Help with checking oil level

[newbie_101]

Sounds like a pretty simple task right? Not according to my dealer. I mentioned at my last oil change that the level was 1/4 inch above the bottom cylinder on the dip stick, which is closer to 1/2 above the max line. He told me Ford recommends checking the oil by inserting the dip stick and stopping when the base of the handle hits the dip stick tube, not inserting the stick in all of the way. When we did this the level of the oil fell to just above the max line.

Problem is after they changed the oil the level was within normal with the dip stick inserted all the way.

Am I being mislead here?

[MoeB]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like a pretty simple task right? Not according to my dealer. I mentioned at my last oil change that the level was 1/4 inch above the bottom cylinder on the dip stick, which is closer to 1/2 above the max line. He told me Ford recommends checking the oil by inserting the dip stick and stopping when the base of the handle hits the dip stick tube, not inserting the stick in all of the way. When we did this the level of the oil fell to just above the max line.

Problem is after they changed the oil the level was within normal with the dip stick inserted all the way.

Am I being mislead here?

[/ QUOTE ]

Your dealer is partly right, partly wrong.

There is a TSB (#04-9-3) that describes the method that your dealer told you about. The TSB calls it an "over-full check" and it does in fact show a picture with the base of the T handle sitting on top of the steel tube. If the oil is over over the MAX mark using this method, it's supposedly overfull.

On the other hand, your 6.0L Supplement manual uses the words "reinsert fully" when referring to checking the engine oil.

On the third hand, [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] there is also a Ford Broadcast Bulletin (1512, 1574) that says "when checking the oil level on the 6.0, the vehicle must be on a level surface and the dipstick must be fully seated into the tube to ensure an accuarte reading. Do not add oil if the level is above the "MIN" line on the dipstick."

We report...you decide. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/zombie.gif[/img]

On edit: BTW, you may have a fuel-in-oil problem if your level was over MAX using the TSB check.

[GrampyJim]

I find t5hat pushing the stick in slowly when approaching the bottom of the tube will avoid pumping oil up the tube indicating a higher than desired level.