2.3L ('83-'97) Where did the oil go?

[BrHotte]

Ok. Just changed oil in my 94 Ranger with 2.3 Lima engine. Put a new PH8 filter and dump a new 5 quart jug of Castro’s GTX in it. Started it up let it idle for 3 or 4 minutes. Checked the oil several times. Oil level is under add mark by 1/16 inch. Changed oil in this truck a few times now. First time I have seen this. Truck is still in the garage so I can tell there are no leaks, I didn’t spill any as I carefully used a funnel, the truck is level. The jug was brand new. I broke the seal and dipped my finger in the new oil to smear the gasket so I know the jug was about as full as it was supposed to be. Any thoughts on where a quart of oil might be or is this purely because I use a ph8 instead of a 3600?

 

[scotts90ranger]

If you checked it while running the level might show low with the oil circulating in the system, the oil pump is full, the galleys are full and there's some sitting on top of the head trying to drain back down, etc...

 

[Dirtman]

Yes what he said. Turn it off wait 5 minutes and check it again.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Also short of that, check the jug size that the oil came in, it's only common on diesel oils but some come in 4 quart jugs...

 

[dvdswan]

I was just thinking this too.. ^^^

 

[BrHotte]

Yeah, I don’t check oil with engine running. It was definitely a 5 quart jug. I am hoping it is just because because of the larger capacity oil filter. I just put an extra 3/4 quart or so and it reads full. Hopefully everything will be fine. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Dirtman]

My 2000 takes a tad over 5 quarts if I remember so you may be right. On my 2009 I changed from a fl910 filter to an fl400 and it went from taking 4 quarts exactly to about 4.5... an FL1A (PH8 in Fram) does hold a ton of oil but I'm not sure what the oem filter was.

 

[BrHotte]

That’s what I was hoping Dirtman. I guess I was surprised about the level on the dipstick difference with the bigger filter. Thanks for the confirmation.