Oil Question

[patrija]

I have one of Southern Automotives 406 FEs with a Canton Racing pan (not sure which model). I checked the oil this level this AM prior to driving it and it's sitting on the "Add 1 Quart line". Of course, I searched through Club Cobra and have seen different thoughts on whether the dipstick is accurate based on where it is measuring from

Short question is: Am I safer just adding a quart without knowing the true fill line on the dipstick? Is a little TOO much oil better or worse than NOT ENOUGH oil?

My oil pressure is running 60-80 until warmed up and then drops to around 40-60. Is oil pressure any measure of when to add oil or if you have too much? I've been told by the builder that these are the normal ranges.

If you can't tell, I am a newbie and NOT a mechanic and am trying to learn as fast as I can! All help is appreciated

[chopper]

The size of the oil pan should have no effect on the oil level required to ensure the oil pickup is covered with oil. The mark on the dipstick is calibrated to place the top of the oil level in the pan at an appropriate height to ensure the oil pickup is covered under all driving conditions. adding more oil underneath the mark has no effect on this. If you have any questions, call Bill or Lewis at Southern Automotive and talk to them about it.

BTW, you may wish to ask them about the possibility of driving the car with a dummy oil dipstick in the engine and carry an actual one for measuring the oil level. I understand that under extreme rpm operation, it is possible to pull the stock dipstick into contact with the rotating components in the bottom of the engine. Many of the FE folks take a stock dipstick and cut it off so it doesn't extend very far into the tube, and that seals the tube for operation. Then carry an extra dipstick in the trunk for actually measuring the oil level. Again, ask Bill or Lewis.

As to whether or not oil pressure is an indicator as to whether or not you should add oil, I'd suggest that it is not, until you notice that the oil pressure is holding below 25 psi under normal cruise. At that point, you're about four quarts low and you're getting intermittent oil starvation to the pickup, and hence, the bearings. Hopefully, you'll not let it get to this point.

For reference, my Southern Automotive 484 stroker starts with about 62 psi, and I see this decrease to about 53-56 after the engine has warmed up to operating temperature and I'm running above 1500 rpm. When warmed up, at idle (900 rpm) the oil pressure sits about 32 psi.

[patrija]

Thanks for the quick thoughts and lessons. I'm a "youngen" who's always driven cars with PS,PB,EFI. I LOVE the Cobra, but have lots to learn.

I've added the oil and everything seems to be fine. Later this week, I'm going to take my Cobra down to Bill for him to look through.

I did read in SA's documentation about using a dummy dipstick with a rubber plug on the end. Yet another question for Bill!

Thanks again!
Jason