Oil level - Again

[MustangNoob]

Hi folks,

Sorry for another oil related topic. I would like your feedback.

Back in July I changed my oil at the Ford dealership, motorcraft full synthetic. Today and about 2430 miles after , I noticed the level was almost at the minimum in the dipstick.
Here is the picture (font and back of dipstick) of how the oil level was back in July, measured about 2 weeks after the oil change

and this is measured today after approximately 2430 miles (lots of spirited driving but nothing crazy). The oil sits within the first x - can't be clearly seen in the photo.

I added about 356 ml ( ~0.365 qt) to bring it somewhere in 4th X.

Side note, I don't see any oil leak , not temperature changes , no smoke.
If the car gets 10qt, why isn't the oil at the top of the dipstick after the oil change ?
And given the fact the the whole hatched area is 1 Qt, does this mean I was originally down about 0.5q? and would that mean I lost about 0.5q after 2430 miles ? Ford says you should expect to lose about a 1q every 500 miles of spirited, tracking etc ...With the consumption rate I got I loose about 0.1q...So I guess I'm OK ?

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[Skye]

Side note, I don't see any oil leak , not temperature changes , no smoke.

If you're interested or concerned about a loss of oil, I'd develop something of a routine. While I do not have a problem, my routine is I check under hood once a month. When the hood is up and the engine is hot, I check the oil level. Same way.* Same place. With a torch, I check any of the containers, engine, bits, under chassis, front-to-back, etc. Takes just a few minutes.

* Oil levels can vary with operating temperature. If you check the oil level hot, five minutes after shutdown, use that as your method, each time.

If you see anything that interests you, write that down or photograph it.

If the car gets 10qt, why isn't the oil at the top of the dipstick after the oil change ?

Several have reported less than full mark after an oil change. I cannot explain why yours was less than full. With some of the other comments about dealer oil changes, I'd check it the day you get the oil changed. You can then decide to return to get it topped up, or note the level and press on.

And given the fact the the whole hatched area is 1 Qt, does this mean I was originally down about 0.5q?

That or a bit more, yes. That's not necessarily a bad thing. That's just your starting reference.

- Keep the oil level in the "X" marks. Anywhere is OK

- If concerned about a loss of oil, attempt to determine the rate of oil loss by sampling more often

and would that mean I lost about 0.5q after 2430 miles ? Ford says you should expect to lose about a 1q every 500 miles of spirited, tracking etc ...With the consumption rate I got I loose about 0.1q...So I guess I'm OK ?

I'm attaching an excerpt from the Ford engine oil consumption test procedure.

For "regular" vehicles in normal conditions, the expectation is the loss will be no more than 1 quart / .9 liter every 3000 mi / 4800 kms. For "performance" vehicles, the expectation is the loss will be no more than 1 quart / .9 liter every 500 mi / 900 kms.

I've always felt there's some left to interpretation. Under normal conditions, normal driving, the loss of one quart of anything in a few hundred to few thousand miles represents a problem. Whatever the vehicle. It needs to be discussed with the dealer.

You didn't mention the mileage on the vehicle. How much? I'm attaching an excerpt from the Owners Manual on oil consumption. Another possible concern is an increase in the rate of oil consumption. It reads like you don't have enough data to determine that.

For now, I'd select a reference mark on the dipstick. Top the oil off or start where you are now. Check the oil once or twice a month. Same way. Same place. Begin tracking that. See what you're consistently losing.

It'll probably take a few months to get a trend going. Once the trend is established, you'll have a better idea what to do, or can bring that back for more discussion here.

Edit,

I didn't study the thread, but noticed another involving oil use, oil life and HPDE. When you attend these events, track the oil more closely. Check the oil before the first and then after each session or event. That seems a bit much, but you have little data now. You're still learning the behaviors of the car and of this concern.

 

[Doug Watson]

It's 9.5 QTS the 2024 manual is wrong. Check for black soot in your tail pipes. My engine was replaced by Ford for oil consumption after 6800 miles, I was losing 1 QT every 750 miles. Oil was found leaking from the engine into the right passengers side manifold when it was removed. Engine had an internal oil leak.

