I just changed my oil a few days ago (5 quarts, plus filter change). Later that day, I checked the level and it showed that it was low on the dipstick but there are no leaks anywhere that I can tell. The car doesn't burn oil. Whenever I changed it before I noticed on the dipstick the level would always be at the full mark. The oil pressure gage needle is pegged at 60psi while driving the car, but goes down a little once it gets warmed up. I was just concerned as to why the dipstick is showing such a low level. And it seems that if I add any, it still remins at the same level on the dipstick. This is frustrating, because I don't want to over-add oil, but I don't want it to be to low either. Thanks for any help.

 

It's kind of tough for the dipstick calibration to just up and change...

Did you by any chance switch from the filter the book shows such as a PF-25 to a longer filter such a PF-35 or PF-1218?

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

AH! Do you let the engine run for 5 seconds to build up oil pressure before checking the oil?

Notice all the extra oil that spills out after you pull the filter? Let it run, shut it down, then let it sit for a minute or so and check it. When the filter comes off, the oil in the filter and the oil galleries comes out too. If you check the oil before, the level will go down after you first start the engine and it builds oil pressure. A stock pan SBC should take around 4.9 to 5.1 quarts, depending on year and if it has an oil cooler/ big filter or not. Try it

 

never mind

[This message has been edited by 8Mike9 (edited July 16, 2001).]

 

I used the same oil and filter. It just doesn't make sense to me why the level shows low when the car isn't leaking and it doesn't burn oil. The dipstick doesn't lie, but I don't want to overadd, but it just looks to be too low. In the past after shutting the car off and checking the level 5 or 10 min later, it showed to be right at the full mark. I don't know what to do.