How many quarts of oil should I need to put in my 2002 V8 Explorer
when I change the oil?

Do you know how much is too much?  I can't read the dipstick, and I am
worried that I put too much in.  (I put 6...)

Hi questionguy,

Good guess:  the oil capacity is six quarts.


Source:

I downloaded the Owner Guide for the 2002 Explorer to find this answer.

2002 Explorer Owner Guide, 6th Printing.  p. 304
https://web.msslib.dealerconnection.com/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJECTID=09000c58803b180c

It says 5 quarts for the 4.0L engine and 6 quarts for the 4.6L engine,
but from other parts of the book, it is evident that the 4.0L is a V6
and the V8 is the 4.6L engine.  So 6 quarts is right for your V8.


Search Strategy

First I wasted some time with fruitless searches like

2002 ford explorer "oil capacity"

The path to the Owner's Guide started with a more general search for

ford explorer

This led me to

The Explorer Owner's Maintenance Reference Page
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/exp.html

Down near the bottom of that page was a link to

Ford Quality Care Service
http://www.genuineflmservice.com/default.asp

That page had a link to

Glove Box Manuals
http://www.genuineflmservice.com/default.asp?page=E4

From there, I specified your vehicle and got to a page where I could
download the Owner Guide.


I hope this information is helpful.

--efn

A quick check of the Internet shows Ford offering a 4.0-, 4.6- and
5.0-liter version of the V-8.  Have you checked your owner's manual
for oil capacities?  Typically it will show how much oil is required
(and 6 quarts is a common number for American cars) -- with 1/2 quart
less when the oil filter is NOT removed.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA