oil level

427 S/O · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 11:19 AM

Just to be safe, with an oil cooler, remote
filter, aluminum 6 1/2 quart t-pan and necessary oil lines. how much oil should this FE hold? and would an original dip stick be accurate with a t-pan?.

Perry

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 12:23 PM

I would think that you will have around 9 quarts once your oil lines, filter, and cooler are full. I know that my oil cooler and lines take a quart to fill them and then the fileter will take about that much depending on how long the lines to it are. As for the stock dip stick once the car is full and you have ran it, take a long CLEAN wire that is straight and put it down the dipstick tube until it touches the bottom of the pan. Then pull it out and measure where the oil on it is compared to your dipstick. Just put the wire even with the bottom of the dipstick on a bench or something and look to see where it shows. If it shows full then the dipstick is ok. Otherwise you will at least know where the stock dipstick reads when the car is full of oil and you can use that to get another dipstick that reads correctly. That is the method I used and it worked just great.

Ron61

Ronnie L. Widener

427 S/O · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 03:13 PM

Thanks Ron, I'll give it a try. Any FE owners out there with comments on this?.
Perry

Cobra20646 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 03:57 PM

Perry,

A stock dip stick in a stock dip stick tube will read full at the full mark...... doesn't care how deep the pan is, or how much oil you put in it. Just don't exceed the full mark and you won't put the crank in the oil.

- Jim -

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 04:05 PM

Cobra 20646 thanks for clarifying that about the dipstick. I know that after using the method I did, I wound up with my stock dipstick and tube but I just wasn't sure enough about it to tell anyone to do it that way. I am glad to know that for sure now as I can tell one of my friends here that asked me the same question he doesn't have to go through all that I did.

Ron61

Cobra20646 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 04:25 PM

Ron,

Learned this lesson the hard way too

I'll never put my money on an aftermarket tube and stick again ..... one you have to mark "full" yourself.... I'll stick with OEM or FMS ones from now on

- Jim -

427 S/O · #7 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 04:51 PM

With the 6 1/2 quart oil pan, oil filter, oil lines and oil cooler, I dumped what I thought was the correct amount, and wound up with the oil mark an inch and three quarters above the fill mark on the dip stick. I didn't start for fear of dipping the crank!!.
Thanks, I owe you.
Perry

Mr.Fixit · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 07:54 PM

I agree with:

A stock dip stick in a stock dip stick tube will read full at the full mark...... doesn't care how deep the pan is, or how much oil you put in it. Just don't exceed the full mark and you won't put the crank in the oil.

The oil level relative to the crank remains the same. If you have a stroker crank, windage tray and deep pan, you can run it a little lower. To fill the oil lines and cooler, I always prelube the motor by turning the oil pump with an electric drill prior to fire up. This prevents running the motor for five seconds without oil pressure as you pump the air out of the lines. Also makes it easy to see how much oil your lines and cooler hold, usually 1-2 quarts. They make special prelube tools, but you just need a socket, 1/4" drive extension and a little tape to hold them together. I had to turn the socket's OD down in a lathe to get it to fit through the casting, but my fellow mechanic's sockets fit fine.

Whaler · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 10:24 PM

Mr Fix it
What size socket is it and what length 1/4" drive would do the job
I wish to go and buy the pieces then weld them up to be used solely for the task

I guess I would then cut the other end of the extension off to fit in a drill.

Appreciate the info

I have the 428 but i imagine the hex size is all about the same?
I still have to re-install my stock dipstick and tube. I was waiting until the headers are back on, which is soon

Tim

ERA535 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 10:39 PM

Has anyone ever figured out how much oil is actually remaining in the oil pan when the engine is running?

It would be my guess that not much would remain - enough to cover the pick up plus a safety margin but no more.

Any thoughts?

Pat Buckley

Bob Putnam · #11 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 05:41 AM

Pat,

I doubt that there's much more than about a quart of oil lost from the sump when the car is running. The only place it can be stored is in the valve covers, and when the oil is hot it drains down pretty fast. The oil galleries probably hold much less than a pint, and that takes quite a while to drain down.

When the oil is cold, all bets are off.

, so check the pressure when you rev the engine before the car has warmed up. The pressure won't drop to zero, but will be low as air is sucked into the oil pump.

427 S/O · #12 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 08:00 AM

Mr Fixit, during buildup, I did as you explained with regards to pre-oiling only, I went one step further. I wanted to make sure this 30+ side oiler would get as much protection as possible so, I bought a weldon pump that's used primarily as a nascar rear end dope cooler pump, I tapped onto the oil pan and ran #6 SS hose to the pump, through a check valve, inline filter and then to the third side oiler pipe plug.
There is a momentary switch on the dash which is held on until oil pressure reaches 25psi, I hold this for about 30-45 seconds before cranking. I also installed a low pressure oil switch (20psi) that turns on the pre-oiler just in case!.

Perry

ERA535 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 08:26 AM

Bob,

I have heard a number of stories from people about how they noticed their oil pressure dropping and when they checked their oil, found it was down a couple of quarts...

When they added oil, the pressure went back up.

This puzzled me. I wouldn't have thought that could be possible (unless they were down MORE than a couple of quarts - I guess)

Perhaps a restrictor in the head is missing in these cases as too much oil is ending up in the valve train area.

Just a thought.

Pat Buckley

Turk · #14 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 09:11 AM

I for one experienced oil pressure drop from 60 to 40psi while cruising. As soon as I noticed it, pulled over at the next gas station added only one quart of oil, the pressure was back up to 60 and remained there until the next oil change.
It is TRUE.

TURK

ERA535 · #15 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 09:15 AM

Mr.Fixit · #16 (**permalink**) 05-22-2002, 09:18 AM

I think it's a 5/16" socket, but there are two different size hexes used on fords, always used a deep well. Just the same as the hex on the end of the distributor shaft. You don't need to weld it together. If you want to go that far, just buy the preluber tool for $25 it has a bushing so that it stays aligned in the dist. hole. or get an old distributor shaft and remove the gear.