 

[MustangNoob]

If you're interested or concerned about a loss of oil, I'd develop something of a routine. While I do not have a problem, my routine is I check under hood once a month. When the hood is up and the engine is hot, I check the oil level. Same way.* Same place. With a torch, I check any of the containers, engine, bits, under chassis, front-to-back, etc. Takes just a few minutes.

* Oil levels can vary with operating temperature. If you check the oil level hot, five minutes after shutdown, use that as your method, each time.

If you see anything that interests you, write that down or photograph it.



Several have reported less than full mark after an oil change. I cannot explain why yours was less than full. With some of the other comments about dealer oil changes, I'd check it the day you get the oil changed. You can then decide to return to get it topped up, or note the level and press on.



That or a bit more, yes. That's not necessarily a bad thing. That's just your starting reference.

- Keep the oil level in the "X" marks. Anywhere is OK

- If concerned about a loss of oil, attempt to determine the rate of oil loss by sampling more often



I'm attaching an excerpt from the Ford engine oil consumption test procedure.

For "regular" vehicles in normal conditions, the expectation is the loss will be no more than 1 quart / .9 liter every 3000 mi / 4800 kms. For "performance" vehicles, the expectation is the loss will be no more than 1 quart / .9 liter every 500 mi / 900 kms.

I've always felt there's some left to interpretation. Under normal conditions, normal driving, the loss of one quart of anything in a few hundred to few thousand miles represents a problem. Whatever the vehicle. It needs to be discussed with the dealer.

You didn't mention the mileage on the vehicle. How much? I'm attaching an excerpt from the Owners Manual on oil consumption. Another possible concern is an increase in the rate of oil consumption. It reads like you don't have enough data to determine that.

For now, I'd select a reference mark on the dipstick. Top the oil off or start where you are now. Check the oil once or twice a month. Same way. Same place. Begin tracking that. See what you're consistently losing.

It'll probably take a few months to get a trend going. Once the trend is established, you'll have a better idea what to do, or can bring that back for more discussion here.

Edit,

I didn't study the thread, but noticed another involving oil use, oil life and HPDE. When you attend these events, track the oil more closely. Check the oil before the first and then after each session or event. That seems a bit much, but you have little data now. You're still learning the behaviors of the car and of this concern.

Thanks for all the info, car has a bit more than 18k miles

 

[Frogdog1]

I watched my dealer do both of my oil changes and the tech put exactly 9.5 quarts of my oil in my car as specified by my owner's manual. I brought home the half quart not poured in. Both times, the oil level registered half way on the dipstick, about 25 minutes after being parked on my flat garage floor. Makes no sense to me but that's the way it is.

 

[MustangNoob]

It's 9.5 QTS the 2024 manual is wrong. Check for black soot in your tail pipes. My engine was replaced by Ford for oil consumption after 6800 miles, I was losing 1 QT every 750 miles. Oil was found leaking from the engine into the right passengers side manifold when it was removed. Engine had an internal oil leak.

That's crazy. Haven't seen any black shoot from the tail pipe but this is what I see when I rub the interior of both pipes. looks normal since these cars run towards the rich side ?

With regards to oil capacity how come the manual for the 24 year says 10Q? IS the a typo?

 

[Skye]

car has a bit more than 18k miles

So, well past any break-in period.

I'd continue driving as you have. Check the oil level regularly and in a consistent manner. Even though you haven't noticed any thing thus far, continue to do simple reviews for leaks, under hood and under car.

As to the oil level and the specification, my car is a bit like many here: the manual say 10 qt at an oil change, so I put that much in. The dipstick always registers as much as one "X" below full. Reading the dipstick can be a pain. As long as the oil is in the "X"s, your fine. If your standard is full, it's full. Top it up, but don't overfill. If your standard is somewhere else in the normal range, that's just as good..

As to the soot in the tailpipe, it depends. Tells like that can give weight to other readings, ones that are quantitative. The oil level readings over time and mileage will give you that. Vehicles do emit carbon. Some soot and buildup is to be expected. P21S polishing soap is great at keeping stainless exhaust tips clean and shiny.

