Oil level?

[MiraclePieCo]

Small block Chevy crate motor. I poured in 5 quarts of oil, but the dipstick shows the oil level on the ADD line. It's an after-market chrome dipstick and aftermarket chrome oil pan. So which is the right oil level - 5 quarts or the dipstick?

[FiftyTwo]

4 quarts plus 1 for the filter = 5 quarts total and mark the dipstick accordingly.

Unless you installed a deep sump oil pan and matching oil pump pickup.

[1project2many]

If the engine is brand new there are several areas where oil will collect including in the heads and in parts of the lifter valley. This can cause first fill up to take more than expected. Also, if you have an oil cooler there will be a quantity of oil that remains after engine shutdown.

Also, some of the pans have a slightly longer sump area which increases capacity. Here is a 5 qt pan. https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-46823-264-132.aspx An engine with this pan would require five and one half to six quarts of oil.

[mikebte]

So it’s a new crate engine, you added 5QTs and have not started or primed the engine and it’s not registered on the dip stick?
Do you have a part number for the pan? We can find out the size I would think.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

If the engine is brand new there are several areas where oil will collect including in the heads and in parts of the lifter valley. This can cause first fill up to take more than expected.

I think maybe you've hit on the answer. Since the engine was completely dry inside, first fill up may take more than expected. I'll run the motor as-is for the first 500 miles, then see what happens on the next oil change. If 5 quarts still puts it on the ADD line, I'll trim 1/2" off the dipstick tube until it reaches the FULL mark.

[mr48chev]

I'd first check the part number of the pan and investigate how many quarts it does hold.

Probably the first thing I would do is compare the dip stick and dipstick tube to stock units for that engine. Some aftermarkets units don't read right from the get go.

[rpmerf]

You say this is a crate motor. I assume you got this all assembled from a company? Could you contact them and see how much oil it should take?

Sounds like the dipstick did not come with this engine. Did it come with one you can verify against? Do you have a stock one you can try? Either way, the dipstick measures oil level relative to the bottom of the block, so as long as the distance from the bottom of the tube to the full mark is the same, it should be fine.

The whole thing with oil level is making sure the pickup is fully submerged at all times. If the pan has been changed, you need to make sure the pickup is the right height.

[MiraclePieCo]

Cheap aftermarket dipstick - probably not trustworthy. Since it's a stock-style pan, 5 quarts should be correct.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

Cheap aftermarket dipstick - probably not trustworthy. Since it's a stock-style pan, 5 quarts should be correct.

This ^. I was looking at a truck with a 350 2v and the dip-stick said "Ford MoCo" on it!

But really there is no excuse for that, you should call the shop. Don't chance over filling it. -BA

[my56chevytruck]

one comment I have is, where is the dipstick mounted?? Could be to high to begin with. I agree with those that suggested to check out what the pan should hold to begin with. I've always used 4 +1 in SBCs.