how much oil do you use??

[ivebeenbit]

i have a 302 ford engine with the front mount oil cooler
when doing a oil change how much oil do you guys put in
the crankcase,the way the dipstick is located it is hard to
get a accurate reading?
dave

[petek]

I'll tell you what I do and then sit back and watch everyone tell me that I do it wrong.

First, my oil cooler is on the other side of a thermostat. The only way that I'd be able to get the oil out of the cooler and lines is to disconnect everything. I don't bother.

So, what I do is drain the pan on my 351W (both forward and rear drains), remove and replace the oil filter. Drop in 5 qts of oil ... and next the tricky part: I turn on a PreLuber oil pump and bring the system up to pressure.

Finally, I measure the oil level on the dip stick (5 qts seems to be perfect) take the car for a spin to warm the engine up, measure again.

[rdorman]

That is going to be tough. We don't know the pan, line size, oil cooler size, oil filter, how the dip stick was marked etc.

This next time around I am going to figure mine out exactly but in the past I have used a similar method as petek. I to do not bother with draining the cooler.

I drain the oil, fill the new filter and spin it on, put in two gallons and check the level. If good, fire it up, shut it down, wait a couple of minutes, top it off. I think if I went and drained the whole bloody thing it takes like 10.5 quarts. But as it is seems to me I add about 9 - 9.5 to get it full with out draining the cooler.

As you can see in just two responses there is a pretty wide range of capacity! If it is full, drain it, measure how much you drained and put that much back in as a start.

Rick

[klayfish]

Do you know where the motor is from? Though I guess they're mostly the same.... Anyway, probably the easiest thing is to find out where the motor is from, and check the owners guide for that year car. When I had a 302, if I recall, 5 quarts seemed about right. Even with my 351W, I check the level, start the car, check the oil pressure, and if it is all inline, I go on my way. Don't overfill it too much, don't starve it, change it regularly, and you should be fine.

Steve

[clayfoushee]

The reason for the widely varying responses is due to the size of the oil pan. My BB is equipped with a Canton Racing Oil Pan, which a lot of Cobra engine builders use along with Aviad. These pans hold 8 quarts alone. Add the filter, oil cooler and hoses and you're up to 10-10.5. A stock 302 pan would probably hold about 5 quarts.

[BMK]

I agree, I also do not worry about the lines or the cooler contents.

As I change the oil regularly, I find that the contents of the lines and cooler just mix in and eventually get cleared.

I have always primmed the filter prior to replacing and starting.



How often I top up is another story, as I find that I use a bit of oil when running. Don't know what others are using, but think I would use a pint about 800 miles. Guessing here, as I top up/check every drive from a bulk oil container.

Bernie

Cheers


Bernie

[ivebeenbit]

thank you for all of the replys,the car has a stock oil pan,but with
the dip stick so close to the steering column in the engine
compartment it is tough to get a accurate reading.i think i overfilled the crankcase because now i get slight drips from the
rear main area.i have been changing the oil alot because the car
has been running to rich-it had a cobra computer in it with a
stock air flow meter-i now have a stock computer in the car
and runs great.i will change the oil again this weekend and only
use 5 quarts.
dave