this kinda goes along with the ditstick thread and erroneous readings, but haven't gotten a clear answer, so getting right to the point, for a new completely dry engine, does it still take 5 qts, or is it common to need an extra? my engine still shows below the op range on the stick, so wonder if its because of it being the first oil fill in a new engine. i verified today that the new (gm) dipstick tube is definitely seated all the way in to the block. i haven't been able to run the engine as long as i'd like cuz of some other issues, but as of yet, i don't appear to have any leaks, so i'm not thinking it's going somewhere it shouldn't be.

KAM

 

for a standard capacity SBC oil pan and oil system 5 quarts is required to fill the pan and filter

 

He's right. When I started mine, I put 5 qts in and it showed up full.

 

well i must be missing some somewhere then... didn't think it'd take more than 5 even being dry, so i guess my next action is to drain it and see how much i get out of it. i have no leaks that i can see yet, so only other thing i can think of is that it's seeped into the water thru the oil cooler, but then i don't know if that's possible. can oil get into water instead of the water getting into the oil?

another question i have, is what is the quantity of oil represented in the hatch mark area on the dip stick? if my level was right at the lower mark of it, how much would it need to bring it to the top of it? my level is actually below that, but i'd like to know how much would need to add, so i have an idea of what i'm already short of. thanks...

KAM

 

the entire hatched section on the dipstick (stock ones at least) is 1 quart. So if yours is reading at the very bottom of the dipstick, add a quart and u shud be right at the top. Haly way, half quart, etc...

 

I may have missed something in an earlier post, but is your engine completely stock? ie pan, filter, cooler, etc. These will all affect how much oil is needed to fill to the correct level.