correct oil level in a 8V71 (T-drive)

[kyle4501]

I was told once upon a time, but I've slept since then . . . 

What is the correct level as measured from the block oil pan rail?
(I seem to remember 1" below, is that right?)

The question came up because a friend is trying to get a dip stick for his bus (it came in parts & pieces & we don't want to take a chance on the wrong oil level.)

Thanks!

[NJT5047]

Oopsie...I told Jack to come up down and 'borrow' one of your dipsticks!   
Regarding your question, seems as though one inch below the pan gasket sounds right.
You don't have a dipstick in any of your buses? Measure one.
Too cold to dink with it right now!~ 
JR


 

[JohnEd]

I had a problem with a 440 in a S&S many years ago.  I am smarter now than then.  I mentioned to a friend that "my" 440 took 11 quarts after a change.  He laughed and said they take only 5 or seven or whatever it was.  I showed him my dipstick and it was on "full" and I had just dumped in 11 quarts.  He pointed out that "my" dipstick was a cluge done by Winniebago to allow me to check the level from out front and was really a metal tube and a rubber connecting hose and a cable for the dipstick.  he told me that my tube had not been pushed into the rubber far enough before the clamp was tightened when they replaced my engine.  The fix was to drain and refill with the correct amt of oil and then "ADJUST THE DIP STICK" to read full at that correct level. My oil consumption and MPG went up after that.  I figured it had an increased capacity due to it being a "HD 440" from a truck.  Oh well.

ET U BRUTE?(sic)

John

[RJ]

Kyle -

Yup, you've got it right.

One inch below the block/oil pan interface is where the "full" mark should be.

"Add" mark is one inch below the "Full" mark, IIRC.

Doesn't make any difference if it's a T-drive or a V-drive, measurement's the same.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[kyle4501]

So, the DipStick is missing his dip stick    no real news there 

JR, there have been so many band-aids & crap fixes done to my buses that I trust nothing if I can't verify it. I'd like to not repeat JohnEd's experience, or worse & loose the motor due to low oil. . . .

BTW, if a remote oil cooler is used, it's a PITA to determine how much oil it takes.

Thanks Russ, we'll proceede with caution in making the new dip stick. 

[Dallas]

Kyle,

If you can get a correct engine number for the one you need the stick for, I can give you the correct part number for the dipstick. This also presupposes that the oil pan is original to the engine.

If you have an oil pan part number I can also give you the correct dipstick part number, most likely.

IHTH
Dallas

[kyle4501]

The right part # is only as good as the available inventory. 

Now that you mention it, where does one find the engine # & oil pan #?

Inquring minds want to know 

[RJ]

Kyle -

The engine model & serial number should be stamped on a flat machined surface above the air box inspection plates and below the heads.  IIRC, it's not directly above the plates, but slightly to the left.

Can't remember if it's on the driver side LF corner or passenger side RR corner, but it's probably buried under a layer of gunk, so you may have to do a little power washing or scraping to find it.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[makemineatwostroke]

Kyle, check your valve covers for a group tag if hasn't been removed it will tell everything about the engine you need with the group numbers.

[kyle4501]

Kyle, check your valve covers for a group tag if hasn't been removed it will tell everything about the engine you need with the group numbers.

I was afraid you'd say that. The valve covers are too easily replaced for me to trust them, but it is a start 

I know if I measure 1" down from the pan rail that will be the correct level regardless of what has been changed in the past.

Thanks all!

[RickBrown]

Dipstick aside, when do you measure the oil level? When stopped and the accessories drained back into the pan, or when running and a collection of accessories satisfied for their need of oil? I am inclined to believe when running because the guy who made the dipstick didn't know what your external need for oil is.
Your thoughts?
-RickBrown in Reno, NV

[bevans6]

You check it when it's dead cold pre-start, and it should be low on the dip stick.  You check it when it's hot and has sat for 10 - 15 minutes, it should be higher on the dip stick.  Checking it when it's running is a total waste of time, the dipstick is in the splash of the oil off the crank.  What you do is check it on some kind of consistent basis so you learn what to expect based on your routine and your engine, and then you look for changes.  You learn to compensate for the natural incline in about every parking pad, some tilt one way some the other, and you learn to anticipate.

Brian

[RickBrown]

My engine is an 8v71 and the dipstick gives consistent readings when the engine is running. In one test the oil measured at 1" on the stick (slightly above 'low') when the engine is running and 5" (3" above 'full') 24 hours later.
Here is another question: If you add an oil cooler that passes one gal of oil through its coils when the engine is running and drains back into the pan when not, then how do you account for that extra demand for oil when you measure its level?
This goes back to the argument that the guy who made the dipstick probably didn't know what was going to be hung on your engine.
-Rick

[TomC]

I believe most low profile 8V-71 oil pans are 6 gallon. Drain the oil, then put in 5 gallons, mark the dip stick. Put the last gallon in, mark the dipstick. You should also pre fill the oil filter when you install it on the engine-that takes another 3-4 quarts. If you have a bypass oil filter, another gallon or so. You'll learn how much actual oil your engine takes after the first oil change. Good Luck, TomC

[eagle19952]

 FYI.....
correct oil level in a 8V71 (T-drive)

« on: January 02, 2008, 10:52:00 AM »