Oil Level Increasing

[thomasm23]

This is what the owners manual says.


Maintenance - Engine Oil Check
ENGINE OIL CHECK

Make sure that your vehicle is on level ground.
Check the oil level before starting the engine, or switch the engine off after warm up and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the oil pan.
Note: Checking the oil level too soon could result in an inaccurate reading.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Reinstall the dipstick and make sure it is fully seated.
Remove the dipstick again to check the oil level.
Note: If the oil level is between the maximum and minimum marks, the oil level is acceptable.Do not add oil.
If the oil level is at the minimum mark, immediately add oil.
Reinstall the dipstick. Make sure it is fully seated.
Note: The oil consumption of new engines reaches its normal level after approximately 3000 mi (5,000 km).
Note: Increases in oil level can occur from frequent short trips that do not allow the engine to get to operating temperature, as well as frequent idling or low speed driving for long periods of time.
Note: If oil levels are continuously noted above the maximum mark, schedule a visit to your authorized dealer.
Adding Engine Oil
WARNING: Do not add engine oil when the engine is hot. Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not remove the filler cap when the engine is running.

Do not use supplemental engine oil additives because they are unnecessary and could lead to engine damage that the vehicle warranty may not cover.
Clean the area surrounding the engine oil filler cap before you remove it.
Remove the engine oil filler cap.
Add engine oil that meets our specifications. See Engine Oil Capacity and Specification - 1.5L EcoBoost™.
Reinstall the engine oil filler cap.Turn it clockwise until you feel a strong resistance.
Note: Make sure you install the oil filler cap correctly.
Note: Do not add oil further than the maximum mark.Oil levels above the maximum mark may cause engine damage.
Note: Immediately soak up any oil spillage with an absorbent cloth.
2022 Bronco Sport Owner's Manual

This is from the 2021 Bronco Sport owners manual.

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[sajohnson]

What is the "nominal" mark for on the dipstick?

Is it the full level when cold?

 

[RSH]

This is from the 2021 Bronco Sport owners manual.

The Op's BS is a 2022 model, the excerpt I posted is from the 2022 owners manual from Ford.com
Using either oil check method, the oil level should not be above the full mark on the dipstick.

 

[Mark S.]

I've seen the chocolate milkshake look of water in oil and there is none of that. Oil is clean & bright. I filled the coolant reservoir to the max line to monitor for coolant loss, and that is not happening. My wife drives it 14 miles (20 minutes) each way to work 5 days a week. We will drive it 30-40 mile trips a couple times a month, but I have never checked oil 15 minutes after one of those trips. I always check it after it has sat overnight and the level keeps climbing up the dipstick.

Try a long drive, let it sit 15 minutes, then check it. If it keeps climbing after a few long drives then it's time for a shop visit.

 

[sajohnson]

The Op's BS is a 2022 model, the excerpt I posted is from the 2022 owners manual from Ford.com
Using either oil check method, the oil level should not be above the full mark on the dipstick.

I'm still curious about the "nominal" mark on the dipstick. I've done several searches and cannot find anything.

Anyone know what it's for?

 

[Mark S.]

Generally speaking, in engineering speak "nominal" is a synonym for "satisfactory," "normal," and "A-OK." Given that the next mark up is labeled "Maximum," I suspect what the tech writer MEANT to say there was that the top of the hatched area is the normal full mark.

 

[Major Kong]

I'm still curious about the "nominal" mark on the dipstick. I've done several searches and cannot find anything.

Anyone know what it's for?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_versus_nominal_value

personal experiences with this terminology
lumber and pipe sizing

 

[Major Kong]

Generally speaking, in engineering speak "nominal" is a synonym for "satisfactory," "normal," and "A-OK." Given that the next mark up is labeled "Maximum," I suspect what the tech writer MEANT to say there was that the top of the hatched area is the normal full mark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_versus_nominal_value

in all fairness
it did say sometimes

 

[sajohnson]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_versus_nominal_value

in all fairness
it did say sometimes

Thank you to you and Mark.

I'm going to assume that anything between "nominal" and "maximum" is full.

