What the heck could be going on???

Simple oil + filter change - with 4 quarts then another 1/2 quart, nothing on the dipstick.

Started it up, ran it, let it sit for 10 minutes, and still rather dry- just a hint of oil picked up from the tube sides...

Oil pressure popped right up to normal, then dropped a tad, which was still 1/2 or so.

So, I'm thinking: Bad oil filter??? Harrumph.
Put the OLD one back in, only lost a few ounces + the contents of the filter...

Repeat above. Dipstick looked OK after adding a few cups...
Drove it around the block, let it sit...

DAMN! Puff of something from the tube when I pulled the stick, and it appeared DRY again.

I rode the motorcycle in today, car is parked. (And my rain gear is sopping wet!)

Any ideas, ladies and gentlemen?

Thanks,

-Toohi

Assuming no oil under the car... have you checked the other places it could go?

Hows the coolant?

If it is not leaking out onto the ground then something is preventing it from draining from the head back to the pan.

If it is not leaking out onto the ground then something is preventing it from draining from the head back to the pan.

Assuming no oil under the car... have you checked the other places it could go?

Hows the coolant?

Good questions;

Right - no oil on the ground... coolant is fine.

Again, it was 100% before the simple change... I'll shine a light in the filler see if it's welling up in there, but... no rags/paper towels got near the top end, oil filter area wasn't even wiped down during the swap...

I'm still frosted, never seen anything so odd...

-Toohi

Haven't seen the cat lately, but............. nah, can't be!!!

hahahahahaaaaa

What oil filters were used?

What oil filters were used?

At the change, I popped a 'Mobil 1' filter on (package deal with 5qts of oil)

-Don't have the # here @ work, but will post later. Cross-reference checked out...

As I think I mentioned, I crawled back under and put the OLD FL400s Motorcraft filter back on, and I'm still worried about the properties of simply checking the freakin dipstick!

I'm picking up a NEW FL400s in about 1/2 hour, another 5 qt jug of Motorcraft 5w20 Semi-Syn;

1] Pull the dipstick (If previous experience holds, it'll appear 'Full')
2] Take the filler cap off and get my inspection mirror as far in there as possible and see if I see... anything but camshaft stuff;
3] Look at the M1 filter CLOSELY to see if there is anything weird (missing baffle? not sure - the gaskets were intact on both filters... still, deduction is the key, said Sherlock...)
4] Clean the open-top drain pan to spotless, drain the oil, inspect;
5] Remove the filter, get my fat head as far up there as I can, and inspect the mating surface, oil ports, etc...

Install new filter, refill oil again (4.5, correct?);
Check dipstick... if it shows on the dipstick:
Start up, let idle 5 minutes, shut down;
Pull dipstick;
Wait for 10 minutes, check dipstick again.

Anything I missed?

-Toohi

You don't need to let the car idle 5 minutes before checking the oil again. The oil drains down pretty fast in these cars. Most likely a bad filter if you put the previous one on and it was fine. If you were loosing oil out of the engine you'd know it. Less than 10 seconds and you'll have all the oil on the ground. Don't ask me how I know.

You don't need to let the car idle 5 minutes before checking the oil again. The oil drains down pretty fast in these cars. Most likely a bad filter if you put the previous one on and it was fine. If you were loosing oil out of the engine you'd know it. Less than 10 seconds and you'll have all the oil on the ground. Don't ask me how I know.

"The oil drains down pretty fast in these cars."

That's my concern: WHY DOES THE DIPSTICK APPEAR DRY??? I have the previous (GOOD) filter on there now, remember!

Again, if I let the car sit (for longer than I'd ever imagine) it finally appears.

This is going against logic;
I've done oil changes (for longer than you'd ever imagine) and never seen this behavior.

-Toohi

maybe a bad oil sending unit?

maybe a bad oil sending unit?

[scratch] said in the OP he took oil pressure on the gauge and no leaks underneath so how could it be a sending unit

looks to me like you have a problem draining back oil i dont see a filter causing this i have seen filters drainback into the pan and make it seem like its overfilled and i know your prob not retarded but are you SURE your pushing the stick all the way back in

im pretty sure if he knows how to change his oil and everything, he would push the dipstick all the way in, but the sleeve it slides in can come unhooked at the base if i remember correctly (slight oil leak), and there could just be a gap that is interfering with the correct readout on the dipstick?

Nothing amiss, everything checked out. What got me going was the hot smell and the puff that came when I pulled the dipstick...

Completely inspected per my steps above, nothing in the oil, filter(s) were OK;
Refilled with an accurate 4.5 qts, good to go. Dang if I know why it wasn't showing on the dipstick, but maybe:

SOFA KING
I AM SOFA KING
WEE TODD DID!
SOFA KING!!!!

[headbang]

-TooHi