5 or 6qts in 4.6L?

02GTRX

I told an admin to shut up...now I live with the S
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Sep 27, 2004
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How many quarts of oil go in the 4.6L??? I've been puttin 5 since I got the car new and its got 30K miles now...

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The manual in my 02 said 5..I didn't think anything had changed..that's wierd my car runs fine...I hope I haven't caused any long term damage..
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No I never check it. I figure if its not leaking or smoking there no reason to check it. The reason for not checking after change is because thinking 5 qts is what it takes and that's what I put it should be good to go..can this be what affecting my gas mileage??
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Could be, not 100% sure if 1qt low, in a 6qt system, would effect things that much.

I do know some cars (including the Mustang) can burn upto a quart every few thousand miles and still be considered 'normal' by manufacturers.
 
Hmmm...well when I drain the oil into the bucket I use, I then put it in the 5qt container from the new oil and it always fills almost all the way to where the new oil level was at. I guess ill start using 6qts and see if there's any differnce. I change my oil every 5 or 6 weeks though so that is pretty often.
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Wow, every 5-6 weeks... and I thought I was bad changing it every 3 months! LOL

Usually when I change I'll fill it with 5.5 qts and then check the stick. I'll usually end up having to add another 1/2 qt to get her in the middle of the hash marks. Then I'll check it every week or so.. knock on wood, I've never had to add any.
 
Yea well with my daily commute to work I'm putting 106miles on her everyday! That's y I'm looking for a gsxr or cbr to be able to park my stang 6months outta the year
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One quart low shouldn't hurt you unless you're really pushing the car (hard cornering can uncover the oil pickup and starve the engine of oil, which will normally ends in a spun bearing). There are quite a few things that have changed since 02, like that pesky third valve:rolleyes:
Dan
 
It's 6 quarts. There's a big difference with this 2005+ 4.6L. It's got 3V vs 2V. Tons of things really but just follow the mfg's recommendation on oil capacity !! I don't think you messed anything up but you should just start doing it the right way now.
 
I agree with McNastyness. I doubt anything has been messed up, but make sure the next change has 6 qt's in the pan. :)

Sorry to be a dick, but seriously, you bought a $25k+ car and didn't think to consult the manual it came with? :nono:
 
I use Castrol 5w-20 syntec blend, and yes IT IS 6 qts.
by running this oil should I also run for 5,000 miles before I change it?
I have been changing it every 3,000-3,500.

By the way I also substitute I syntec blend quart for 1 quart LUCAS oil stabilizer.
A good recommendation for ANYONE.
 
Ford recommends 5,000 miles with a semi synthetic blend. There are many car mfgs that recommend 10,000 miles with a full synthetic oil.

Depending on the car. You dont want to overdue it. Most domestic cars should only go about 5k maybe 6. An audi or honda can easily go 8. I wouldnt recommend going over 5 though.

What is the difference between an Audi or Honda vs a 2005 Mustang in terms of oil usage? Technology has come a long way and today's cars generally have very similar tolerances. I've had Blackstone do oil analysis on a 2006 F150 and my 2008 Mustang. The oil was still good to go with 5000, than 7500, and than 10000 miles. In the end it comes down to the environment the car is subjected to that determines oil life.
 
With Audi's record for maintence issues I think I'd be MORE likely to change the oil earlier.

The only true way to tell when you car needs a oil change is to take a sample and have it lab tested. Do this a few times and you will find the sweet spot for your car. Myself, I beat my car like a naughty puppy so I'm going to change my oil every ~3.5k miles ish. Sometimes sooner but never over 3.5k miles.

IMHO, even with the best synthetic there is always a chance something could go wrong and make the oil break down early (accessive rich condition for example) . I"m not going to take the chance on my car. Stick with the manufacters' reccomended spec's and you should have no worries.
 
I used Blackstone labs as well. The Mobile 1 0W-20 & the 5W-20 (I've had two tests done so far) were both perfectly fine when I changed them after 3k of use. Blackstone Labs said I could easily extend the changes to 5-7k without any issues, though I'm still changing at 3k or 6 months, which ever comes first.