4 Quarts and engine is full. Is that right?
#1
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4 Quarts and engine is full. Is that right?
I changed my oil yesterday and got to thinking. Why does my 86 T/A 5L TPI only hold four quarts??? Is that right? I got to thinking maybe someone changed the dip stick. Well I pulled the one out of my 87 GTA and it is the same length. So I don't know. Everyone says it should be 5 quarts. I have always had a problem with over filling it because it takes four quarts to put it at the full line. My Haynes manual says 5 quarts. My 3.8 takes four quarts
SO is 4 quarts the right amount for this car?
Thanks in advance. You guys always seem to have the right answers...
SO is 4 quarts the right amount for this car?
Thanks in advance. You guys always seem to have the right answers...
#2
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Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
4.5 quarts plus the filter... that makes five quarts
put five quarts in, run it, shut it off, then check the oil
also your 3.8L should take 4.5 quarts
put five quarts in, run it, shut it off, then check the oil
also your 3.8L should take 4.5 quarts
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Nope! Take four quarts. Fill ph1218 up with oil from one quart pour remaining 3 1/2 quarts into value cover. Start, shut off, check oil and it is 2mm above full line on dip stick. That is 4 quarts includeing filter...
#4
PH1218 filter what brand is it? so you only pour 1/2 a quart in the filter, and 3 1/2 in the valve cover the way you described it it takes 4 1/2, not 4. If its a Fram is it not supposed to be a PH30? you should see if its the filter thats is too small maybe and not holding the full quart.
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Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 357
Transmission: TH-350C
Axle/Gears: 3.43
All of my SBC's have taken 5-5.5L to fill...
I can never get my ph30 filters to soak up a litre of oil, 3/4 of a bottle if im lucky...
I can never get my ph30 filters to soak up a litre of oil, 3/4 of a bottle if im lucky...
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Car: '87 Trans-Am
Engine: LB9 (305 TPI)
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 or 3.73..figuring it out still
Is the pan dented or bent up anywhere? dipstick tube bent? If it is definitely a 5.0 litre, it should take 5 quarts almost exactly every time Ive ever done one anyway.
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Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 T.B.I. (Vin tag "E" = LO3)
Transmission: THM-700-R4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt posi 3.23
well mine takes 4 quarts too.. i mean i prime the oil filter first so thats like 4.5 total
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Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
hell, I run 6 quarts without any oil frothing and a stock pan (1988) so I really don't understand what you guys are talking about
#10
Originally Posted by 1989GTATransAm
Well guys I just rechecked my owners manual for my 1989 GTA. It calls for 4 quarts in the pan and 1 quart for the filter. If you are over filling the crankcase you are most likely loosing horsepower.
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Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
Originally Posted by 1989GTATransAm
Well guys I just rechecked my owners manual for my 1989 GTA. It calls for 4 quarts in the pan and 1 quart for the filter. If you are over filling the crankcase you are most likely loosing horsepower.
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Car: '72 Chevy Nova
Engine: Solid roller 355
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 8.5" 10-bolt 3.73 Posi
ive used 5 quarts (including filter) in every 5.0/5.7 I've ever owned. I don't even bother to check the level after I change it on my '97, I know it's full.
#13
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ph1218 is the large ac-delco filter that replaced the ph35. it should hold almost a whole quart.
6 total won't hurt, I've done it a lot.
I'd rather have too much than not enough.
every small block I've ever changed the oil in will hold at least 5 total, and I've changed just a few in the last 25 years....
6 total won't hurt, I've done it a lot.
I'd rather have too much than not enough.
every small block I've ever changed the oil in will hold at least 5 total, and I've changed just a few in the last 25 years....
#14
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Actually an extra quart probably is worse than a quart low.
Dayuuumm..
Simple,
SBC+ stock oil pan+ 5 quarts of oil+ full. No more, no less.
All in, all done....been that way since late 1955 when they put the first toliet paper filter on the dang things.
Oh, early '55' V8's (265's) didn't have filters, and held 4 to make it to the line.
Dayuuumm..
Simple,
SBC+ stock oil pan+ 5 quarts of oil+ full. No more, no less.
All in, all done....been that way since late 1955 when they put the first toliet paper filter on the dang things.
Oh, early '55' V8's (265's) didn't have filters, and held 4 to make it to the line.
#15
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When I do 5 quarts and a AC Delco 1218, it shows it as slightly high. But nothing to worry about.
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Car: 84 Z28
Engine: 357
Transmission: TH-350C
Axle/Gears: 3.43
too much oil is about as bad as not enough!
Increased crankcase pressure, eventually end up taking out some rings and if you have an open element breather on the valvecover you risk a fire from the oil spewing out of it and hitting the exhaust!
or something like that...
dump 5 quarts in her and call it a day.
Increased crankcase pressure, eventually end up taking out some rings and if you have an open element breather on the valvecover you risk a fire from the oil spewing out of it and hitting the exhaust!
or something like that...
dump 5 quarts in her and call it a day.
#17
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Originally Posted by CreepingDeath94
Is the pan dented or bent up anywhere? dipstick tube bent? If it is definitely a 5.0 litre, it should take 5 quarts almost exactly every time Ive ever done one anyway.
#18
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Originally Posted by 84z28350
too much oil is about as bad as not enough!
