full.

 

[gw33gp]

I am thinking, it is full at the top of the crosshatches and the top hole is the absolute maximum level allowed. I looked at my owners manual and it shows the same thing as yours. My dip stick is also like yours. I think it would be a good idea to talk to the service manager and find out what is right.

 

[06RangerXLT]

too much oil. go back and have them re do it. mention internal preassure and over full oil. how it was their fault if anything goes wrong with the truck. they will change it quickly.

i fear for the dealer that does something like that to me. weird, i ran 4.5 quarts into mine with filter and it came to top hash marks.

 

[rangerrj]

I only had about 3 miles on the truck and is impossible for me to drop the truck off during the day when they are open due to my work schedule, so I pulled the drain plug that was very tight and drained the oil. I always keep enough oil in the garage to change the oil at any time. I added new oil and have the oil level up to the top of the hatch marks where I think it should be. I will strain the oil I removed and reuse it. The dealer did not fix my ABS problem so they will be getting a call or e-mail tomorrow. Thanks for confirming where my oil level should be. I am hanging onto my third Ranger for a long time.

 

[kcm1582]

5.5Qts should not overfill the engine by that much. I do oil changes on 4.0s all the time at work, and the recommended 5Qts should bring the oil level halfway up the hashmarks. I put 5.5Qts in my truck when I do my oil changes and it comes right up to the top of the hashmarks.

If you saved the oil you drained I would be interested to see how much oil actually came out.

 

[rangerrj]

I drained four and a half quarts with the truck on the ramps, and added four quarts which got the oil level up to the top of the hatch marks. Would have been more oil if I would have dropped the oil filter and did not have the truck on the ramp. So i am guessing it was over by half a quart. I am not going to take a chance in having it overfilled as we do not know exactly where the oil level is in relationship to the crankshaft.

 

[Heavyfire14]

i always have mine in the middle of the "hatch marks"

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Why would you not just drain out a bit to bring the level down? Seems like a waste to drain it down that much. Also that bit over ain't gonna hurt a damn thing...

 

[rangerrj]

That actually was the plan. I cut the top off of a quart container with a plan to let the oil dribble out to catch half a quart. The oil drain pan was underneath as a precaution. When I was backing out the drain plug, the oil was hardly flowing until the plug came out all the way. The oil was coming out at a good rate and I tried to reinsert the plug with my left hand as I was holding the container with my right hand. All I was doing was making a mess so I said the heck with it. I cleaned the oil drain pan before using it, so I let the oil drain out as I will reuse it. $16.00 in oil is cheap insurance in preventing any possible damage. I have seen what happens in the diesel engine shop at work when a engine oil level was above the proper level in the oil pan. We are talking a lot more oil of course. Again, better safe than sorry. Thanks guys