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Geocritter's avatar
Geocritter
Explorer
Oct 29, 2013

Motor oil capacity, 1994 Ford 460 V8

I finally changed the motor oil in the 1994 Holiday Rambler I purchased this past April. When I purchased it I drove it straight to a friends house and next straight to an RV park a half mile away. In other words I've put about 20-25 miles on it since I bought it. Because I'm prepping it for a trip to Tucson AZ and places beyond, and the machine is a monument to neglect, I figured it'd be a good idea to start out with fresh oil and a new oil filter. According to my research, the engine takes 5 quarts with a new oil filter. However, when I checked the oil level before the change it showed to be nicely topped off. However, when I drained it I drained 6 quarts of oil. After I replaced the filter and put in 5 quarts I ran the engine for a few minutes, let it sit for a while and then checked the oil. According to the dip stick, I was about 3/4 of a quart low.

So what is it, a miscalibrated dip stick or were some of the Ford 460's designed with 6 quart oil pans? I'm hoping someone here has a definitive answer since my questioning mind would like to know.

Thanks in advance for all y'alls help and insight.

Steve
Class A

4 Replies

  • Geocritter's avatar
    Geocritter
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2013
    John&Joey wrote:
    Also read up (google) on flat tappet engines and the need for zinc in the oil.

    I always used Rotella 15w40 in my 460 and was very pleased with the results except in the beginning. That's when all it's detergents really cleaned out the engine. Within a few hundred miles the oil was black. This is from a one owner rig that changed it every 3K miles prior to me.


    I've been sold on Mobil 1 oil since the mid-90's. I don't know about zinc in it but I do know that the last three cars I've owned and driven were each approaching the 300,000 mile mark when I sold them. On my cars, I'd typically change the oil and filter at 10,000 mile intervals and they all still ran good and never used excessive oil. When I lived up north it was also nice to know that my car, with no special precautions, would turn over and start when it was -25 outside.

    Steve
  • John_Joey's avatar
    John_Joey
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2013
    Also read up (google) on flat tappet engines and the need for zinc in the oil.

    I always used Rotella 15w40 in my 460 and was very pleased with the results except in the beginning. That's when all it's detergents really cleaned out the engine. Within a few hundred miles the oil was black. This is from a one owner rig that changed it every 3K miles prior to me.
  • Geocritter's avatar
    Geocritter
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2013
    Richard,
    You are absolutely correct, apparently I misread the Ford chassis manual the first time I read it.
    Thank you for pointing out my error.
    Steve
  • RLS7201's avatar
    RLS7201
    Explorer II
    Oct 29, 2013
    Steve,

    If you have the original Ford chassis manual it will state "5 quart oil pan + 1 quart for the filter". 1988 to 1997 F53 with 460 all take 6 quarts with filter change.

    Richard
    95 Bounder F53

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