Now that you're recording data, you'll hover for a bit. One month of data might not determine much. Three months might show a clear trend. It depends on the rate of loss. Once something is confirmed, your data will facilitate discussions and formal tests with the dealer.

Good Luck.

 

[turtletim]

My dealer specifically mentioned that full on a mustang dip stick is only about half way between the marks.

 

[LouG]

That is absolutely nothing to worry about. When mine was new the level was halfway between the dots. I then discovered that is the correct level, and you cannot exceed the top dot.
Keep calm and carry on

 

[Frogdog1]

So, well past any break-in period.

I'd continue driving as you have. Check the oil level regularly and in a consistent manner. Even though you haven't noticed any thing thus far, continue to do simple reviews for leaks, under hood and under car.

As to the oil level and the specification, my car is a bit like many here: the manual say 10 qt at an oil change, so I put that much in. The dipstick always registers as much as one "X" below full. Reading the dipstick can be a pain. As long as the oil is in the "X"s, your fine. If your standard is full, it's full. Top it up, but don't overfill. If your standard is somewhere else in the normal range, that's just as good..

As to the soot in the tailpipe, it depends. Tells like that can give weight to other readings, ones that are quantitative. The oil level readings over time and mileage will give you that. Vehicles do emit carbon. Some soot and buildup is to be expected. P21S polishing soap is great at keeping stainless exhaust tips clean and shiny.

Now that you're recording data, you'll hover for a bit. One month of data might not determine much. Three months might show a clear trend. It depends on the rate of loss. Once something is confirmed, your data will facilitate discussions and formal tests with the dealer.

Good Luck.

Does P21S get the carbon out of the inside of the exhaust tips?

 

[Doug Watson]

That's crazy. Haven't seen any black shoot from the tail pipe but this is what I see when I rub the interior of both pipes. looks normal since these cars run towards the rich side ?

With regards to oil capacity how come the manual for the 24 year says 10Q? IS the a typo?

Mine started like that and it only got worse. Mine got so bad that even after ever drive it would look like that. Keep an eye on it and take pic for Ford. Save the towels and let Ford know if your concerned.

The 2024 manual is a typo. Check your VIN the the parts dept at Ford and they will tell you it's 9.5.

 

[dusman59]

I used 10QTS changing mine with oil cooler the first oil change and showed just at top hole on the stick. After picking my car from the dealer brand new and getting home(about 6 miles) the stick was right at the bottom hole. I added 1/2QT and brought it up to the middle between the holes.
My next change I will add 9.5QTS run the engine for a minute and check the stick and add any oil to bring up to the top hole. This is to compensate for any oil in the cooler that may not have drained and if one was just to add 10QTS it could make it over full.
Ford says the PP oil cooler only has a small amount of oil. Whats a small amount? My guess is a pint or a little more.

 

[Skye]

Does P21S get the carbon out of the inside of the exhaust tips?

Attached is a stock photo.

My exhaust tips are polished on the outside and the initial lip, then matte on the inside. With general use, carbon and condensation will become baked on, mainly at the lip of the tips, becoming increasingly harder to remove over time.

On the inside of the tips, the matte portion, the surface is perforated from the factory. While some carbon does build up in this area, I can often clear this by simply cleaning with a soapy detailing towel.

I use the P21S primarily on the polished portions. Super easy to use. Just wet the applicator, wipe in the polish a few times, squeeze the applicator, then polish. I then rinse off any residue. I use the product any time I think the area needs some attention.

P21S can be purchased at most auto detailing web sites.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/p21s-polishing-soap.174447/

https://www.p21s.com/portfolio/polishing-soap/

 

[Zig]

As long as the dipstick hasn’t welded itself in place you’ve got oil. Yes the level will fluctuate (even in a perfect scenario - left side higher than right side, front back, time of day, humidity/temperature, etc etc). Ask yourself, does the stick scrape the bottom of the pan or does it measure a depth? Any kinda of oil on the stick and it’ll keep running (how long and how hard is another topic). Between the two dots is all that’s really required. Get too much (go way above top dot) and pressure will find a way. Go too low below the bottom dot and friction will find a friend. Just keep it in the middle and you should be fine. You could try a catch can (and compare the amount caught to the amount lost) to see if that helps explain it.

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