How often do you check your oil?

Blue Streak

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I will have to admit I would check my oil semi regularly after an oil change to make sure the level was correct. Then not so often. I always figured no leaks don't see it smoking no need to check it. Then I saw the fuel in oil thread & got obsessed with checking it. I'm wore out. Ford recommends checking it once a month so that's what I am going back too. What about you? :)
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P. A. Schilke

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I will have to admit I would check my oil semi regularly after an oil change to make sure the level was correct. Then not so often. I always figured no leaks don't see it smoking no need to check it. Then I saw the fuel in oil thread & got obsessed with checking it. I'm wore out. Ford recommends checking it once a month so that's what I am going back too. What about you? :)
Hi Larry,

I check it from time to time when I think about it....since it shows no worries and the oil on the stick looks fine...I do not worry. My non catch can motor sees to do just fine at this juncture...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
 

Sharky

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once a month...... :like:
 

JKocot

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Langwilliams

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Usually after reading a fuel in oil thread in here.

I had the high oil an fuel smell early on. After the first oil change it seems fine. I still check it once every other week or so.
 


Ranger_Rocks

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Once a week... until I Unwatch the Fuel in Oil thread !

Level has been at the top hole every check, even after first oil/filter change.

Relieved that I am not experiencing rising oil levels adds to my Ranger smiles. :)
 

Texasota

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Once a week... until I Unwatch the Fuel in Oil thread !

Level has been at the top hole every check, even after first oil/filter change.

Relieved that I am not experiencing rising oil levels adds to my Ranger smiles. :)
Same here! That darn "Fuel in Oil" thread has me watching it like a hawk.

I have confirmed that on my Ranger the oil level rises with short trips. The oil level is stable with highway driving. Our Minnesota cold weather makes the short trip problem worse.
 

RangerDangerStranger

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After i changed it- once or twice, then on gas fill ups here and there. not close to every fill up.
 

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Not driving it a lot lately, so I only check the oil once a month, maybe.
 

Markubis

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I never check my oil, but I do change it every Spring and every Fall. Fresh oil for winter and fresh oil for summer.
 

Avanti

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I seem to have a difficult time checking my oil. I usually have oil all the way up the stick each time I attempt. Once in a while i get a discernible reading at the upper dot. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I did feel my oil level had risen once and got an early oil change. Thought I smelled gas also. The service department collected the oil to show me it was the proper volume. They also said it didn’t smell like gas. I smelled the new oil and it smelled the same as it did before. I felt pretty dumb and paranoid.
 

Zanardi

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I seem to have a difficult time checking my oil. I usually have oil all the way up the stick each time I attempt. Once in a while i get a discernible reading at the upper dot. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I did feel my oil level had risen once and got an early oil change. Thought I smelled gas also. The service department collected the oil to show me it was the proper volume. They also said it didn’t smell like gas. I smelled the new oil and it smelled the same as it did before. I felt pretty dumb and paranoid.
Avanti - In my experience oil creeping up the stick is common not only in my Ranger but just about every engine large or small. I don't know if it "splashes" up there or is due to capillary action because you have small space between the dipstick and the tube it fits in. It's nothing you're doing wrong. It's can definitely be annoying.

A few tips to avoid it:

1) Gravity solves the problem. Check your oil after the engine has been off for awhile. This allows all of the oil to settle back down into the pan and give you a "true" reading. Generally the oil that creeps up the stick settles nicely as well. First thing in the morning before you start the engine is a great time to check the oil if you think of it. Usually the first reading you get when you pull the stick is going to be the most accurate of the day.

2) If I'm at the gas station filling up I will often pop the hood and pull the stick first so the oil can settle for a few minutes while I'm filling. This makes it easier to get an accurate reading and seems to eliminate the oil creeping up the stick. If you set the stick on your fan shroud or such while filling just be sure to wipe it good and clean before inserting to get rid of any sand or grit it might have picked up.

3) Even without waiting for the oil to settle I find if I pull and wipe the stick, insert it again and just wiggle it up and down in the tube a few times (only an inch or two) it's enough to break up the oil creep and give me a decent reading when I pull it.

I hope this helps!

For what it's worth the oil in every engine I've had including the Ranger seems to smell like gas in my opinion.
 

Msfitoy

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Since my truck is over 50k and has never shown any sign of leakage or burning oil, I only check the level after oil change...anything catastrophic happens between changes, the oil light will let me know... ?
 
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u wish u could ride

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i was every couple thousand miles. over 20 k miles now i pretty much stopped checking it .have been at same dealer having it changed every 4k miles .they ordered center armrest at last visit.(under warrantee for coming untucked from edge.) truck is best vehicle i have ever owned!! so far so good!!
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