Oil Change Concern

[JRT1]

I have a 2001 Explorer with the 4.0L engine. The manual says it should take 5 quarts with the filter. I bought it used and when I first checked the oil it showed at least 2 quarts over the max fill mark. Drained the oil and it had 5 quarts in it. Refilled the engine and 3 quarts shows full on the stick. Thought it may be the wrong dipstick but the part number is correct for the engine. I think I should follow the manual and put in the 5 quarts and forget the stick but concerned by possibly overfilling it by 2 quarts. Three quarts is an awfully small amount of oil for a 4 L engine.
Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[waskly]

4.0l takes 5 quarts

 

[koda2000]

I have a 2001 Explorer with the 4.0L engine. The manual says it should take 5 quarts with the filter. I bought it used and when I first checked the oil it showed at least 2 quarts over the max fill mark. Drained the oil and it had 5 quarts in it. Refilled the engine and 3 quarts shows full on the stick. Thought it may be the wrong dipstick but the part number is correct for the engine. I think I should follow the manual and put in the 5 quarts and forget the stick but concerned by possibly overfilling it by 2 quarts. Three quarts is an awfully small amount of oil for a 4 L engine.
Has anyone else had this problem?

i also bought a used '01 w/4.0L SOHC v6 and i had the exact same issue. everything i've read says 5 qts w/filter, but the first time i changed the oil the dipstick showed about 2 qts overfilled. i measured what i had just drained out and it was 5 qts. i know i put 5 qts in (with a new Motorcraft filter) so it must be right. near as i can figure the dipstick is incorrect, i just remarked it. no one has ever given me any expanation or alternate part number for a different dip stick, so ???

i strongly suggest you stay with using the full 5 qts.

 

[drdoom]

Make sure you remove the dipstick when re-filling.

 

[koda2000]

Make sure you remove the dipstick when re-filling.

i've tried that. it made no difference. and after all, 5 qts comes out. if there was another 2 qts hiding in there somewhere, it's not being measured by the dipstick. it's had numerous oil changes since i bought it, over a year ago, and the results are never any different.

 

[JRT1]

After I posted the question I found a site that said the 4.0L Explorer's dipstick should be 21 3/8 inches long to the tube cap. The one in my SUV is about 25+ inches so it is definitely not the right dipstick for this car. I also remarked mine to match the 5 quart line. Both the 5.0L and the 4.0L dipstick are part number 6750 but the prefix is different. The one stamped on this dipstick starts with XL2E, found on another site that is the prefix used with the 5.0L engine. The 4.0L dipstick should have a finger ring on top this one has a T handle. I may just order the right one for $15. Thanks for the replies!

 

[koda2000]

After I posted the question I found a site that said the 4.0L Explorer's dipstick should be 21 3/8 inches long to the tube cap. The one in my SUV is about 25+ inches so it is definitely not the right dipstick for this car. I also remarked mine to match the 5 quart line. Both the 5.0L and the 4.0L dipstick are part number 6750 but the prefix is different. The one stamped on this dipstick starts with XL2E, found on another site that is the prefix used with the 5.0L engine. The 4.0L dipstick should have a finger ring on top this one has a T handle. I may just order the right one for $15. Thanks for the replies!

yep, my 4.0L has the "T" handle dipstick too. i guess that solves the mystery. i always knew that had to be the wrong dipstick. next time I'm at the boneyard i'll have to look for the finger ring style dipstick. it's funny that the 25" dipstick doesn't hit the bottom of the oil pan. seems like Ford could have used the same stick with different markings. thanks for the info.