7 quarts?
7 quarts? My car takes almost 7 quarts before it reads full on the dipstick. I don't know why I know it is supposed to be 5.5, and I cant figure it out either. The oil pan and dipstick are stock as far as I can tell. What could be going on? Could the dipstick have gotten bent somewhere along the line? The car has headers on it so someone has been in there at some point.
A lot of folks have a hard time getting the dipstick tube back to its original position when doing a header install. The dipstick tube may not be flush on the block like it is supposed to be.
Specifically, when I did my head swap, I had some some trouble getting the dipstick tube back in all the way. I could have bolted it down using a thick washer as a spacer, but had I done so it would left the tube effectively longer than stock (and since the dipstick length remained unchanged) it would have taken more oil to achieve the "full" mark. Ultimately, I was able to installl the tube in its orignal position.
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It would help us help you if we knew what kind of car & it's year. Do you have an oil cooler?
My 1999 T/A takes exactly six quarts from full drain (including a filter change) to the top of the full mark on the dip.
My 1999 T/A takes exactly six quarts from full drain (including a filter change) to the top of the full mark on the dip.
Last edited by Paul Bell; Aug 21, 2011 at 04:48 PM.
Cool. Yeah, seven quarts is kinda high. I would suggest you find a buddy with the same car and uh, compare dipsticks. (!)
I'll bet yours is shorter (!) and if so, from a different car.
I'll bet yours is shorter (!) and if so, from a different car.
Until you straighten this out, I suggest you only put in six quarts regardless of what the dipstick says.
5.5 quarts should be the "correct" level. A half quart over is OK but 1.5 quarts over is certainly too much.
As stated, my car takes 6 quarts to be perfectly at the "full" mark.
5.5 quarts should be the "correct" level. A half quart over is OK but 1.5 quarts over is certainly too much.
As stated, my car takes 6 quarts to be perfectly at the "full" mark.
Yeah that. If the oil level is too high, you'll get foaming, air in the oil which is a pretty poor lubricant and difficult to pump.
It's pretty foolish to knowingly put in too much oil such as 7 quarts vs. the proper fill level of 5.5 quarts as it will surely be too high and get whipped up by the crank.
It's pretty foolish to knowingly put in too much oil such as 7 quarts vs. the proper fill level of 5.5 quarts as it will surely be too high and get whipped up by the crank.
. 
I knew a former Ford tech that filled an engine completely with oil and then wondered why the block locked up and broke.
Go with the factory recommended fill. You can over fill and just like not having enough to cut windage, its not a wise thing either way.
Although in Automatics, have more and a deeper pan is helpful.
Go with the factory recommended fill. You can over fill and just like not having enough to cut windage, its not a wise thing either way.
Although in Automatics, have more and a deeper pan is helpful.