IIRC, the dipstick on our Sprinter chassis has similar markings -- one is the *cold* full level, the hole is for operating temp level. There is quite a bit of volume change between cold and warm/hot -- but it's a diesel and has a 12.5 quart capacity.

 

[Major Kong]

Nominal as I understood it applied to a given accepted range of measures
personal dealings occurred mostly with pipe size in the construction arena
say design called for 8" watermain pipe
nominal size would be described as 8" nominal pipe size (int dia)
however a whole series of varying values would present themselves
OD values would vary by material and class of pipe
so in essence
I consider the use of the term as "acceptable parameter" for a given value

 

[sajohnson]

Nominal as I understood it applied to a given accepted range of measures
personal dealings occurred mostly with pipe size in the construction arena
say design called for 8" watermain pipe
nominal size would be described as 8" nominal pipe size (int dia)
however a whole series of varying values would present themselves
OD values would vary by material and class of pipe
so in essence
I consider the use of the term as "acceptable parameter" for a given value

Pipe (or lumber) is a good example. Coincidentally, I was just looking at a pipe dimensions chart:
https://www.howellpipe.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Howell-Copper-Pipe-Tube-Dimensions.pdf

As you know, the O.D. of pipe is fixed. 1/2" pipe is 0.625" O.D., regardless of wall thickness. The "1/2" nominal size refers to the I.D., which varies from .569 to .527". Nominal is the correct term.

Back to the "nominal" mark on the dipstick -- I understand how the word 'nominal' is typically used (pipe, or a "2x4" being closer to 1.5x3.5" for example) -- but that does not seem to apply here, not exactly.

I'm trying to think of why Ford (and other mfrs) would deviate from ye olde dipstick with "low" and "full" markings only. The oil level is either full or it's not. All I can figure is that Ford either a) is accounting for expansion due to temp extremes, or b) they're saying (essentially) "Full" is anywhere between nominal and maximum. When the oil is changed or topped off, the level should be at least "nominal" but no more than "maximum"?

Does that make sense?

 

[Mac]

The oil was at the bottom of the Maxium hole when I changed it 2300 miles ago. It has increased up the dipstick 5/8". This was checked 15 minutes after a 20 minute drive.

 

[Dude]

I'm still curious about the "nominal" mark on the dipstick. I've done several searches and cannot find anything.

How about this … you haven’t found a single agreed to definition for “nominal” point on the dipstick because….

Btw .. I used the pic posted earlier from a 2021 Owners Manual but ‘22 and ‘23 owners (actually all owners) would use the Owners Manual applicable to their vehicle.

 

[quirkybar8]

Excessive fuel dilution is the likely issue, a well known problem for direct injection turbocharged engines. The most relevant part of the posted owners manual:

Note: Increases in oil level can occur from frequent short trips that do not allow the engine to get to operating temperature, as well as frequent idling or low speed driving for long periods of time.
Note: If oil levels are continuously noted above the maximum mark, schedule a visit to your authorized dealer.

My direct experience is with the 2.3l iteration in the 5G Ranger. 2 service visits, the first replacing the HPFP and the second the #1 injector, but it continued to "make oil". Both fixes noted that the tech actually did diagnostic work beforehand. I found it difficult to change via driving habits and nearly always got it up to operating temp at the minimum.

Some will argue that it's your driving style, your improper engine break-in that didn't allow the rings to seat well, that you aren't checking it correctly, that it's normal and the engines are designed to handle it, that the PCV system is inherently flawed, on and on. Ford engineering remained mum, so armchair quarterbacking runs rampant.

At least they've added that language to your owners manual, acknowledging the potential for a problem. OTOH, they appear to have dropped the only reference in mine, which is Note: Do not add oil further than the maximum mark. Oil levels above the maximum mark may cause engine damage.

 

[Dude]

…OTOH, they appear to have dropped the only reference in mine, which is Note: Do not add oil further than the maximum mark. Oil levels above the maximum mark may cause engine damage.

My owners manual for ‘22 Badlands also has that note in both the PDF Version and the website (link) version:

Note: Do not add oil further than the maximum mark. Oil levels above the maximum mark may cause engine damage.

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