Dipstick Length ?


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By thundercat - 11 Years Ago

Good Morning ,  Im presently working on a 322 Y block into a 32 Ford  .Im using a Tbird rear sump pan and fabricated tubing headers .I had to move dipstick tube to center and cut down  to work with the headers..   If I put 5 quarts of oil in pan , didn't start engine and mark dipstick at that level would that be correct??    THANKS

By Ted - 11 Years Ago

Sounds like a good plan.  That would still allow an extra quart then for the filter.
By thundercat - 11 Years Ago
THANKS Ted ..
By lyonroad - 11 Years Ago
Ted (8/13/2014)

Sounds like a good plan.  That would still allow an extra quart then for the filter.


Ted, wouldn't Thundercat then have to run the engine to fill the filter and then mark the dip stick, or do the Tbird pans hold more oil than the sedans?

By Ted - 11 Years Ago
lyonroad (8/13/2014)

Ted, wouldn't Thundercat then have to run the engine to fill the filter and then mark the dip stick, or do the Tbird pans hold more oil than the sedans?

You can figure on six quarts with filter for most Y pans.  The exception would be the HD truck pans which are 7 quarts with filter.  What thundercat proposes sounds fine as the freshly marked dipstick will read ~ a quart low after the engine is started and then once an extra quart is added to compensate for filling the filter, the dipstick will be close to the new ‘full’ mark.  A more accurate method for the standard capacity oil pans would be to simply put six quarts of oil in the crankcase, start the engine so the filter is full, and then mark the dipstick accordingly.
By lyonroad - 11 Years Ago
Thanks for the clarification Ted.  I was confused because my shop manual says oil capacity is 5 quarts.  I re-read it this morning and noticed in the fine print to add 1 more quart for the filter.
By sprink88 - 11 Years Ago
I have always added 5qts to my engines on oil change. And even now, 1/2 way through the season, my dipstick reads right in between the marks. Does this mean wrong dipstick I assume? 

NOTE: engine is "new to me" about 3 years ago
By Ted - 11 Years Ago
sprink88 (8/15/2014)
I have always added 5qts to my engines on oil change. And even now, 1/2 way through the season, my dipstick reads right in between the marks. Does this mean wrong dipstick I assume? 

What you’re observing could be a mismatch of tube and dipstick or the tube itself could simply be inserted too far into the block.  All the service literature (including some Fifties owner’s manuals) I have for the Y engines says five quarts of oil and if changing the filter, then add an additional quart.  This goes back to the days when the filters were changed at every other oil change.
By slick56 - 11 Years Ago
Ted (8/16/2014)
sprink88 (8/15/2014)
I have always added 5qts to my engines on oil change. And even now, 1/2 way through the season, my dipstick reads right in between the marks. Does this mean wrong dipstick I assume? 

What you’re observing could be a mismatch of tube and dipstick or the tube itself could simply be inserted too far into the block.  All the service literature (including some Fifties owner’s manuals) I have for the Y engines says five quarts of oil and if changing the filter, then add an additional quart.  This goes back to the days when the filters were changed at every other oil change.

Would the extra quart be for the original canister oil filter?

I suspect a spin on filter would not hold a quart?
By MoonShadow - 11 Years Ago
Most engines still state to add one quart with a new filter. I would fill or part fill the filter, put it on the car, then add 5 quarts plus whatever is left in the filter quart. Start the motor to ensure the filter is full. Shut it off and leave it for a bit then check, mark the high point and be done! I did this with a Chrysler chrome dipstick that was long enough but marked wrong. Still got it. You could even use a file or dremmel tool to mark the full and one quart low points. Chuck