Oil Question

[cth777]

Hello all- This may sound really stupid, and perhaps it is, but this is my first car so I figured I would ask for advice. So, I got my oil changed not long ago, and I am planning on a longer road trip than normal tomorrow, about four hours, so I checked the oil and tire pressure and stuff like that. Now, after letting the car sit for about ten minutes to cool down and then checking the oil, there was NO OIL on the dipstick. I tried again after another 20 minutes of cooling in case the oil had to drain back to the reservoir, and still nothing. I then proceeded to add a quart of oil, and there is still none showing on the dipstick. However, the oil pressure gauge has read slightly above halfway, so apparently normal, this whole time. Am I missing something here, or did the shop not actually put any oil in? There are no signs I am burning or leaking oil, (other than the lack of oil...haha)
Any insight would be appreciated
Thanks!

 

[KWT2000]

How much oil did the place charge for when it was changed?

My 97 took 7 QTS and my 02 takes 6...

Maybe they didn't put enough in??

Also could the dip stick be wrong? Or broken?

 

[Lightnig]

Sounds to me like the shop did not add enough oil, or your truck is sitting off-level on a hill. Make sure your truck is fairly close to level when checking the oil. And that the dipstick is fully seated before reading the level - with the engine off wipe the stick clean, reinsert it fully, then pull it out again to check the level.

Please note that I am not talking down to you or anything like that, just want to be sure you have the proper process in mind and don't want to assume that someone has actually taken the time to show you the proper method, being as it is your first car and all.


all that said, I would keep adding oil until it shows on the dipstick. either the oil pan will fill to the correct level evetually, or you will find it pouring out onto the ground from a very unwelcome hole somewhere...

 

[cth777]

No not at all I appreciate the simple advice as well... However, it is on basically level ground and I did do it with the engine off. I guess I will keep adding oil, I was just worried that there was some trick to the Expedition dipstick and I was going to overfill it. Thanks both of you!

 

[superexpy]

How much oil did the place charge for when it was changed?

My 97 took 7 QTS and my 02 takes 6...

Maybe they didn't put enough in??

Also could the dip stick be wrong? Or broken?

Your 97 takes 7Q? Mine only takes 5.5Q. Did they make different pans for our trucks?

 

[cth777]

One more question how low would the oil have to be to see a decrease in oil pressure? the oil pressure gauge has remained unchanged throughout this event.

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

low enough that the oil pickup is no longer submerged. when it starts sucking air it'll drop.

it could be 3 qts total or less it just depends on how much oil goes into the block before it starts to return to the oil pan. ex, you may read full with the engine cold but the sump pulls oil into the crankshaft and sends some to the top end for the cams and valves then it passes over the chains and returns to the pan. while running, reducing the reserve in the pan causing a low reading.
So, you want to check the oil before running it for the first time that day and on level ground to get the right reading. also, check your coolant for contamination if you seem to be loosing oil.

 

[KWT2000]

Your 97 takes 7Q? Mine only takes 5.5Q. Did they make different pans for our trucks?

I'm not sure if different pans were used or if a newer/different pan was put on before I got it... The first oil change I did I only bought 6QTs and it was at the add mark

 

[IMINYOURCHAIR]

I googled the capacity in the store when I bought my oil, it called for 6qts and it was at about half on the stick after I checked it.

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

my '97 5.4L takes 6 qts w/filter change.

I usually put 5.5 qts in, let everything warm up slowly, let it sit for a half hour, then top it off after checking.

It sounds like they didn't put enough in. It was also mentioned above that the dipstick might not be the original one?

PanHandler.

 

[cth777]

my '97 5.4L takes 6 qts w/filter change.

I usually put 5.5 qts in, let everything warm up slowly, let it sit for a half hour, then top it off after checking.

It sounds like they didn't put enough in. It was also mentioned above that the dipstick might not be the original one?

PanHandler.

It is the one the car came with when i got it this year. I am just worried I am doing it wrong or something because I don't want to overfill it
Have a picture of yours by any chance?

 

[5.4T]

6 quarts here too and that's with the DOHC.

 

[bedrck46]

one thing you could do is drain out the pan and see how much oil is in it. You should have at least 5qts plus the filter would be better than trying to guess and then refill and check dipstick

 

[xJohnnyOx]

Not sure if I caught what year yours is but a lot of the first generations oil pressure gauges are just attractive idiot lights. They don't actually show pressure. If the pressure is too high or low, the gauge will read zero (as it is only hooked up to a pressure switch). If the oil pressure is out of range an idiot light will also come on. I have been talking to O'Rielly auto parts about an after market pressure gauge.