I put a new engine in my car about 500 miles ago and just recently I changed the oil once it hit the first 500 miles. When I put the engine together I bought a new chrome oil pan for it which I was told was a stock size oil pan by the high performance shop I bought it from. While I was there I picked up the matching chrome dipstick tube and dipstick with it. Well, when I changed my oil I put the 5 quarts of oil in it like it's supposed to have, started the car to circulate the oil bit and then let it set for about 15 minutes to let the oil drain back down and then I checked the oil. When I checked it, it was exactly one quart low?? If it were the wrong size dipstick then the dispstick would have to be SHORTER to make it show a quart low ... and as far as I'm aware, there is no 4 quart GM V8 oil pan. The only thing I can figure out is that it's actually a 6 quart pan. Any suggestions or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

6 quarts is standard...not 4. Well..5.5 quarts to be picky, but I always just use 6.

 

Well, with my 305 it was 4.5 quart pan... the filter holds .5 quarts for a total of 5 quarts. Is it different for the 350? My friends 350 only takes 5 quarts of oil and he said he's pretty sure it's a 350 or 400 oil pan. He's using GM pan and I'm using aftermarket.

 

TTT

 

Did you fill the filter before you put it on? That could account for the discrepency. If so remark the dipstick with a new full line. As long as you know the pan has enough oil in it the dipstick markings are superflous. Also make sure the dipstick tube is properly inserted and the dipstick is fully inserted in the tube.

 

seems normal to me, my 400 pan was 4 quart and 1 in the filter. i think all small block oil pans were 4 qts stock.

 

I know you're just tryin' to help so I'm sorry but I gotta say that. THAT is just the stupidest idea I've heard. I could have a 6 quart oil pan for all I know and if I went and remarked the dipstick I would not have enough oil in the engine.... and that's not good.

Just for the record. Filling the oil filter before you put the filter on the car is NOT necessary and only picky people do it. I've NEVER filled my oil filter before putting it on ... EVER.... and I've never had a problem.

 

something is not right with those aftermarket dipsticks... everyone I know that has used one has found that when they refill the oil after an oil change it reads a half to a full quarts low... on my 7qt pan I prime the filter and add an aditional 7qts to the pans and after the pressure check it reads about a quart low... anytime someone tries to fill it to the max line the oil will get foamy...

zroc

 

just use the old stick. it will bring the oil to the proper level relative to the crank and oil pick up. then use that level as your full mark.

 

Did you compare the old dip stick and tube to the original ones you replaced. If the new tube is longer, a 1/4 to 1/2in would make a lot of differance on the stick, you may have to pull it out and cut the top off enough to make it match to stock one. If the new and the old parts match then your oil pan is bigger. As long as you have enough oil to cover the oil pump pick up sufficeintly( in this case at least five quarts ) you should be fine. Keep your eye on the oil level and if it does not drop between oil changes it would be safe to run it at a lower level. This will keep some oil from splashing onto the crank. Kind of a cheap mans windage tray.

Steve

 

Comparing it to the old dipstick tube and dipstick is such a lovely concept except that I don't have an old one to compare it too. I bought the block bare and the old engine that came out was a block with a once piece rear main seal and a passenger side dipstick tube. This block is a two piece rear main with a drivers side dipstick and the two are completely different so no comparing can be done.

I suppose I could order a stock replacement dipstick tube for a 350 and try it and see what happens.

I don't seem to have a problem with foamy oil like I would if I were putting too much oil in there. I'm worried about only putting 5 quarts of oil in there because if I do actually have a 6 quart pan by chance then 5 quarts won't cut it I wouldn't think. Another reason I think I might have a 6 quart pan is because when I put the new engine in I bought a set of Hedman headers and the matching y-pipe to go with it and when I installed the y-pipe it was too short on the drivers side so it wouldn't reach the header so I could bolt it up .... and that's with it sitting right against the oil pan. This indicates to me that the oil pan is bigger because that y-pipe was manufactured to bolt right up to the headers on a thirdgen.

(I knew I should have just used an old stock pan)

 

Problem solved. I've come to the conclusion that I have a 6 quart oil pan. I compared my dipstick tube and dipstick to two other totally different brand 350 stock replacement onces and all 3 were the exact same lengths. Too many different things lead me to believe it's a 6 quart pan so it must be.

 

Running a quart low in a stock oil pan is not a problem, if it was then GM would have changed something to make sure that didn't happen except from extreme abuse or neglect. Running a quart low in a six qt oil pan is a little different. If not accounted for this means the oil pump pick up is further off the bottom of the oil pan. This means that if you are running a qt low then the oil pump pick up is that much closer to being uncovered causing oil starvation. It's a good thing you found this out early enough to keep a close eye on the oil level.

Steve

 

I put the pickup on the oil pump according to the bottom of THIS pan so I'm not extra worried. However, I do keep a very close eye on the oil level anyhow, especially considering this new engine has less than 1,000 miles on it and tends to still use a bit of oil. That combined with chrome valve covers and crappy cork gaskets that tend to leak makes me watch it that much closer. Thankfully, you can now purchase perma-dry rubber valve cover gaskets for perimeter bolt valve covers. As soon as I get paid again those are going on.