Question?????

I know that I didn't have 9 qts in mine! I'm thinking that the d*mn sensor just went bad and started leaking. It didn't seem like that much oil came out of my car when I drained it. I will add the other qt but the stick does show full with 5. I read that Romeo motors need 6 and Windsor motors need 5, any ideas about that?

I'd take the dipsticks word for it (I don't mean Tim, lol)

Danstang wrote:I'd take the dipsticks word for it (I don't mean Tim, lol)

NICE! And well said, Dan!

You guys do what you want but it is a common know fact that the 4.6 needs 6 qts and that Ford has a tsb to that effect. I'm just giving out my knowledge take it or ignore it not my engine so it doesnt hurt me at all

Mine says to put some thing like 5.5 quarts in. I just round it up to an even six. Most engines out there you can put more in than what they recommend. Usually at least by a quart or two. I use to put 7 in my Monte-Carlo and it actually called for just 6.

BraMas wrote:I'm pretty sure you need 6qts. Your book might say 5 and you might show full but Ford changed the requirements because they found oil starvation problems going around corners. Trust me you will be ok with 6 I put 7qts in for my oil changes. I have seen a oil pan test where someone put 9qts in a 4.6 oil pan and it was still not over flowing the oil pan

Just a bit curious... Why do you use 7 if 6 will do?...

I put 7 in because of what I use my car for Between AutoX and Open Track days my car spends allot of time in corners and I know it wont ever starve for oil with 7qts in it. Just piece of mind and insurance for me.
And like I said in that post I know the oil pan can take allot more oil and the Crank in a 4.6 does not go into the oil pan so there is no way the oil will foam up. That is one of the main reasons you do not put to much oil in a Push rod motor if the oil foams up from the crank splashing through the oil and the foamy oil can get sucked up and starve the motor of oil

I had and oil change done back when I first got the car and they only put 5qts in it. Didn't notice it until I looked at the bill when I stopped to get gas right after and I was a qt low. They added a qt to correct it, but were confused because their info showed the car needed 5qts. I suppose they corrected it since then....I hope.

I'm now going with and sticking to 5w30 in the cobra. I never let the oil get low and i still spun a bearing. after talking with the guys at Modular Depot who are replacing my engine, they have seen this problem a lot in the cobra and 4.6L mods that have been upgraded and are pushing a lot of HP. So it's 5w30 in the car from now on cuz i don't want to have to call MMR for another shortblock again lol.

Oil....check
Gauge corrected....check
All leaks stopped....still checking
lesson learned....check

Well the gauge is fixed and still no dripping so I think the issue has been resolved. I don't think that there was too much oil in it, I think that the oil pressure sensor just crapped out. I measured the oil that came out and it was about 5.25qts and it leaked for only a few miles of driving so I didn't drown it in oil. Still running strong and leaving the pack so I think she's ok. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Did you up it to 6qts?

BraMas wrote:Did you up it to 6qts?

It's at about 5.75 qts. I filled it to a little over the full line. I was a little gun shy when adding the oil this time!

OK I'll find the TSB info you need so you can fell better about the 6qts

HAHAHA! Sounds good Tim thanks!

OK I was wrong about the TSB but Ford changed the owners manual in 2002 to read 6qts. The following is a from a member on Mustang Forums. You can go to the 2002 owners manual and see the change for yourself. Hopefully this is enough for you to trust me.

"It was not in a TSB that I am aware, however if you look in the owner's manuals https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp you can see that it was changed in 2002.

2001 spec:


2002 spec:


The recommended quantity and the dipstick markings are all that was changed. The pans are identical, this has been verified by a number of fellow forum members having first hand knowledge of the pre-2002 and later engines.

Ford changed the recommended engine fill in late 2001 from 5 to 6 qts in response to 3rd party tests that revealed oil starvation during high-G turns. I had a link to the study at one time however it's dead now--I should have downloaded the page..."

I think this says that all 4.6 mod motors should have six qts since they're basically the same motors. For your peace of mind Tim I added the other .25 qt this afternoon! Just kidding partner, thanks for all of the info. Hopefully I wont have any more oil trouble!