how much oil capacity with oil cooler

[bullseyeprec]

I was wondering hom much oil you guys use when you change oil?? I have a dual sup 5 quart ford pan. Thats 5 qts, oil filter is 1 qt thats 6 quarts. How much oil actually drains out of the oil cooler and lines into the pan or filter adapter???? I wonder this since my dipstick is located int he timing chain cover (the rear sump location would be correct place but I have a oil temp sending unti there and its cleanly plumbed and wired so I want to leave it there) I will shorten and remark the dipstick when I know hom much oil is correct....What are you guys using as far as capicity with a 5qt pan, replacing oil filter and having an oil cooler? I figure most of the oil stays in the cooler and lines but wanted someone elses figures to be sure. With no cooler I would just change filters and mark the dipstick but the oil cooler makes me worried..if indeed much of the oil drains out. Appreciate your input

[ENTDOC]

I figured the cooler and lines to be about a quart.The cooler will be full when you change the oil so I actually drain it the best I can with a 20 cc syringe and small length of tubing placed in one of the cooler fitting holes.I have a 7 qt pan so I put in 9 qts. chuck

[wilf leek]

bullseye - it is difficult to answer your question, since your actual installation would dictate what, if any, oil drains out of your cooler.

FWIW, I doubt any of the oil in the cooler itself would drain, might get a bit out of the lines.

The only proper way to define the "correct" oil level in the pan is by measurement - static oil level should be around 1" below the crank counterweights at their lowest point I believe. Mark the dipstick to suit.

I hope someone else chimes in to confirm/alter my 1" below the crank figure. This is an empirical "guess" on my part.

[bullseyeprec]

I dont have a drain on the cooler....my concern was how much stays in the cooler and lines. I was hoping someone with a dual sump pan (factory on ford crate engines) would chime in and tell me how much oil they put in when the change oil and change filters....but its important they have a oil cooler as well. 5qt pan, change filter and add a quart for that (6 total) and assume all oil in cooler and lines stays put??? is that safe????

[bullseyeprec]

?????

[Cobra20646]

Originally posted by bullseyeprec


I dont have a drain on the cooler....my concern was how much stays in the cooler and lines. I was hoping someone with a dual sump pan (factory on ford crate engines) would chime in and tell me how much oil they put in when the change oil and change filters....but its important they have a oil cooler as well. 5qt pan, change filter and add a quart for that (6 total) and assume all oil in cooler and lines stays put??? is that safe????

bullseye, you're getting all wound up and posting this query in three different forums on this site and have been given good info.

To summarize.............

It don't matter what pan, oil cooler, length of oil lines or what have you....... just make sure that you have the correct oil stick and tube for your engine. Fill to the full mark and be done with it! Most of us change the oil/filter way before the oil is 'shot' so what stayes in the engine/cooler/lines is not going to degrade the new oil. Whether it takes four, five or six quarts to hit the full mark is immaterial.

[bullseyeprec]

Jim, I didnt mean to get wound up....My problem is that I have a dual sump pan that should have a rear sump dipstick, Unfortunately the car Has a oil temp sensor in that location and a timing chain cover dipstick. So my factory markings are way off. I will modify the stick but I wondered how much oil was needed before marking. I have no way of knowing how deep the oil is in the pan. If the pan holds 5 qts and the filter holds 1 qt then when I drain it and replace filter I need 6 qts if no oil drains into the pan from the remote oil cooler and lines. If the oil cooler and lines actually drain a quart then I will need to use 7 qts then mark my dipstick. I guess my question is how much of the oil from the cooler and linesdrains when you pull the drain plugs (2 plugs in dual sump facotry pan) and yank the filter? I just thought somebody with a dual sump 5qt pan and oil cooler would let me know what it takes to change oil (how many quarts) so I could do it with some degree of certainty. The failsafe way would be to relocate the oil temp sending unit, plug the timing chain cover dipstick hole and run a rear sump dipstick but everything is plumbed and wired nicely and I hate to go changing things up. Sorry if I offended you, was not my intention.

[Cobra20646]

bullseye,

There is nothing wrong with a front cover dip stick/tube combo,

UNLESS

you have miss matched parts. If in doubt, just get a matched set from FMS and replace what you have. At that time, the FULL mark on the stick will be very accurate to indicate how HIGH the oil needs to be in your pan. Don't care if the pan holds 5 quarts or 5 gallons, you're interested in the HIGH level mark.

Now, if for some reason the new stick bottoms out in your shallow front sump, try this. Unwind a coat hanger and stuff it down the dip stick tube. "Feel" for the bottom and mark the point where the coat hanger and the dip stick tube opening meet. You now have a good gauge as to the maximum length the dip stick can be. Compare that length to the new dip stick, and if the new dip stick is a tad too long, file/cut off a little..... the 'full' line will still be above what you cut off.... unless you have some real unusual parts combo.

The whole point here is to know where the high (full) level is.

When you drain out the old oil, just fill the crank case until the oil level indicates full or just slightly above (allow some for the new filter (if you didn't 'prime' it first)). Start the engine, wait for oil pressure and then shut it down and recheck the oil level and add some to top it off, if necessary.

- Jim -