| Oil change question (gasp!) [message #322011] |
Sun, 13 August 2017 13:32  |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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Hey guys,
So on our 5k trip we had a pretty good oil leak that I fixed 1/4 of the way through. That slowed consumption a lot.
I still had some oil consumption though. I had to add roughly a 1/2 quart or so every 500 miles which seemed excessive, but everything runs great, no smoke.
Today I changed the oil for the first time since the trip and I followed the recommendations of quite a few around here and put 5 qts in instead of 6. At 5 qts the dipstick reads just a bit under the "add" line, which coincidentally is where it seemed to end up after a bunch of miles without adding oil.
I suspect that the dipstick is wrong and I've been overfilling it and it burned it off, only for me to overfill it again etc.
So should I make a new mark on the dipstick or just keep track of it from here?
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
[Updated on: Sun, 13 August 2017 13:34] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] Oil change question (gasp!) [message #322013 is a reply to message #322011] |
Sun, 13 August 2017 13:54  |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Justin, if your coach is level, and you change the filter, you should take
6 quarts of oil to change on a 455 with stock filter and cooler and oil
pan. To verify dipstick, drain until just a few drips are coming out of a
warm engine. Replace the oil filter. Pour in 5 quarts of oil. Let it set
for 5 minutes or so, then check your oil. I should read 1 qt. low. If not,
your dipstick is inaccurate. Add 1 qt., run the engine for long enough to
refill the filter, then recheck. It should now read full. It is what I
would do.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Aug 13, 2017 11:33 AM, "Justin Brady" wrote:
> Hey guys,
> So on our 5k trip we had a pretty good oil leak that I fixed 1/4 of the
> way through. That slowed consumption a lot.
> I still had some oil consumption though. I had to add roughly a 1/2 quart
> or so every 500 miles which seemed excessive, but everything runs great, no
> smoke.
>
> Today I changed the oil for the first time since the trip and u followed
> the recommendations for quite a few around here and put 5 qts in instead of
> 6. At 5 qts the dipstick reads just a bit under the "add" line, which
> coincidentally is where it seemed to end up after a bunch of miles without
> adding oil.
>
> I suspect that the dipstick is wrong and I've been overfilling it and it
> burned it off, only for me to overfill it again etc.
>
> So should I make a new mark on the dipstick or just keep track of it from?
> --
> Justin Brady
> http://www.thegmcrv.com/
> 1976 Palm Beach 455
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: Oil change question (gasp!) [message #322025 is a reply to message #322011] |
Sun, 13 August 2017 16:59 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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SONICJK wrote on Sun, 13 August 2017 14:32Hey guys,
So on our 5k trip we had a pretty good oil leak that I fixed 1/4 of the way through. That slowed consumption a lot.
I still had some oil consumption though. I had to add roughly a 1/2 quart or so every 500 miles which seemed excessive, but everything runs great, no smoke.
Today I changed the oil for the first time since the trip and I followed the recommendations of quite a few around here and put 5 qts in instead of 6. At 5 qts the dipstick reads just a bit under the "add" line, which coincidentally is where it seemed to end up after a bunch of miles without adding oil.
I suspect that the dipstick is wrong and I've been overfilling it and it burned it off, only for me to overfill it again etc.
So should I make a new mark on the dipstick or just keep track of it from here?
Justin,
While Jim is technically correct, I have monitoring pressure, temperature and having oil analyzed for the last 60k miles.
When I first got the coach, I kept the lube oil level at or above the full mark and rarely did better than 500m/qt. Then we took off without refilling the makeup oil inventory. At 500 mile she was at the add mark. we were another 250 from the barn so I ran it. When next checked is was just the other side of the "Add" line. So, I refilled the carried inventory and not the main engine. Another 250 miles and now it was 1/8 below "Add", so I brought it back up to "Add". In the final tally, when running at the "Add" mark, the lube oil consumption was about 2000m/qt. That is where it has been for the last 50,000 miles.
Knowing OEs as I do, I suspect that the "Full" mark was copied from the passcar version that runs with way lower cylinder pressures and therefore less blow-by. This is why the coach has different valve gear covers.
While I am planning to have the engine out and open this winter, it is because my reports say that there is coolant in the lube oil and that is bad. I would hate to loose an engine that has been this good just for a small lack of attention.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Oil change question (gasp!) [message #322030 is a reply to message #322028] |
Sun, 13 August 2017 17:31 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Justin,
If you want to really understand the oil level, check this album:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3942-455-oil-pan-capacity.html
My conclusion from all that was that the 6 quarts is probably right for a
new/rebuilt engine, but subsequent oil & filter changes only call for 5
quarts, with any above that just being quickly burned or blown out. It's
obvious from those photos that oil's got to be VERY low before the engine
is starved -- that's not to say a full dose isn't needed for cooling, etc.
Ken H.
On Sun, Aug 13, 2017 at 6:18 PM, Justin Brady wrote:
> Matt,
> I've read a lot of similar stories.
> I think I'm going to run it as is with 5qts and keep a close eye on
> consumption and check often to make sure it doesn't get low.
> --
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Oil change question (gasp!) [message #322037 is a reply to message #322029] |
Sun, 13 August 2017 19:35 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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If you were to drain the front of the oil pan, which you can not do without drilling a hole in the pan and were to drain the oil lines and cooler, then it will take 6 quarts to refill then engine and filter. When I change my oil, 5 quarts takes the level to the full line on my dip stick. I use one quart of oil in 6000 miles running at that level. If it ever gets to the add 1 quart, I know it is time to change oil and not just add a quart.
As far as I can tell my dipstick is original. I'm thinking that there are some replacement dipstick tubes out there that are a different length. Mine is painted blue like the rest of the engine and as far as I know has never been replaced.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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