Oil level gauge questions

[LoneWolf31]

Interesting.

The oil pressure gauge in my 24 Powerboost actually moves with engine rpm increase and decrease.

The oil level on mine was spot on. If your oil level was that low, it tells me your Dealer is shit. They pencil whipped the pre delivery inspection.

The oil gauge does move with acceleration, and higher rpm. But then goes back down to the quarter mark after the rpms go back down to normal once desired speed is reached. It has been consistent. I do feel that they may have rushed the delivery inspection as well. i am going to call them and see what they say. I am also going to go to the Ford dealer thats right down the road from me and look at a couple 3.5 ecoboost models just like mine and see what they say gauge is showing. Just to make sure I don’t get the run a round. I will report back with what I find.

Sponsored

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

The oil gauge does move with acceleration, and higher rpm. But then goes back down to the quarter mark after the rpms go back down to normal once desired speed is reached. It has been consistent. I do feel that they may have rushed the delivery inspection as well. i am going to call them and see what they say. I am also going to go to the Ford dealer thats right down the road from me and look at a couple 3.5 ecoboost models just like mine and see what they say gauge is showing. Just to make sure I don’t get the run a round. I will report back with what I find.

It’s really rather common for dealer to blow off the pre delivery inspection. It’s sad, but it happens. It’s a good indicator of the integrity of the Dealer as a whole.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I stand corrected. I just went out and cranked mine up and tacked it up past 3K and the oil pressure gauge did move. I seldom have a need to get my 5.0 above 3K, certainly not until oil temp gets up to about 195. It’s good to know that the gauge is accurate.
As to the oil level being about a quarter quart low at delivery, yes it bothered me but I have learned not to get upset about the small stuff.
I haven’t taken the truck back to the dealer for service until yesterday. I took it in for the 10K inspection. Everything was fine but I asked them about the tire rotation and they didn’t do it. They said that they do that with the oil change.
I do the oil changes myself.

Call me crazy…..but I rotate tires at 2500

 

[PatchManager]

Interesting.

The oil pressure gauge in my 24 Powerboost actually moves with engine rpm increase and decrease.

The oil level on mine was spot on. If your oil level was that low, it tells me your Dealer is shit. They pencil whipped the pre delivery inspection.

A quarter of a quart is almost within the margin of error because there are many factors that go into the oil level on the dipstick as I'm sure you know like temperature, how long it the engine has sat, etc. Even the dipstick reading is not precise most of the time as I have never seen a nice straight line across the dipstick at a certain level. When I'm on a trip, if I check the oil level at least three times every time I check it because the dipstick levels are almost never the same twice. If I had three people check the oil one after the other, and tell me the level within a quart, I would get at least two different answers.

 

[Dale B]

A quarter of a quart is almost within the margin of error because there are many factors that go into the oil level on the dipstick as I'm sure you know like temperature, how long it the engine has sat, etc. Even the dipstick reading is not precise most of the time as I have never seen a nice straight line across the dipstick at a certain level. When I'm on a trip, if I check the oil level at least three times every time I check it because the dipstick levels are almost never the same twice. If I had three people check the oil one after the other, and tell me the level within a quart, I would get at least two different answers.

I have a tough time telling the exact oil level on a new vehicle with new oil. It is much easier when the oil has some color with age. Longer dipsticks with lots of twists and turns make it more difficult as well. I have turned a dipstick over and gotten a different reading.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I have found that checking the dipstick only after sitting overnight really tells you what the oil sump level is. I view the quarter of a quart level difference as no big deal. This particularly if the engine had been run within the last few hours. Example: when I change oil, I let it drain overnight if able. Then put in 5 quarts. I check level the next morning and top up.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I have a tough time telling the exact oil level on a new vehicle with new oil. It is much easier when the oil has some color with age. Longer dipsticks with lots of twists and turns make it more difficult as well. I have turned a dipstick over and gotten a different reading.

So here’s a tip.
When you check the oil. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Leave it out for five minutes. Insert it and read the level. Keeping it out for a few minutes, all was the oil on the tube sidewalls to drain. This eliminates the smear that often happens with the dipstick

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

As far as how ai change oil.
I drain, change filter. Install filter and add 6 quarts, 24 Powerboost. The oil level is perfect, just below full after running and allowing to sit for 10-15 minutes.

