Oil capacity?

[philminotti]

482 sideoiler with Aviaid cobra pan, remote filter, NO cooler, currently bone dry. How many quarts should I put in the pan prior to preoiling? I know the pan capacity is 9 qts, but should I add another quart or so to account for the filter, oil lines, galleries, etc??

thanks.

phil

[Argess]

I have the Aviad pan. As you say, add 9 qts at first. Also fill your oil filter(s) prior to installing them AND write down how much you used. Before you do anything else, not the oil level on your dipstick. Make a mark with a hammer and punch, or drill a small hole a the oil level. You also may be able to adjust the hieght of the dipstick instead.

Next, pre-oil by using a drill in reverse or cranking with plugs out. I always used to do the cranking thing,, but last time I found the drill and old dist shaft worked better.

Finally get your engine running. After you shut it off, leave overnight. Now add oil so level comes back to mark you made. Record the amount, or commit to memory if you have a good one....I don't.

Now, total oil is 9 quarts plus oil for filter's plus the bit extra you used to top it off.

Next time you do an oil change, you'll know the total, although it is likely you will only need the 9 qts plus filter amount as the rest will stay in the lines, galleries, etc. Regardless, you'll have a correctly marked dipstick to check the amount.

[cdnus]

I would recommend calling the manufacturer.
I have a Canton 9 qt. they told me that included the oil filter. When I do a change I pre fill the filter & add the balance of the 9qts. to the crankcase.

Craig

[Argess]

Seems to me I did ask the question when I ordered my pan from Aviad. The confrimed the 9 qts is the pan capacity, not including filters, etc. However, my memory on the subjuect isn't great, so perhaps a call is in order.

[philminotti]

thanks guys.

[dcdoug]

I also have an oil capacity question. I have a Canton pan on my FE that is rated at 8 quarters for the system, including filter, etc. I am also running an oil cooler. So here is the question: My pan is off the car right now and is bone dry, but the filter, etc is still in place and presumably still filled with oil. By the time I get done removing the broken pan bolt, it will probably have been that way for 2-3 weeks. I want to take this opportunity to mark the dipstick at the correct oil level, which was never done. Can I assume that the rest of the system is still filled with oil and just add 7qts to the pan and mark it? After marking the dipstick at the proper level, I will then change the filter and fill the new filter with oil before reinstalling.

Is this a reasonable approach to getting my dipstick properly calibrated or should I do something different?

[Argess]

Yes, it sounds reasonable to me. However as the pan is off, why not change the filter, add 8 NEW quarts any way you want to (all in the pan, or prefill the filter and put the rest in the pan), start it up, shut it off, wait overnight, and then mark the dipstick?

I will mention that will my minimal experience in such matters (I've only called two manufacturers on this issue), I have never seen an aftermarket pan oil capacity rated for the system. It's pan only as the pan manufacturer have no idea if you are using a long or short filter, a remote filter, an oil cooler, etc.

[RodKnock]

I thought this was a great thread when I was hunting around for the Aviaid's oil pan capacity. Aviaid actually posts on this thread.

Aviad FE Pan Capacity

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Argess

I will mention that will my minimal experience in such matters (I've only called two manufacturers on this issue), I have never seen an aftermarket pan oil capacity rated for the system. It's pan only as the pan manufacturer have no idea if you are using a long or short filter, a remote filter, an oil cooler, etc.

Canton lists it as for the system, but a tech told me they assume 7qts in the pan and 1qt in the system, which makes sense.

Anyone know how much the oil cooler and lines running to/from it hold?

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I thought this was a great thread when I was hunting around for the Aviaid's oil pan capacity. Aviaid actually posts on this thread.

Aviad FE Pan Capacity

Excellent thread and worth reposting what Aviad said. I added the bits in brackets to generalize it for those that don't run Aviad:

"We recommend that the 1st time your fill the pan in the car, with the car flat on the ground and the pan empty, you add 8 quarts [or one less than whatever your pan is rated for] and mark the stick. Add 1 more quart [to bring it up to the "full" pan capacity] and mark the stick again. This is a high-low marking procedure. Then start the engine, let everything pressurize and fill, shut the engine down, and let everything drain down for a few minutes. Then measure how much to fill back up to the top mark. The total will give you system capacity. This now includes lines, filter, cooler, whatever. From that point you can adjust level to suite your requirements. Some will run a little more, some a little less, depending on usage.