eot52

I've read some of the threads with same subject but still confused. I'm no novice to 350's but this is the 1st time I've experienced this. Had car for a couple of months and decided to change oil. 350/300 HP 70 Corvette. Drained oil and removed filter while car on level lift. Replaced filter with same size filter. Added 5 quart bottle to crankcase. Shows 1/2 inch above full on dipstick after running for 5 minutes and cooling down to settle oil. I always believed this could be dangerous but have no experience with this situation. Level was showing at the add mark before changing. Tube appears to be seated correctly.

Is this potentially dangerous to run it like this if in fact it is too full? Any thoughts on how to determine if I have the correct tube and dipstick?

20mercury

same problem on my 72

Surfer69

If you put 5 quarts exactly then this is your new spot on the stick and I would mark it permanently. Should not be a problem.

TWINRAY

If you got a 5 qt. capacity and you put 5 qts. in after a new filter, whatever it reads on the stick is your full capacity. Could be you put a "shorty" filter in. I always get the larger 1 qt. filters which fit fine and aren't too long in my applications including my wife's 1979 305" Camaro.

1977L48

I have wondered this as well, and you have to think, if your car is 40+ years old, and its been running all this time, im sure its fine. my 77 is the same way

TWINRAY

I'm excluding the situation that you would have a bunch of sludge sitting in the pan.

1977L48

that much sludge would be getting close to clogging your oil pick up tube.

eot52

Anyone know how far off the pan bottom the dipstick should be? Could you run a wire through the tube and compare to dipstick to see if at correct depth?

7t9l82

it could be the wrong dipstick. mark the new level and be done with it. i think corvette pans are shallower by 1/2 inch.

DUB

GM/AC Delco do not sell the correct SIZE filter any longer. It WAS part number PF-25. Now it is PF-454...which is much shorter than the original style. I use WIX 51069 ( If my memory serves me correctly).

I recently restored a 1970 for a customer...and the oil level and dipstick are perfect. As
long as you know you have 5 quarts in it...and the dipstick is fully seated...mark it and move on...or replace it and do modifications so they both match...which is up to you. There are special colors on the dipsticks that will identify if it is correct. But it also depends on the tube seated in the block...and the depth of the oil pan.

DUB

eot52

WIX 51069 is what I used. Colors on what?

Lupigiato

Interesting. I have the opposite issue. I pour 5 quarts oil in and it barely dampens the tip of the stick. I have an Edelbrock intake RPM Performer and Comp Cams on a rebuilt 327. I was told that even though the oil pan was 5qt capacity, the oil has more places to rest in and not drain all into the pan. Don't know if a valid statement, but makes me nervous. Car runs fine though.

63mako

CORRECT!

1977L48

I run PF-1218, its the old version, holds 1 qt. and there is an even bigger one PF-2232 I think..... ide have to go look at my filter

DUB

At the end of your dip stick..where you insert your finger in the ring to pull out the dip stick...there is a plug that is color coded. Some are black...some are red, etc.

DUB

DUB

YOU SHOULD BE NERVOUS!!!!! Not knowing the CORRECT oil level of your engine is insane.

IF you know for a FACT that you have 5 quarts in the engine. And you crank it today...by tomorrow...the oil will make it to the oil pan...easily. Very little stays in the lifter galley....and that is the only place in the engine where oil can collect of any magnitude. Every where else...it drips off into the pan. And the oil that is in all of your oil galleys hopefully stays there so you do not run into a dry start issue...which this oil is not enough to effect you finding your oil level.

Also..if you are a 327...you more than likely should have the type of cartridge filter that required you to unscrew this large long reservoir and pull out the oil filter and drop a new filter in and replace the "O" ring. These type of filters eat up a quart very easily by themselves.

IF you do not have that type.....and you oil filter is a "twist-on" style. Depending on the depth of the oil pan and the oil tube for your dip stick. I would let the engine sit and begin the process in either.replacing the oil dip stick tube and stick them selves...or modifying them so i have an accurate reading.

I have RARELY seen an aftermarket chrome oil dip sticks and tubes be correct. Seems most people want the "bling" instead of the function of the dipstick.

DUB

John A F

The stock dip stick tube on my 79 L-82 was always loose and would pull out with the dip stick when I checked the oil. Got a chrome replacement at Auto Zone and with 5 quarts at oil and filter change the oil level was about .5 inch above the full mark. I just took a file and made a notch there.