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04-11-2015, 07:06 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 887
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Low engine oil?
Went for an oil change last night and the tech shows me the dip stick had no oil showing on it. They drained 3.5 quarts or so and said it takes 6.9 or so. Not good.
No leaks and it has been 7000 miles between changes on the 2006 V10.
Of course I should have been checking the oil level on a regular basis and I am late on the service but should it be burning that much?
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04-11-2015, 07:12 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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Re: Low engine oil?
Most likely whoever did the last oil change shorted you.....reminds me, just had mine done at a new shop, gotta go check it
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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04-11-2015, 08:27 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Re: Low engine oil?
If you went to a quicky lube change sort of place, you're taking your chances in my opinion.
Knew a guy who took his mini van there, they lost the oil change plug and so (without telling him) they replaced it with a CORK. There are way too many horror stories out there for me to ever consider using a place like that.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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04-11-2015, 09:55 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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Re: Low engine oil?
Surprised your check engine light/low oil pressure light didn't come on, if we even have that on our rigs, will have to take a look at the dash......
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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04-11-2015, 10:13 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 2,554
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Re: Low engine oil?
The manual says oil capacity is 6 quarts so thats what I put in when I change the oil and filter. The dipstick reads full when I put 6 in and start the motor and let it sit for a minute. I wonder where they get the 6.9 quarts from?
__________________
2005 E350 Chateau - V10 - Agile Offroad 4x4
2012 CTS-V Wagon - For the baby...
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04-11-2015, 09:44 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Covina
Posts: 1,317
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Re: Low engine oil?
Oil filter
__________________
Kelly, Claudine, Sophie dog, Bell the redheaded step child and Gooseberry RIP.
Most the time the Copilot is Now Sophie dog the noise maker.
2000 7.3 PS Quigley/RB30 with a 6 window poptop.
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04-12-2015, 04:19 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Posts: 3,774
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Re: Low engine oil?
The good news here is there's probably little chance of engine damage----needless to say though that's one very dangerous condition. Discovering it so late is scary and will certainly serve as a reminder to check vital fluids every other fuel tank fill up.
Another vital bit of info maybe needing frequent reminder is the stock dash gauge for "oil pressure" is NOT a reliable indicator of anything----nothing! It doesn't measure pressure rise or fall, only registers if oil pressure between 7-15 PSI is present at the sending unit. In theory as little as 2 quarts could be circulating and that gauge reading "normal". Should that gauge ever fall during normal engine operation its very possible engine damage could be experienced in a short time because by then little to almost no oil flow was present.
With the too many horror stories coming from the quicky lube outfits I'm a bit shocked those who read and participate in SMB forums or other similar sites patronize them. I get the ease of driving in and having someone else do this semi-dirty task but given the risks those outfits pose I'm happy to spend the time and get a bit dirty.
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04-12-2015, 08:23 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 179
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Re: Low engine oil?
Ten minute oil change,
When I get a new rig I drive up on the ramps at home pull the old plug out and put one of these in -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038G ... UTF8&psc=1
Now I change the oil without any tools, direct the oil into the bucket, put on the new filter and away I go in ten. I know it's done right - in fact the only tool I use is the grease gun if joints need it. The price we pay when going somewhere now is about the same as putting good quality synthetic oil in. I have switched all my vehicles over to the Fumoto plugs.
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04-12-2015, 08:26 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,071
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Re: Low engine oil?
Yes, sounds like you got lucky......as long as there is enough oil in the pan to not starve the oil pump everything gets lubed. The low oil volume will result in an higher-than-normal oil temp, though.
I change my own oil as well for the exact reasons stated above by JWA and Herb, plus it's faster and more convenient than taking it somewhere. With full synthetic oil, recycling the waste oil is less of a PITA than in the old days since I usually go 8K between changes.
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
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04-12-2015, 10:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 887
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Re: Low engine oil?
All good info!! And I'll be watching much closer now.......
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