New Holland/Ford 555E engine oil issues

[EddieWalker]

I looked online for how much oil the engine takes. It says 18 quarts. The online calculator says that 18 quarts is 4.5 gallons. My dipstick says that this is way too much. I'll have to put a little more effort into what the correct amount of oil is.

https://www.tractor-specs.net/new-holland/nh-555e.html

 

[LouNY]

by this one only 7 quarts.
TractorData.com Ford 555A backhoe-loader tractor engine information

 

[ovrszd]

Eddie, I researched the Service Manual for your machine. It also says 18 quarts. It mentions an engine oil cooler? I haven't researched that yet? Is there an external engine oil cooler/radiator or a separate engine oil tank where it could store that much oil?

I struggle to imagine that engine oil pan could hold 18 quarts of oil. My 7.3L Power Stroke only holds 14 quarts.

Meanwhile, if the dipstick says it's over full you need to drain it until you are at the full mark on the stick. You can catch the oil in a clean container to be reused.

I'll search this more. Something just doesn't sound right....

 

[ovrszd]

Eddie can you confirm whether your engine is a 3 cyl or 4 cyl??? Thanks.

 

[EddieWalker]

My engine is four cylinders. What's weird is that I've had the backhoe since 2003 and I've changed the oil at least a dozen times, maybe more. It's only in the last year that I noticed the oil level being so high. What did I do differently is a big mystery to me?

 

[ovrszd]

My engine is four cylinders. What's weird is that I've had the backhoe since 2003 and I've changed the oil at least a dozen times, maybe more. It's only in the last year that I noticed the oil level being so high. What did I do differently is a big mystery to me?

Just wanted to clarify the engine because the D version had the 3cyl like mine that only holds 7 qts. Didn't want us to be chasing a ghost.

This is definitely a mystery. "IF" you have previously changed the oil with 4.5 gallons and the dipstick has measured the level as "full" there would have to be a change in capacity??

That would require the oil pan to be smashed. Which almost always results in a severe hammering because the rotating crankshaft will hit it.

Only other explanation would be a changed dip stick? Lost the old one for example?

In my old man memory it seems one of your issues in regards to this thread was an "over full" crankcase? So how did it suddenly go from correct level to over full? We were all assuming it was gaining oil from somewhere. But then you changed the oil and added the amount the manual said to add and it measures over full. If it gained a lot of oil in 2 hrs operation, in another 2 hrs it will begin to make strange sounds and spew oil from things such as the crankcase breather.

I guess you could drain the pan and measure the output? Should have your 4.5 gallons minus the filter capacity.

I just can't get past 19 years of use and multiple oil changes and no "over full" situation until now.

Definitely need to drain the engine oil level back down to the full mark. Then start chasing the ghost. Sorry I can't be more helpful....

 

[EddieWalker]

My other thought is that I had another source on how much oil I put in it, and it was a lot less. I have some papers for it on a shelf in my shop that I'm going to try and find. I thought 4 1/2 gallons was a lot, but found that amount on several different websites, so I went with it.

 

[ovrszd]

My other thought is that I had another source on how much oil I put in it, and it was a lot less. I have some papers for it on a shelf in my shop that I'm going to try and find. I thought 4 1/2 gallons was a lot, but found that amount on several different websites, so I went with it.

Yep. And everything I can research says 4.5 Gallons. The only "out" was the engine type. Somewhere in the switch from D model to E model there was an engine change. The early models had the old 3cyl with 7 quart oil capacity. Later models had the 4 cyl with 4.5 gallon capacity. Wanted to verify we are talking about the correct engine.

If you know the dip stick is the correct one, I'd drain it down to the full mark and then start putting hours on it to see if it gains fluid.

I think in my readings I also saw a pic of the dip stick and it actually has 3 marks. The top two give you a range of operation before you get down to the add mark. So if properly filled the level should be at the top mark.

 

[EddieWalker]

I can't imagine how the dipstick could have been changed. I'll look at it again. It has the cross marks on it for where the oil should be. The oil is a good ways above that.

If diesel was getting in there, I think that I should be able to smell it. Especially if there is gallons of it in the oil.

If hydraulic oil was getting in there, I don't know what that would smell like. I haven't been able to figure out how hydraulic oil could get into the engine, or if it's even possible.

I changed the oil when it was broke down. I only ran it for 2 hours. I checked the oil the next day before starting it up to carry and exercise bike from my shipping container to my shop. That's when I noticed that it had too much oil. I did not check the oil level when I changed the oil, I just assumed it would be correct.