Increased crankcase pressure, eventually end up taking out some rings and if you have an open element breather on the valvecover you risk a fire from the oil spewing out of it and hitting the exhaust!
or something like that...
dump 5 quarts in her and call it a day.
Increased crankcase pressure, eventually end up taking out some rings and if you have an open element breather on the valvecover you risk a fire from the oil spewing out of it and hitting the exhaust!
or something like that...
dump 5 quarts in her and call it a day.
I would like you to explain to me how extra oil INCREASES crankcase pressure, especially when there's an active pcv valve-- or even if there isn't.
crankcase pressure is determined by piston ring blow-by and how much of it the pcv system is sucking up, not how much oil is in the pan. and then I would like to know how extra oil would hurt piston rings....
and yes, I agree 2,3 or 4 quarts overfull would interfere with the counterweights on the crank, but a quart isn't enough to be a bad thing.
whereas, a quart low on a hard turn at high rpm might cause air to the oil pump pickup, and we all know that air don't lubricate bearings very well, especially at high rpm.
#19
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Originally Posted by gta ta
No dents or bent stick. I measured it against my GTA's dipstick and the full mark on the GTA's stick is 1/4 lower then the T/A. The dip stick are the same length but the marking are differants. I just found Autozone's web site says 4 quarts. The AC delco's pf1218 holds half a quart. If I add 5 quarts it will be inch above the full mark on the dip stick..
sounds like to me you need to hit the gm dealer and order the proper oil dipstick TUBE and stick for your car, if you're that concerned about it.
like everyone else says, just put 5 total in it and let it fly, I've been doing that with all my small blocks since my 2nd car (75 monte carlo) in 1980.
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10 Lessons Learned From Engine Masters by: Andy Dunn Read item #9 about a 5 quart system. The rest of the article is very interesting also and worth the read. I can post others if need be.
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Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
Originally Posted by greggbruce
5 qts, yes. 6 won't hurt, but I'm also not saying everyone should run 6 qts. just to do it, either.
I would like you to explain to me how extra oil INCREASES crankcase pressure, especially when there's an active pcv valve-- or even if there isn't.
crankcase pressure is determined by piston ring blow-by and how much of it the pcv system is sucking up, not how much oil is in the pan. and then I would like to know how extra oil would hurt piston rings....
and yes, I agree 2,3 or 4 quarts overfull would interfere with the counterweights on the crank, but a quart isn't enough to be a bad thing.
whereas, a quart low on a hard turn at high rpm might cause air to the oil pump pickup, and we all know that air don't lubricate bearings very well, especially at high rpm.
I would like you to explain to me how extra oil INCREASES crankcase pressure, especially when there's an active pcv valve-- or even if there isn't.
crankcase pressure is determined by piston ring blow-by and how much of it the pcv system is sucking up, not how much oil is in the pan. and then I would like to know how extra oil would hurt piston rings....
and yes, I agree 2,3 or 4 quarts overfull would interfere with the counterweights on the crank, but a quart isn't enough to be a bad thing.
whereas, a quart low on a hard turn at high rpm might cause air to the oil pump pickup, and we all know that air don't lubricate bearings very well, especially at high rpm.
#23
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Car: '72 Chevy Nova
Engine: Solid roller 355
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 8.5" 10-bolt 3.73 Posi
why dont u prime the filter and dump four in, check the stick and see where you are, and add accordingly
I do probably 5 or 6 oil changes every day at work and that method never fails remember the level will drop slightly after you start the car and turn it back off to check the level again.
I do probably 5 or 6 oil changes every day at work and that method never fails remember the level will drop slightly after you start the car and turn it back off to check the level again.
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Car: 91z28tpil98
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r
Axle/Gears: 3.23
wierd
my ford escort takes 4 thats wierd indeed
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To much is bad cause the heat makes it expand same with trany big time with trany u should be ok bro its a sb u could **** in the thing and it will run but soon as it knocks u might wanna fill her up hows ur oil pressure?
----------
To much is bad cause the heat makes it expand same with trany big time with trany u should be ok bro its a sb u could **** in the thing and it will run but soon as it knocks u might wanna fill her up hows ur oil pressure?
Last edited by irocznickv8; 05-25-2006 at 12:41 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
My 350 TBI in the van takes 7 quarts of Mobil One 5/30 to do an oil change. 5 qt pan+2 qt filter=7 qts
#26
2 quarts in the filter?? i spent a year or so working at an oil change place and never came across a 350 that held 7 quarts and length of dipstick has nothing to with the oil level some chevys used different length tubes throught the years so just because two third gens have the same length stick doesnt mean its the same for the other car
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Originally Posted by urbanhunter44
why dont u prime the filter and dump four in, check the stick and see where you are, and add accordingly
I do probably 5 or 6 oil changes every day at work and that method never fails remember the level will drop slightly after you start the car and turn it back off to check the level again.
I do probably 5 or 6 oil changes every day at work and that method never fails remember the level will drop slightly after you start the car and turn it back off to check the level again.
#28
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Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
Originally Posted by killa_b
2 quarts in the filter?? i spent a year or so working at an oil change place and never came across a 350 that held 7 quarts and length of dipstick has nothing to with the oil level some chevys used different length tubes throught the years so just because two third gens have the same length stick doesnt mean its the same for the other car
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