Changed oil for first time, only 2 quarts came out

[socci]

So I recently purchased my Explorer and the guy told me all the fluids were recently serviced blah blah blah. There was a sticker from Ford saying to change it about a thousand miles from when I about it, so I checked the fluid level at the time and it seemed good. I waited for that 1000k miles to come up and changed it when the sticker recommended. I put some seafoam in the oil 300 miles ago also. Today when I changed it I only was able to draw about 2 or so quarts out of the engine. The oil was obviously very black from the seafoam, but it was also pretty thick. Normally I would have changed it right when I bought it but I figured I could trust the guy, he said he just had it done at Ford with a sticker to show for it.
I am just a little concerned now because I could have sworn I checked the oil level when I first bought it and it was good. Even if I didnt, what would cause my truck to be burning oil like that? From here on out I am going to keep a close eye on it, but that cant be good. Its a 2000 5.0 with 115k miles btw.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Well I would be monitoring the level for awhile and maybe change it bit early as it sounds like your sump might be a bit sludgy. I try to change it at 5000 miles on my 99 5.0.

None of my cars really burn or use oil so I never check it but about 6 months ago the low oil level message came on in the 99 Exploder and it was 3 quarts low. I filled it up and changed the oil next week, when I changed it I found according to the miles I wrote on the filter that I had 7000 miles on that oil change.
My wife puts a lot of miles on in a short time sometimes it can be a bit neglected. I monitored the oil consumption after that and in 5k its negligible. 225k miles on the 5.0, the 5.0 is not a known oil drinker like some engines.

I think the seller may have been lying about changing the oil recently in your case.

 

[socci]

Well I would be monitoring the level for awhile and maybe change it bit early as it sounds like your sump might be a bit sludgy. I try to change it at 5000 miles on my 99 5.0.

None of my cars really burn or use oil so I never check it but about 6 months ago the low oil level message came on in the 99 Exploder and it was 3 quarts low. I filled it up and changed the oil next week, when I changed it I found according to the miles I wrote on the filter that I had 7000 miles on that oil change.
My wife puts a lot of miles on in a short time sometimes it can be a bit neglected. I monitored the oil consumption after that and in 5k its negligible. 225k miles on the 5.0, the 5.0 is not a known oil drinker like some engines.

I think the seller may have been lying about changing the oil recently in your case.

So it is a possibility that is just burned that much if the change was long overdue. I also meant to mention that as far as I can see it does not leak oil

 

[wood1]

If it's not smoking like a train it sounds pretty strange. You check for leaks?

 

[Sedition]

I'd get some cheap oil from walmart and flush your engine out with it, sounds like she could use it.

 

[windsors03cobra]

You can get Motorcraft filters at walmart too, I think about $4 a piece, Motorcrap is the best filter for your truck, FL-820S. 6 quart sump capacity

Entirely possible it was long overdue and used some of it.

 

[socci]

If it's not smoking like a train it sounds pretty strange. You check for leaks?

No smoke besides when its cold outside. I did look for leaks, didn't see any and I have never seen a spot under the car.

You can get Motorcraft filters at walmart too, I think about $4 a piece, Motorcrap is the best filter for your truck, FL-820S. 6 quart sump capacity

Entirely possible it was long overdue and used some of it.

Damn I considered buying the motorcraft because I remember someone saying that, but I want sure if I was right. I ended up going with the fram tough guard or whatever the 6x protection Fram is. I know some people hate fram,, but I was under the impression that is only for orange standard filter.

 

[koda2000]

the main thing to look for in a filter is it having the anti-drainback valve. the Motorcraft filter has it as do some better quality filters (like WIX), but as the Motorcraft is what Ford designed your engine to use and the're the same price as other mid-priced filters, so why not use it.

As for as oily 2 qts coming out, are you sure it ALL came out? sometimes, if you have a lot of sludge, it will actually block the drain hole. i've only had this happen to me once because i waited way too long to change the oil in one of my cars and not so much based on miles, but time. I was shocked to see it. even the filter was full of sludge.

