corvettedave383

Hi there

I have 383 sbc, with a wide deep bottom oil pan, one that takes 7 quarts, when changing my engine oil today, i can only get back in 5 litres(4.4 quarts) and its already showing a little over the max mark on the oil dipstick, so either the dipstick marks are incorrect? or there is still 2.6 quarts left in engine after draining the oil out? is that possible?

anyone with some idea's??

thanks for any help

dave

jlpskydive

did you change the filter?? That would account for at least one of the quarts.

REELAV8R

How much came out of the engine when you drained it?

corvettedave383

yes new filter

corvettedave383

good question, i would have to meassure that

corvettedave383

interms of the max mark on the dip stick, its exactly 2 inches from the bottom of stick, is that the same for everyone else??

DUB

That measurement does not matter ...because if the tube that you slide the dipstick into is a different length...that would change the point on the oil dip stick that would tell you that you have it correctly filled.

Also the length of the dipstick itself in relation to the area that seats against the top of the tube that the dipstick slides into.

I can say that from my experiences...a vast majority of the aftermarket chrome oil dipsticks are wrong and worthless. When you add in having a larger pan...that add to it also.

To prevent the oil pan being over filled. I would generally check to make sure everything is correct BEFORE I put on a larger volume pan.

If I am having to assemble an engine where the owner brings me parts..that is when I have to check the oil dipstick when the oil pan is off to make sure it is correct.

DUB

KapsSA

For 20 years I had a big Moroso oil pan n my 79.
Was sure it was 7 qt., couldn't figure out why I could only get in 6 when changing oil.
Went back to stock several years ago and upon draining and removing the pan was surprised to find a full quart in the bottom of the pan.
After thinking about it for a minute it made sense. The drain plug was a good 1/2" up from the bottom. That big flat bottom had a 1/2" of oil in it.


It was lower in the rear too............

CanadaGrant

Your problem isn't the oil pan or dipstick. It's your liters to quarts conversion.
5 liters = 5.28 US quarts

corvettedave383

Many thanks guys for info and help, worked out my issues, the dipstick and dipstick tube are not matched, so ie the full markings on dipstick are too low down, found out on other forums, that the crank sits about 4 inch into the sump and measurement from the block deck to the full mark on dipstick should be 10.7 to 11 inch, so once i did that measurement, clearly see my issue , new mark on dipstick and ive managed to get in 7 litres - 7.4 quarts, the extra 0.4 in the oil filter, i have a 7 quart oil pan, so works out perfect and the measurements show iam not overfilling it, thanks for all the help

roscobbc

Dave you could have got your answer on this from our CCCUK forum! - I had all sorts of issues from overfilling the oil on my stroker BBC engine - oill was being pumped out of the engine on acceleration AND deceleration - it was an aftermarket type oil pan so should have been ok. It was only when I compared stock dipstick and tube with the aftermarket item that came with the oil pan I realised that there was a significant difference in heights of the 'full' mark. I was effectively overfilling the engine will oil - used a correctly referenced Lokar dipstick and tube and problems went away.

corvettedave383

ahh thanks ross, good to know!