[Tigers] Dipstick and oil level report

Wed Oct 21 12:12:50 MDT 2015

Tom
    It is very hard to say how much oil is still left in the upper engine or
does not drain back.  I would think every engine is slightly different and
that amount should be very small.

With the oil pan at level with 3qt - the fluid level is just about to move
into the rear section of the oil pan @ 4qt - the fluid level has move into
the rear section.
I'm not sure about the volume increase there - I'll add that to the To Do
List - in this case estimate.

One experiment I need to look at is with the pan at 2 degrees down at front
- where is the fluid level with respect to the oil pump pick up screen?
The oil pick up screen is toward the back of the deep sump and tilting the
engine down at front forces oil away from the screen.

Too much oil usually will not hurt you but too little oil will kill the
engine.

Ron Fraser

-----Original Message-----
From: Tigers [mailto:tigers-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Tom Witt
via Tigers
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 1:35 PM
To: tigers at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Dipstick and oil level report

Ron,
First, thank you for the labor in doing this. For those who are strict and
precise it seems like a chassis jig is your only hope! (LOL)

It would be interesting to know (not asking, just musing) what amount of the
4 quarts in the pan reduces due to pudding/clinking, oil passages and what
does and doesn't drain back from the filter. I am also curious, what, if any
of the 4 quarts went outside the sump area. By that I mean did the oil
height extend into the broader area of the pan. If it did then I'd estimate
that volume increases 1-1/2 to 2 times once the oil reaches that point for a
given dip stick rise amount.

I learned about the angle issue the hard way. I did an engine swap and to
get the engine started dumped in (the only) 3 quarts of synthetic oil I had.
The car started fine and I had good oil pressure idling. I shut it down and
worked on other areas. Months later when the car was driven I would find
that as the car warmed up - the oil pressure dropped. I checked the dip
stick and making a mental compensation for the driveway angle felt the level
was sufficient.  I mean, after all, I had put in 5 quarts (I thought) months
ago.  It was only after seeking  exceptionally level ground and factoring
for the significant 6-7 degree rearward angle of the engine (350 Chevy in a
64 Studebaker in case you are wondering) that in fact I was 2 full quarts
low!  The good news is that no damage appeared to be done and in this case
the repair was made with a funnel.

I still think that the best thing to do is an oil change (on level ground),
warm the engine up, shut off and see where the dipstick level is after
sitting a few minutes.  A file or Dremel tool can then be used to notch the
stick. I then use the add/full range as a rough visual guide as it relates
to the new mark.

Tom

From: Ron Fraser via Tigers <mailto:tigers at autox.team.net>  
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 12:42 PM
To: tigers at Autox.Team.Net 
Subject: [Tigers] Dipstick and oil level report

I set up a fixture - 289 oil pan, timing cover and oil pump with pick up

I used my 260 Tiger dipstick and tube.    The end of this dipstick is about
1/2" off the bottom of the oil pan.

Leveled fixture front to back, side to side

2qt - level is at ADD line
3qt - level is 1/4" below FULL line
4qt - level is at the top L of FULL

Tiger oil lines hold about 4 oz

I calculated the volume for oil filters - actual fluid measurements probably
vary
Fram PH8A = 49.214 cu in = 27.27 oz = 1.7 pt    ( 1.7 + .25 = 1.95 pt)
almost 1qt
Fram PH3600 = 34.289 cu in = 18.99 oz = 1.18 pt

I measured the angle of my Tiger engine at 2 degrees tilted down at front
I measured the angle of my 1988 Mustang engine at 4 degrees tilted down at
back

Tilt test
2 degree front        3qt - level is at FULL line
                            4qt - level is 1/16" below Ford logo oval

5 degree back    3qt - level is 1/4" above ADD line or just below mid line
                        4qt - level is 1/8" below FULL line

I never think the tilt of the engine would mean so much but there you have
it - Tilt means everything with respect to the dipstick.

Ron Fraser

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