 

[socci]

the main thing to look for in a filter is it having the anti-drainback valve. the Motorcraft filter has it as do some better quality filters (like WIX), but as the Motorcraft is what Ford designed your engine to use and the're the same price as other mid-priced filters, so why not use it

As for as oily 2 qts coming out, are you sure it ALL came out? sometimes, if you have a lot of sludge, it will actually block the drain hole. i've only had this happen to me once because i waited way too long to change the oil in one of my cars and not so much based on miles, but time. I was shocked to see it. even the filter was full of sludge.

I well be motorcraft from now on. Hopefully my Fram does, I will have to google it. As far as sludge blocking the drain I do not think it did, I even put the drain bolt all the way back on for a minute and then removed it again. If it was blocked maybe that would have unclogged it, but nothing came out after either. Also the filter looked good. It could have been more than two quarts but not much. I have a 7 quart pan and it wasn't even close to half full.

 

[SoNic67]

Actually yes, only the cheap orange Fram are shown as bad on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV2VlQY6T6E&feature=related
Motorcraft filters are just a compromise between the filtration needs and price. There is no "special design by Ford" - as proof, the same filter is used in 1996 DOHC V6 3.0L engine from Taurus and in the V8 5.0L OHV from Explorer.

I use Motorcraft filter and cheap Walmart brand syntethic oil in the older Sable, but on the 2001 Explorer I go for Bosch DistancePlus or K&N filters (what's on sale) and Shell Rotella T6 syntethic oil - for extended change intervals.

 

[windsors03cobra]

There was a time when every Ford engine used the same oil filter, from the 4 cylinders to a 460 big block.
That Tough Guard is a good filter, does the truck have a message center with low oil level indicator ?

 

[socci]

There was a time when every Ford engine used the same oil filter, from the 4 cylinders to a 460 big block.
That Tough Guard is a good filter, does the truck have a message center with low oil level indicator ?

Good to hear because I've been using the fram xtra guard or whatever the next one up is on my Vette. No my baby didn't have the message center, I wish it did. Its an xlt with leather, sunroof, and CD changer so i'm surprised the original owner just didn't add three message center to because i'm pretty sure those options had to be added to the xlt right?

 

[Joe Dirt]

It was only available on the Eddie and Limited... Never seen a factory XLT with a MC.

 

[fifthranger]

I think the guy may have lied too. He could have taken any vehicle to Ford for an oil change, and then slapped on the sticker to the Explorer. If the vehicle isn't burning oil, then the oil has to be in the filler tube or engine somewhere. Sounds to me like you're vehicle may have sludge.

 

[socci]

If it was clogged with sludge wouldn't it be overfilled when I added the 4.5 quarts to it? The dip stick now reads in the middle of min max.

 

[sbkold]

When you get you oil changed its my personal opinion you only get about 75% of the oil out before the drain bolt goes back in and she get filled back up.

I usually let mine "drip dry" for 24 hrs and I get at least another 1/2-3/4 quart out that way.

 

[koda2000]

i'll bet the "drip dry" method only gets out maybe another ounce of oil. really not worth the trouble. if you're changing your filter every oil change (and you should be) there's no harm in refilling it immediately, or after a few minutes of draining. your not gonna get 100% of the oil out no matter what you do, but what tiny percentage remains will get mixed with the clean replacement oil so that's plenty good enough. besides, i don't know about you, but i don't have 24 hours to spend on an oil change.

 

[socci]

I let it drip for a little while while I clean up and what not, but I have never considered overnight. I just cant see if there was that much oil left why it wouldnt flow out. I am just guessing since I have never dropped an oil pan, but they must be designed to assist the oil to flow out right

 

[ExplangerXLT527]

In my changes I drop the oil til it drips, turn the motor til the psi gauge drops, let it drip while changing the filter, then plug it and refill. Done it that way for years.