Fordnatics List Archive

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Mail From: George Postell <(email redacted)>

I would appreciate help with an oil level question related to my 1990
5.0 Mustang.

When I purchased the car (used) I noticed that the oil level was
considerably above the full mark on the dipstick. It was close to the F
in FULL. This concerned me, as I have been told that it is worse to run
an engine with too much oil than it is to run one with too little.

After thoroughly draining both sumps, installing a new filter, adding 5
qts. of oil and circulating it, the dipstick reading was again close to
the F. As I indicated, this is considerably above the full mark.

The owners manual indicates that the oil level may be in the range
between the full mark and the F in FULL after an oil change. During the
3,000 mi. interval my dipstick level dropped little, if any, from the
level after the change.

At the next oil change, to quantify the variance in dipstick readings,
instead of adding 5 qts. I added 4 qts. and circulated it. The dipstick
level was barely below the full mark. It took only a "tad" (approx. 1/2"
from the quart container) to bring it to the full mark.

Has anyone else experienced this?....Is the dipstick not accurate?...
What should I do?....Put in 5 qts. and establish new full and qt. low
marks on the dipstick?....Put in only enough (just barely over 4 qts.)
to bring the level to the full mark?

This might be too subjective, but I would also like advice on the best
oil and filter to use. I am using 10W30 Mobil 1 and NAPA filter. The
vehicle has 94,000 and doesn't burn or leak oil. I don't drive it hard,
just "show off" a little at times when leaving traffic signals every now
and then. I live in Georgia. Moderate? temps.

Have a good day!

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Mike Kai-Kan Yang <(email redacted)>

On Fri, 24 Mar 1995, George Postell wrote:

> Has anyone else experienced this?....Is the dipstick not accurate?...
> What should I do?....Put in 5 qts. and establish new full and qt. low
> marks on the dipstick?....Put in only enough (just barely over 4 qts.)
> to bring the level to the full mark?

The dipstick is indeed inaccurate. I have a 88 Town Car with
regular 5.0L, when I asked the question earlier, I was told that the top
of shaded area where to full line is half quart short of the 5 qts
capacity. Thus, I find it annoying to have to add only half quart each
time to bring to oil level up from add to full. So I just dump in a
quart each time when the check oil warning light comes on.



>
> This might be too subjective, but I would also like advice on the best
> oil and filter to use. I am using 10W30 Mobil 1 and NAPA filter. The
> vehicle has 94,000 and doesn't burn or leak oil. I don't drive it hard,
> just "show off" a little at times when leaving traffic signals every now
> and then. I live in Georgia. Moderate? temps.
>

Lucky you that your motor does not burn oil at all with that kind
of milage on the clock. I only have about 65,000 miles on the clock and
I went through 2 qts between oil change (every 3000 miles). I was told
by many people this rate is about normal, what does everybody think?


Have a nice day!
Mike Yang
University of British Columbia