Oil Level On Dipstick....

For what it's worth, here are some filter volumes:
Standard FL-1A 3 5/8"D x 5"H 0.88 quarts of oil.
Smaller that will fit the same mount:
Fram PH7328, 3 5/8"D x 3 1/4"H 0.6 quart
Fram PH3614, 3"D x 3 3/8"H 0.4 quart
Fram PH3600, 3"D x 5"H 0.6 quart
 
Run the engine for a while to ensure there is oil in the filter and then check the level . I have the same set up you have and I put in 5 quarts . The oil will drain out of the filter over night and if you you check the level in the morning it will be over full . You can lower the level 1/2 quart by replacing the filter. No need to take out the drain plug.
 
billybronco1 said:
Can someone send a picture of what the oil dip stick looks like on a 1931 Coupe, mine does not look or fit right
Click to expand...

Go to the "SEARCH" box at the top right of this page, and type in "DIPSTICK" and I'd think a picture would appear in one of the threads. It would have a round loop handle with both parts of the loop fitting into the block hole, but only the long half round part reaching the oil.

Earlier dipsticks had a long loop handle.
 
I could not find a picture here but found a pic online, I guess its right because this is what I came up with, seemed a bit loose and sloppy
 

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The dip stick is made from a D shaped metal. At the handle end
the two D's make a circle this needs to fit the hole in the block
pushed down tight. A newbie's A was blowing oil out of this hole
I asked him if I could fix this oil leak No more oil leak :-)
 
Tight to where the stick doesn't turn or come out by itself If not
tight you could spread the to metal pieces near the loop/handle
with a screwdriver while holding the (step area? ) closed
 
FWIW, just sharing past experiences:

Fortunes were made every year years ago with engine oil level tricks before self-serve gas stations because after car drivers would pull up to a filling station, the attendant would pull out the dip stick, & because the entire interior of the engine had a heavy coat of oil, the attendant would show the guy that his engine's dip stick indicated a quart low below the "F" mark -- it worked with many, & quarts of oil were sold all day long like this.

Many rookies in the military flunked their first Military Inspector General (IG) motor pool inspections because of adding oil to a warm military engines whereby when they cooled, they registered above the full "F" mark. Engines were always inspected prior to start up & the oil level was expected to register full, at the "F" mark, when the engines were cold.

All it took was one (1) single ferocious butt reaming after flunking a military IG inspection for any military guy with any rank to remember "Military Oil Level 101" for the rest of his entire life; i.e., oil level should be at the "F" level when the engine is cold.

Hope this helps to remember the reason for "F" mark on the dip stick. LOL
 
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Some here say "A bit high is Good" , and they give good reasons for doing so. Others (the majority it seems) say "Midway between 'F' and 'L', and they give good reasons for doing it that way.

In the spirit of compromise, I say (and have been doing for 50 years) "Lets split the difference and fill oil up to the 'F' (Full) mark. I generally have a 'default' position of following Henry Ford's advice and recommendation.

That being said (also with 50 years of Model A driving experience), it troubles me not when I find the oil stick's level 'a bit high', or 'a bit low'.
I never add or detract from anything close to the 'F' mark on the Dip Stick.

- Doug Vieyra,
Crottichity Old Cramudgeon Hoarder
 
Does anyone know the distance in inches from the top/exterior surface of engine block dipstick hole to the oil level in the pan when it is at the correct level with the five qts recommended level without filter and cold? With this dimension, you could check your dipstick for accuracy and calibrate it for your comfort of your comfort of your mind. Maybe someone could measure it out with a depth gauge or long straw down the hole? Something to do if your really looking for something to do on your car. Or else, just?keep it between F and L. Wasn't that Fords suggestion to keep it above L and below F.
 
If overfilled too much, it will blow out of the dip stick hole and make a big mess. As long as that is not happening, let it go.
 
The key to exact amount in the crankcase is the distance from the stop/shoulder on the oil indicator stick, dipstick, that stops entry into the engine block, and the actual oil level in the pan. I believe this to be 6 5/8 inches for the F mark and 7 3/4 inches for the L mark. This should be the correct calibration for the oil indicator to indicate the F and L . There appears to be about 5 pts that remain in the lifter gallery and the dipper tray, the reason to add only 4 quarts when refilling. If any oil remains in a filter, that would have to be added to the 4 quarts added for filling.
 
Why not just forget the 4-5 quart issue and fill the engine to the correct level on the stick. After all, the stick and filler tube are side by side and oil can generally (always) be poured as needed.
 
When doing a oil change here at the shop MOST moderns take from 5.0 to 6.5 quarts. No matter what the books say on capacity with and without a filter change we always put 5 in start it briefely to fill the filter then recheck and add as necessary to bring it to the full reading on the stick...figuring out what a filter holds etc is just a waste of time...
Any oil left in the motor galleys etc will be there all the time when shut off... to much thinking going on about a simple thing
Make sure the vehicle is on a level surface

What James said above
 
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