Factory Oil Slightly Low?

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

393 mi on the odometer Ford manual says not to add any oil this is on a cold check this morning. Should I add or let it ride until I hit 1000mi?

Sponsored

 

[Skye]

The Owners Manual has a few comments on oil checking and consumption.

With respect to checking, Ford recommends [I prefer] doing that when the engine is at it's normal operating temperature (hot), 15 mins after shutdown, on a level surface.

With respect to oil consumption, Ford mentions it can take up to 3,000 mi / 4,800 km for any consumption to stabilize. Something I did when I received mine: give a check of everything after each drive, especially early on. Oil level (hot), visual checks of other fluids, under hood for leaks or smells, under chassis for same, tire wear. After several weeks of general checks, I fell back to looking at all that once a month.

Check the oil level when hot, make a note of it and press on. I wouldn't worry about it until it reaches the point of adding more. If you do need to add more do so, and continue to track. Document everything well, keeping notes. I have a physical journal I make notes and comments in, something I can always go back to. Over time, you'll see if this is an issue requiring attention, or not.

 

[Sf22giants]

If the oil level is between the dots, you’re not low.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

Okay did I interpret this wrong? I thought cold before a startup or 15 mins after running was okay.

The Owners Manual has a few comments on oil checking and consumption.

With respect to checking, Ford recommends doing that when the engine is at it's normal operating temperature (hot), 15 mins after shutdown, on a level surface.

With respect to oil consumption, Ford mentions it can take up to 3,000 mi / 4,800 km for any consumption to stabilize. Something I did when I received mine: give a check of everything after each drive, especially early on. Oil level (hot), visual checks of other fluids, under hood for leaks or smells, under chassis for same, tire wear. After several weeks of general checks, I fell back to looking at all that once a month.

Check the oil level when hot, make a note of it and press on. I wouldn't worry about it until it reaches the point of adding more. If you do need to add more do so, and continue to track. Document everything well, keeping notes. I have a physical journal I make notes and comments in, something I can always go back to.

 

[Skye]

Okay did I interpret this wrong?

No, you are correct.

I prefer checking hot; IMO, that's the closest to seeing at what level the engine is running at. Cold, is more of a time, like 1 hour or the next day? Ambient air temperature of the car now versus last week? Just seems different or a more inconsistent.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

No, you are correct.

I prefer checking hot; IMO, that's the closest to seeing at what level the engine is running at. Cold, is more of a time, like 1 hour or the next day? Ambient air temperature of the car now versus last week? Just seems different or a more inconsistent.

Will do. Car is getting ceramic and ppf but I will run this test when I get it back.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

It seems that the original oil capacity spec was 10 quarts and the updated spec is 9.5 quarts. Maybe that’s what the new spec looks like on the dipstick.

If that’s true and since you’re within the marks, it means you should be diligent on checking the level more frequently to ensure you don’t go below the lower mark. On one hand you could add a half quart and restart the monitoring process or plan on taking the car in early if it burns off a quart within the first several thousand miles.

To me the 9.5 spec is less of a safety margin for oil consumption but more of a profit margin for Ford who is always looking to save a few bucks on each car (multiply that by hundreds of thousands to millions of units and it adds up).

There was a great book about this regarding building the then new Taurus in 1996 called “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace” by Mary Walton.

 

[LuckyGuy]

That’s exactly the level that my 2024 DH showed after about the same mileage.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

That’s exactly the level that my 2024 DH showed after about the same mileage.

What did you do? Add Oil or let it ride?

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

It seems that the original oil capacity spec was 10 quarts and the updated spec is 9.5 quarts. Maybe that’s what the new spec looks like on the dipstick.

If that’s true and since you’re within the marks, it means you should be diligent on checking the level more frequently to ensure you don’t go below the lower mark. On one hand you could add a half quart and restart the monitoring process or plan on taking the car in early if it burns off a quart within the first several thousand miles.

To me the 9.5 spec is less of a safety margin for oil consumption but more of a profit margin for Ford who is always looking to save a few bucks on each car (multiply that by hundreds of thousands to millions of units and it adds up).

There was a great book about this regarding building the then new Taurus in 1996 called “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace” by Mary Walton.

I’ll be changing the oil at around 1000-1200 and swapping to amsoil. Just didn’t know if in the meantime I needed to add what’s already in it which is the motor craft stuff. Since I still have give or take 700 miles to go.

 

[LuckyGuy]

I just left it at that level as I was storing the car for the winter.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

I’ll be changing the oil at around 1000-1200 and swapping to amsoil. Just didn’t know if in the meantime I needed to add what’s already in it which is the motor craft stuff. Since I still have give or take 700 miles to go.

It’s hard to say how much oil consumption you had unless you have a comparison from when the car was brand new. Was it at the top mark, did the level change at all? As long as you’re above the min mark, no reason to add anything, but if your vehicle is consuming a lot of oil be prepared to do something possibly sooner rather than later.

Mine is a late 2023 build and the oil was closer to the upper mark than yours is (Ford seemed to have changed the capacity spec from 10 down to 9.5 quarts, not sure if that explains it). In the 3800 miles before I did the first oil change, my level was closer to the lower mark so I consumed probably a quart. I tried to extend the first oil change as long as I could to try and avoid the BBQ/typewriter tick. Ended up getting a slight/inconsistent tick anyway.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

I just left it at that level as I was storing the car for the winter.

I’m gonna watch it like a hawk once I get the car back.

 

[TheGrabberBlueGT2024]

It’s hard to say how much oil consumption you had unless you have a comparison from when the car was brand new. Was it at the top mark, did the level change at all? As long as you’re above the min mark, no reason to add anything, but if your vehicle is consuming a lot of oil be prepared to do something possibly sooner rather than later.

Mine is a late 2023 build and the oil was closer to the upper mark than yours is (Ford seemed to have changed the capacity spec from 10 down to 9.5 quarts, not sure if that explains it). In the 3800 miles before I did the first oil change, my level was closer to the lower mark so I consumed probably a quart. I tried to extend the first oil change as long as I could to try and avoid the BBQ/typewriter tick. Ended up getting a slight/inconsistent tick anyway.

Why did you wait so long for the first oil change? If I’m understanding you correctly these cars are only holding 9.5 now instead of 10 or they are only shipping them with 9.5? I don’t have any data to compare against. I will be watching closer now. You are making me want to get a quart of motor craft just in case. Even if I don’t use it. I personally don’t like it being so low to the minimum mark but per Ford they say don’t add any. Most of my driving has been commutes around town and 30 min one way drives to work. Should I be alarmed if it was at the top and in under 400 miles I’m already burning oil to this degree?

 

[ListedGuru]

Just had my first oil change done at the dealership yesterday (5600 miles) and I had them use Full synthetic Motorcraft. Per the paperwork they put in 10 quarts. I will check the oil today and see where it's at. My oil was full from day one (bough in April) and I don't think it really ever used any or if it did it was very small and was never low in those 5600 miles.

Sponsored