I don't want to be a worry wart, but I just don't feel comfortable relying on what we call "Conventional wisdom" when it comes to something as critical as the oil level in our heavily taxed engines. I am looking for a definitive way to measure the actual oil level in the pan.

The conventional wisdom of adding 5 quarts at a change and then calibrating the dip stick to that level is based on a bone stock system. Dial ahead 40 years and many coaches now have different cooler lines, aluminum radiators, external oil coolers, etc., all of which add to the volume of the system upon which that conventional wisdom is based. With only 3 quarts in the sump of a stock system full, a relatively small change in system volume, say one quart, has us driving down the road with just 2 quarts in the sump at what that calibration would call the full mark and at the add mark there is only one quart of oil in the sump! Too little for my sense of well being for sure.

Think a one quart change is system volume is a lot? A Derale 15550 fan assisted external engine oil cooler, for example, holds 19.6 oz or nearly 2/3 of a quart all by itself. I don't know how much additional oil it takes to fill the engine oil cooler in an aluminum radiator over a stock one but it certainly looks like it would be significant in the scheme of things. A larger oil filter that some are using might well take several ounces more than the stock filter. Start adding all these seemingly little things together and we might well be running seven quart systems rather than six quart systems.

We can certainly guess and adjust accordingly but we know if we are off by having too much oil in the system the excess will be burned off quickly and if too little we are at risk of damaging bearings and not pulling heat out of the engine properly. I would prefer to know exactly where full really is on any given combination of engine, radiator, lines, coolers, etc.

Any one have a thought on how to do this?

Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com







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