FE Oil Level

[AZMike427]

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! What I thought was going to be a pretty simple oil change has turned into a bit of a hassle. I have never been confident in the oil level reading on this car so I wanted to get it changed and make sure it's right. Thread here:

427 Oil Level Help

Right now I have 10.5 quarts in the car and I'm still not getting a dipstick reading after letting it sit for a few hours. Would love to hear some local opinion on my fun 2 day oil change...

Mike

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

Mike, wish I knew more but an FE with a full sump and oil cooler could need 12 quarts. Add until it registers full, then run motor till warm, let settle and you'll finally know. If your dipstick is correct you do not have to worry about overfill. If it may not be correct, just add oil to 1 quart down and run, rest, measure. Jeff Classic has a way to eyeball check if your dipstick is marked correctly. How many quarts came out?

AZ Bob

[AZMike427]

Originally Posted by Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB

Mike, wish I knew more but an FE with a full sump and oil cooler could need 12 quarts. Add until it registers full, then run motor till warm, let settle and you'll finally know. If your dipstick is correct you do not have to worry about overfill. If it may not be correct, just add oil to 1 quart down and run, rest, measure. Jeff Classic has a way to eyeball check if your dipstick is marked correctly. How many quarts came out?

AZ Bob

Well I'm kicking myself for not draining into an empty oil container. I did the oil change on my GT500 last weekend into the same 5 gallon container I used to drain the cobra.

Right now I have 11 quarts in it and it's settling.

I'd definitely be interested in Jeff's method to check the dipstick. I believe it's the culprit here and am leaning towards draining all the oil and starting over. I already ordered a new case of oil figuring I'll need it sooner or later. I'm also thinking of adding the dipstick to the passenger side port on the aviaid pan and calibrating it correctly.

[DWRAT]

Which Aviaid pan do you have?
Use this site to determine and it lists how many Qts it holds.
Wet Sump Road Race Oil Pans (BBF/FE) at Aviaid | Page 1 of 1
11 Quarts may already be to much, so be careful.

[DWRAT]

Also see post #5 here.
It explains how to set up a dip stick but you first need to know what pan you have.
Armando's or Aviaid Oil Pan?

[AZMike427]

Originally Posted by DWRAT

Which Aviaid pan do you have?
Use this site to determine and it lists how many Qts it holds.
Wet Sump Road Race Oil Pans (BBF/FE) at Aviaid | Page 1 of 1
11 Quarts may already be to much, so be careful.

I am pretty sure it's a 9 qt pan but emailed Aviaid to confirm as evidently it's an older style pan that isn't on their website.

Originally Posted by DWRAT

Also see post #5 here.
It explains how to set up a dip stick but you first need to know what pan you have.
Armando's or Aviaid Oil Pan?

Yup I saw that post Sat am and actually emailed it to my phone so I have it. Based on the fact that I have 11 quarts in a 9 quart pan and it's still not showing any level at all on the dipstick I am going to start all over again. This pan leaks a bit too so pulling the pan and fixing that problem is probably worth it at this point.

[Karl Bebout]

Good Lord Mike, you've certainly had more than your fair share of problems with your basically brand new car. Hopefully, it'll get sorted out and you can get to do some DRIVING. Ya know, SOME of us "just wanna drive"!

[AZMike427]

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

Good Lord Mike, you've certainly had more than your fair share of problems with your basically brand new car. Hopefully, it'll get sorted out and you can get to do some DRIVING. Ya know, SOME of us "just wanna drive"!

My wife came out into the garage and told me I shouldn't work at Jiffy Lube as my oil changes take too long! HAHA!! Other than not liking the gear drive I haven't had any other issues. I do have an annoying squeak that I'm chasing that I think is now narrowed down to the right rear shock.

I've put about 500 miles on her and love it!

[Danr55]

Mike, what is the listed capacity for the oilpan? 8 quarts? 5 quarts? 6 quarts? Plus 1 for an oil.cooler if you have one and one or two for the filter depending on type.

[AZMike427]

Originally Posted by Danr55

Mike, what is the listed capacity for the oilpan? 8 quarts? 5 quarts? 6 quarts? Plus 1 for an oil.cooler if you have one and one or two for the filter depending on type.

Just spoke to the mfr today and it's confirmed at 9 quarts.

[CSX3183]

When I had my Cobra, with the same pan, the lines, the remote filter, the oil cooler, I would put in 11-12 quarts

[Dwight]

If it were mine I would put nine quarts in and mark the dipstick.

Then start the engine let it run for a minute and shut it down.

Wait about 15 minutes and check the dipstick.

Add oil to bring it up to the full mark. This will be the oil needed for the filter and oil lines.

Note how many quarts it took for future oil change.

Dwight

[Car Nut]

Agree with Dwight. That's the most fool proof method.

[petty43]

Keep putting oil in until it comes out the valve cover holes. Then you know you have it full.

[Danr55]

With an FE, somtimes the oill comes out of the valve cover holes all the time..

[Karl Bebout]

"With an FE, somtimes the oill comes out of the valve cover holes all the time"

And the exhaust ports, and the spark plug holes, and the front seal, and the rear seal.....

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by Danr55

With an FE, somtimes the oill comes out of the valve cover holes all the time..

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

And the exhaust ports, and the spark plug holes, and the front seal, and the rear seal.....

and the oil pan gasket, and the front timing cover gasket, and....

[Karl Bebout]

And....the holes in the block where rods poked through.

[Danr55]

Be grateful it doesn't bleed oil through suspension and steering parts. Eh Karlos?

[Phx Mike]

Mike did you get it figured out?