I changed the oil for the first time since buying it late fall 2013. I was not sure how much oil to add so had to google it and somebody posted he uses 6 quarts so I went with that. I bought a 5 quart jug and dumped it all in then let it settle a bit then checked the dipstick twice and both times it came up about a 1/4 inch above safe. I did not add 6. So the poster posted some bad info. I thought about draining some but decided to cycle the oil through the new filter first then check so I ran it for about 30 seconds and checked the stick and it came up dry every time. I looked underneath and found the 5 quarts were on the ground. Drain plug was hand tightened then wrenched about a half turn. Oil filter was prepped with oil on the gasket then hand tightened and wrenched about 1/4 turn. Also I am sure the oil filter was not cross threaded. So does anyone have any ideas where I should look for the leak? It was hard to determine right after as it must have sprayed out and onto everything. If putting to much oil in could cause this what is it that gets damaged to cause such a huge leak?

 

5 quarts in 30 seconds?

You shouldn't need help pinpointing the leak... that is a MAJOR leak.

If this is your first time changing the oil since you bought it, it's clear that YOU must have done something.

Things that come to mind:
- Stripped oil pan bolt (would to be a damn good size gap)
- Wrong oil filter

Be sure you didn't accidentally add the oil to the tranny dipstick...

 

What engine? The 4.7 does take 6 quarts.

What filter did you use, brand and part number? Do you have 2 gaskets on the oil filter - as in did the old one come off with the old filter? If not, it can leak.

 

Ding ding ding. We have a winner. Man I have changed oil in many vehicles without a hitch and this is a first so now to go and correct the double gasket oil filter. DUH!!! Thanks guys.

 

I have done that also at least twice in 30 years. The best one was on my old 96 Cherokee, double gasket and it lasted for 3000 miles, when I had the oil changed, was told I had 2 gaskets, must have tightened it JUST right. Working part-time in a Sears Auto center I have found FRAM filters are the most prone to leaving the gasket attached to the vehicle, I always check twice/ three times when removing a Fram filter. 4, 5 or 6 quarts is a mess to clean up.

 

Glad to hear you fixed your problem.

I cannot say that I've ever accidentally left on the old gasket (but I'm sure I will), but the fact that it leaked 5 quarts in 30 seconds is astonishing.

Enjoy your truck!

 

You should always check under your auto after you get a quart or two in the engine and check again to be sure after you start it up.

Crap happens

had a friend had the same thing happen to him

The problem is most people crank their oil filter on way to tight sounds scary but snug then a quarter turn at most.

I did the same thing for years had way too many oil filters that refused to come off because I cranked them on.