Cold oil level is about 1/8” below the full line

 

[Gros Ventre]

So here’s a tip.
When you check the oil. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Leave it out for five minutes. Insert it and read the level. Keeping it out for a few minutes, all was the oil on the tube sidewalls to drain. This eliminates the smear that often happens with the dipstick

Interesting observation. I wouldn't have thought the dipstick tube would extend that far down. I'll try that. I can remark that I tried to drain oil thru the dipstick tube with a fluid extractor. Could only pull 2 qts out as the suction tube could not be inserted further into the engine sump. I believe that is because there is what amounts to a windage tray immediately below the crankshaft.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Interesting observation. I wouldn't have thought the dipstick tube would extend that far down. I'll try that. I can remark that I tried to drain oil thru the dipstick tube with a fluid extractor. Could only pull 2 qts out as the suction tube could not be inserted further into the engine sump. I believe that is because there is what amounts to a windage tray immediately below the crankshaft.

I never said the dipstick tube went all the way down, because it doesn’t. What I’m saying is, the passage or hole the dipstick goes into collects oil. I then transfers it and creates the smear on the dipstick.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I never said the dipstick tube went all the way down, because it doesn’t. What I’m saying is, the passage or hole the dipstick goes into collects oil. I then transfers it and creates the smear on the dipstick.

I knew what you meant. My point was the dipstick doesn't go far enough to use a fluid extractor. The dipstick just goes far enough down to tell you if the oil level is in the vicinity of the top quart or two...

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I knew what you meant. My point was the dipstick doesn't go far enough to use a fluid extractor. The dipstick just goes far enough down to tell you if the oil level is in the vicinity of the top quart or two...

I guess I kind of lost where you were going with that. There’s no need for your fluid extraction tool to simply check the engine oil. And yeah, I learned how an oil dipstick worked about 45 years ago.

 

[Dale B]

Why I started this thread in the first place was my confusion with the gauge. It is the only gauge on my dash with no measurements. There is nothing to indicate pressure increments. That is why I had assumed it was an oil level gauge.

Does anyone know why this gauge is completely void of measurement?

 

[Gros Ventre]

Why I started this thread in the first place was my confusion with the gauge. It is the only gauge on my dash with no measurements. There is nothing to indicate pressure increments. That is why I had assumed it was an oil level gauge.

Does anyone know why this gauge is completely void of measurement?

It is driven by a switch. I believe the setpoint is 5-8#. So it is an on or off indicator not a true pressure gauge. I've since installed a real pressure gauge on my truck. The oil pump is a variable volute vane type pump. The pressure scheme is a lower pressure of around 32-35# and a higher pressure of around 100-110#. The change in volute geometry is done with a band set by a solenoid with the default (de-energzed) pressure at the higher setting. I find Ford's "oil pressure" gauge deceiving and now do not use it. The two settable gauges are: transmission temperature & boost pressure. The rationale behind the higher setting I believe to be for oil spray on the underside of the pistons for cooling when the power level and turbo boost is at high power.

 

[Dale B]

It is driven by a switch. I believe the setpoint is 5-8#. So it is an on or off indicator not a true pressure gauge. I've since installed a real pressure gauge on my truck. The oil pump is a variable volute vane type pump. The pressure scheme is a lower pressure of around 32-35# and a higher pressure of around 100-110#. The change in volute geometry is done with a band set by a solenoid with the default (de-energzed) pressure at the higher setting. I find Ford's "oil pressure" gauge deceiving and now do not use it. The two settable gauges are: transmission temperature & boost pressure. The rationale behind the higher setting I believe to be for oil spray on the underside of the pistons for cooling when the power level and turbo boost is at high power.

I have come to the conclusion that the oil gauge is little more than an idiot light. In fact I believe that the gauge cluster would be better served with an idiot light for oil pressure and it may very well have one. Many high end cars have done away with the oil pressure gauge years ago.
I just reconfigured the gauges on my dash to include transmission temperature which along with oil temperature is probably a better indicator of what is going on inside the driveline of a truck anyway.

Sponsored