Oil Capacity Question

Tom in SW VA

Tom in SW VA

Well-known member
I just changed the oil in my new-to-me 37 Ford. It only took 3 1/4 quarts and the dipstick indicated full. It is a 81A flathead, not a 21-stud engine. What should I do? The 37 original specs say 5 quarts. Has anyone had this experience??

Thanking you in advance................
 
Tom in SW VA said:
I just changed the oil in my new-to-me 37 Ford. It only took 3 1/4 quarts and the dipstick indicated full. It is a 81A flathead, not a 21-stud engine. What should I do? The 37 original specs say 5 quarts. Has anyone had this experience??

Thanking you in advance................
Click to expand...
Why would you go by 37 specs when your motor is a 24 stud. 37 engines are 21 stud?? 81-A is 1938. they all take same amount of oil up to 49 i believe 4 1/2 qts. Read your owners manual. ken ct.
 
the dip stick for the 81A is 11 23/32 from the stop coller to the FULL mark. It is 16 5/8" long. The same dip stick was used from 35-48. many of the guys feel it should take 4 qts some 5 qts. if you fill it too much it will leak out the rear or front of the crank. If you have the correct dip stick and outter tube which is about 8 21/64 long. I would fill it to the full mark and watch the level, checking often, especially after the first start.
 
Simply put in the correct amount of oil, where is reads on the stick mark it with a small file or grind a notch in the stick. Who know where your existing stick came from.
 
Tom in SW VA said:
I just changed the oil in my new-to-me 37 Ford. It only took 3 1/4 quarts and the dipstick indicated full. It is a 81A flathead, not a 21-stud engine. What should I do? The 37 original specs say 5 quarts. Has anyone had this experience??

Thanking you in advance................
Click to expand...
Four quarts five with a filter.goodkuk
 
I've seen them with filters and without. The filter usually drains quite a bit of oil back to the crankcase but not near all of it. Having no filter at all cuts it down by 3/4 of a quart at least.

Kerby
 
I had a similar question a while ago. My 50 Ford has the stock dipstick and an oil filter. If I put in 4 quarts, it is right at the full mark. Putting in 5 quarts (due to the filter) makes it read high. I just put a mark on the stick where it reads with 5 quarts in it. I don't know if there where two different dipsticks for running a filter and not running a filter, but keeping it at the mark I put on has worked OK for 13 years.
 
I think mine is a truck pan,with large drain plug,and removable clutch cover.Is normal capacity for this one same as for a car pan?
 
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