Dipstick way off after oil change....

[repoman]

We just put the head onto the block of the 1973 2002, twisted on a new Bosch oil filter, started pouring in the Valvoline 20/50 and after only 3 quarts, the oil is about 1/4 inch above the 2nd fill line on the dipstick! I am thinking that this must be an aftermarket or generic dipstick. This can't be right. Just want confirmation that I should pour the other two quarts in prior to taken her for a little spin....TIA

[Napes]

I would put in only 1 more qt. assuming you nearly filled the oil filter before mounting it. Otherwise you could add 1½ qts.

Once the engine has run for half a min. +/- shut it off and wait about 5 min before checking the dip stick again.

This will give you a much better idea of the level being correct, or not.

Bob Napier

[c.d.iesel]

got a nice photo of the side of the block

showing the dip stick tube mounting,

and your dip stick laying on a paper towel

next to a tape measure so we can answer your question ?

because probably only the man above can tell

us accurately what's been changed with the

dip stick tube, it's mounting hose, and if you

have a ACME stick ??? photo matters

really stupid question: the engine was drained of all oil? wasn't it?

[ndog]

funny^^^^ this happens to me at work we fill the engine to factory spec filter included,then the installation angle is way aggressive do to shaft/stuffing box angle....What we do is put in the spec amount of oil and remark the dipstikk,this way u know the engine has the req fill .good luck sir (and as mention above^get all the oil out prior to remarking the stick^

[repoman]

got a nice photo of the side of the block

showing the dip stick tube mounting,

and your dip stick laying on a paper towel

next to a tape measure so we can answer your question ?

because probably only the man above can tell

us accurately what's been changed with the

dip stick tube, it's mounting hose, and if you

have a ACME stick ??? photo matters

really stupid question: the engine was drained of all oil? wasn't it?

The dipstick measures 17 1/8 inches from the bottom of the stopper to the end of the tip that goes into the pan. Too dark to take pics of the tube, that being said, the tube itself measures approx 8 5/8 inches from the place it enters the block to the top of the tube. All oil was drained from the car, as I took the pan off to clean it inside, since I was also replacing the motor mounts.

....and yes, the car is on level ground.

[Guest Anonymous]

some of the oil will distribute itself around the engine, so the level in the pan will be lower after you run the engine - a bunch will stay in the filter.

[Mike Self]

1. Check to make sure the rubber sleeve that connects the dipstick tube to the block fitting hasn't allowed the tube to slide downward on the sleeve and thus disrupt the dipstick reading.

2. Check the rubber stopper on the dipstick to make sure it hasn't come loose from the metal dipstick itself. It's bonded on, and has been known to come loose so it can slide up and down the dipstick, again giving a false reading.

cheers

mike