"Free" oil change, problem??? (sorry long post)

[MrMike]

Had my 1st oil change yesterday, the "free" one at the dealership. Stuck my head in the door while the oil swapper was doing the work.

He had the truck up on the lift when I got there. He drained the oil and re-installed the plug. Then he lowered the truck, loosened & removed the filter, then replaced the filter and refilled with 3x 5gallon jugs of Motorcraft 15W30 CI4 oil.

I thought I read that the oil filter should be loosened before draining. Also, many have posted here about only using 14 qts.

Checked the dipstick when I got home and to tell the truth I really couldn't see if it was overfilled. Then again, that dipstick is hard to read. Will check again this morning before I leave.

Does removing the filter after draining allow the dirt trapped by the filter back into the system? Should I just change it again myself? I have everything on hand to do it now.

[louzonr]

Yup, they did it wrong. The manual clearly states that you must remove the filter while the drain plug is removed. The problem is that oil is trapped in the filter housing until you open the housing. The guy who did your oil change allowed that trapped oil to fall into the oil pan and then get mixed with the new oil.

[MoeB]

Are you sure he hadn't already loosened the filter cap some before raising the lift? If he didn't have to wrench the cap off after lowering the lift, then he probably had it draining before you started watching.

As far as the POS dipstick issue, try pulling the dipstick out and let it stay out for about 30 minutes (cover the tube with a cloth). Then wipe off and reinsert the dipstick just to where the bottom of the T handle is about an inch and a half or so above the top of the steel tube, then pull it out again and wipe it off. Repeat this 3 or 4 times and you'll clean most of the oil out of the tube. Then reinsert the dipstick until the bottom of the T handle just meets the top of the steel tube and then read the oil level. It should be below the MAX mark. If it's over MAX, then it's overfilled.

(Personally I think it should be below MAX with the thing fully inserted, but that's already another POS dipstick thread. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img] )

[MrMike]

The guy had to loosen up the oil filter cap with a filter wrench and I saw the cap spring up about an inch and a half. This was after he lowered the truck. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img] Who trains these guys?

After sitting all night, the oil was definatly over the MAX mark on the dip stick.

I think I'll call the service dept and ask to speak with the service mgr. Don't want to bad mouth the guy who did the work, he was nice enough, but it is now apparent he hasn't been trained on these engines (or couldn't pass the test). Assuming the filter holds about a quart, I now have 15 qts new and 1 qt old oil in there. Perhaps they will re-do the job. Otherwise I will have to do it myself this afternoon.

Is it just a the old oil that drains back into the engine when the filter is loosened, or does the gunk that was filtered drop out too? If the gunk stays trapped, is there a way to drain off a quart or so without draining the whole thing?

[FamilyRide]

What is "3x 5gallon"? Did he refill with 3 gallons = 12qt's?

You'll always leave about a quart to a quart and a half in that you can't get out. If he didn't pop the filter first, you likely have some additional old oil in it but it's not that big of a deal.

You can try to drain some off but you better be quick. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] That's where the Fumoto valve comes in really handy. If you do drain some off. Do it when it's cold and has sat overnight. You may get more crud out that could settle to the bottom, and it'll flow slower making it easier to drain a small amount and get the plug back in. Just be careful and don't try to rush the plug. You could strip it pretty easily, then you'll be draining 3+ gallons whether you want to or not. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[MoeB]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy had to loosen up the oil filter cap with a filter wrench and I saw the cap spring up about an inch and a half. This was after he lowered the truck. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img] Who trains these guys?

[/ QUOTE ]

Then he clearly did it wrong. Good luck getting them to re-do it.

[ QUOTE ]
Is it just a the old oil that drains back into the engine when the filter is loosened, or does the gunk that was filtered drop out too? If the gunk stays trapped, is there a way to drain off a quart or so without draining the whole thing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mostly just oil. The stuff that the filter is designed to trap will be stuck in the pleated media. A little of the surface gunk from the element may have gotten into the new oil, but the new filter will catch it again. Just do your next change a little earlier if they won't re-do the job.

I drained oil out of mine after the dealer overfilled it by slowly loosening the drain plug, then when I got to the last thread, I quickly moved the plug away from the hole for a few seconds, then put it back in real fast. Like FamilyRide says, do it while it's cold and it won't flow real fast (or burn [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]), and have a rag handy to wipe your hand. If you use a clean catch pan, you can let a few quarts drain out, then add back enough to bring the level up where you want it (half way between MIN and MAX is how I prefer it).

[tasman]

[ QUOTE ]
refilled with 3x 5gallon jugs of Motorcraft 15W30 CI4 oil.

[/ QUOTE ]

MrMike
Did they put in 15 gallons?
I installed a Fumoto valve and just do the oil change myself and don't worry about the lowest paid guy at the dealer making a mistake. I would change my oil, if I were not sure.JMO

TasMan

[my97TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
and refilled with 3x 5gallon jugs of Motorcraft 15W30 CI4 oil.


[/ QUOTE ]

Hope you meant to say 3 jugs of 5 quart oil. And I also hope it was 15W40 not 15W30.

[MrMike]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
and refilled with 3x 5gallon jugs of Motorcraft 15W30 CI4 oil.


[/ QUOTE ]

Hope you meant to say 3 jugs of 5 quart oil. And I also hope it was 15W40 not 15W30.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are correct. Gotta remember to have at least 2 coffee's before trying to communicate [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

Thanks for the help guys.

[ronk54]

My dipstick solution - Take a piece of fine sand paper and rub it gently over the dipstick end. This takes the shiny surface off of it without affecting the high and low marks on it. Now with the dull gray surface, I can easily read my oil level.

[MrMike]

Tried the sandpaper on the dipstick bulb. Worked awesome, thanks!!