Knowing the amount of oil in your engine...

[Steve Plucker]

After dropping my engine oil, I thought I would see just where the new added oil was on the Oil Level Indicator (OLI) (Dip Stick) after the addition of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4.5 qts. There is approximatly 1/2 QT of oil left in the engine after an oil change...The engine takes 5 QT's.

Since there were two known OLI's, I thought I would measure each one (I used original Ford Model A/AA indicators).

So here are the measurements in USA Qts and inches.

1928 Bayonett style:

1QT...1/2"
2QT...1"
3QT...1-3/4"
4QT...2-1/4" (Right at the lower line in the F)
4.5QT...2-1/2"

1929-1931 style:

1QT...No Show
2QT...3/8"
3QT...7/8"
4QT...1-1/2"
4.5QT...1-3/4" (Right at the upper line of the F)

Providing all OLI are the same, this will tell you about just where and how much oil is in your engine.

Pluck

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

After dropping my engine oil, I thought I would see just where the new added oil was on the Oil Level Indicator (OLI) (Dip Stick) after the addition of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4.5 qts. There is approximatly 1/2 QT of oil left in the engine after an oil change...The engine takes 5 QT's.

Since there were two known OLI's, I thought I would measure each one.

So here are the measurements.

1928 Bayonett style:

1QT...1/2"
2QT...1"
3QT...1-3/4"
4QT...2-1/4" (Right at the lower line in the F)
4.5QT...2-1/2"

1929-1931 style:

1QT...No Show
2QT...3/8"
3QT...7/8"
4QT...1-1/2"
4.5QT...1-3/4" (Right at the upper line of the F)

Providing all OLI are the same, this will tell you about just where and how much oil is in your engine.

Pluck

Providing also that all Quarts are the same too. The American quart is smaller than the imperial quart by 20%. I guess we will have to do some converting to figure out how many litres all this is.
1 imperial gallon is 4.54 litres
1 US gallon is 3.63 litres.

[diomed]

I have an older style dipstick in a 1930 block. 5 quarts puts it right on the full line. I assumed the part sticking in the block was the same on both dipstick styles. I guess not.

For such a simple car, I seem to be learning something new every week.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by diomed

I have an older style dipstick in a 1930 block. 5 quarts puts it right on the full line. I assumed the part sticking in the block was the same on both dipstick styles. I guess not.

For such a simple car, I seem to be learning something new every week.

Right you are.

Pluck

[Mad Mac]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

1 imperial gallon is 4.54 litres
1 US gallon is 3.63 litres.

That's why we should all talk the same language. The world is going the litres way.

[marc silva]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My 28 has the bayonett dip stick. It has 2 lines on it. I have been told to run the oil level at the lower line and that the upper line must have been added at one time. I have seen other dip sticks with one line equal to the lower line. is it correct with 2 lines? I guess I should change my oil and put 4.5 quarts in and look at the dip stick. I never look until I drive it for a while..it uses so much oil I never pay much attention.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by marc silva

My 28 has the bayonett dip stick. It has 2 lines on it. I have been told to run the oil level at the lower line and that the upper line must have been added at one time. I have seen other dip sticks with one line equal to the lower line. is it correct with 2 lines? I guess I should change my oil and put 4.5 quarts in and look at the dip stick. I never look until I drive it for a while..it uses so much oil I never pay much attention.

No lines on mine...just F and L.

Pluck

[colin1928]

Thanks Steve this good to know

US Quart = 0.946353 Litres

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Providing also that all Quarts are the same too. The American quart is smaller than the imperial quart by 20%. I guess we will have to do some converting to figure out how many litres all this is.
1 imperial gallon is 4.54 litres
1 US gallon is 3.63 litres.

Just do the same test but in litres!

Make sure you use original Ford indicators if you do this test.

Pluck

[Patrick L.]

I think this also depends on how much crud [ technical term] is laying around in the pan.
Because one never knows whether the dipstick is correct, once the pan is clean, I dump in 4 qts and mark the stick [ a slight hacksaw slash] and do the same after adding the 5th.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Just do the same test but in litres!

Make sure you use original Ford indicators if you do this test.

Pluck

Steve, It won't take much to convert your quarts into litres and your inches into centimetres. From the shape of the sides of the sump, a linear interpolation or extrapolation will be close enough. Thanks for the incentive to look at this.

[dave in australia]

The problem I can see here is that you have measured from the bottom up. If you measure from the top down, this will be a truer reading, as the dipstick hole is a constant datum point. Measuring from the bottom up, does not allow for varying stick lengths. I have several dipsticks of the same style, and I would be lucky to have three the same length from the bottom of the handle to the bottom of the stick. When I line them up, with the bottom of the handles all lined up, the full mark also lines up.

[bunnyc]

Originally Posted by dave in australia

If you measure from the top down, this will be a truer reading, as the dipstick hole is a constant datum point.

Excellent point. I agree.

[Bob Bidonde]

You can tell if there is a significant amount of sediment (AKA crud) in the bottom of the oil pan by:
1. Observing what is in the oil the drain plug which is shaped like a cup;
2. Probing through the drain plug hole with your index finger or a piece of coat hangar;
3. On 1928 & early 1929 engines, remove the oil pump cover plate from the pan and look inside with a small mirror and flashlight.

My expectation is that engines running with an obsolete single viscosity non-detergent oil will have some crud.

1 Qt = 0.95 Liters
2 Qt = 1.9 Liters
3 Qt = 2.85 Liters
4 Qt = 3.8 Liters
4.5 Qt = 4.28 Liters
5 Qt = 4.75 Liters

[V4F]

hmmmm , I just count the empties on the floor . works for me ..........

[katy]

The American quart is smaller than the imperial quart by 20%.

Actually it's only 16% smaller. The problem is that US fluid ounces and Imperial fluid ounces are also different sizes. The US ounce is lightly larger than the Imperial ounce.

[bunnyc]

I have a 1930 engine. My dipstick measures 2-3/8" from the bottom to the top horizontal line of the "F". Wrong dipstick for this engine?

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by bunnyc

I have a 1930 engine. My dipstick measures 2-3/8" from the bottom to the top horizontal line of the "F". Wrong dipstick for this engine?

?????
What does it show after the oil change ?

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Providing also that all Quarts are the same too. The American quart is smaller than the imperial quart by 20%. I guess we will have to do some converting to figure out how many litres all this is.
1 imperial gallon is 4.54 litres
1 US gallon is 3.63 litres.

Thought down in Oz you measure in litres?

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by bunnyc

I have a 1930 engine. My dipstick measures 2-3/8" from the bottom to the top horizontal line of the "F". Wrong dipstick for this engine?

That is a 28 dipstick.

[bunnyc]

Thank you Mr. Texas

[RonC]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

After dropping my engine oil, I thought I would see just where the new added oil was on the Oil Level Indicator (OLI) (Dip Stick) after the addition of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4.5 qts. There is approximatly 1/2 QT of oil left in the engine after an oil change...The engine takes 5 QT's.

Since there were two known OLI's, I thought I would measure each one (I used original Ford Model A/AA indicators).

So here are the measurements in USA Qts and inches.

1928 Bayonett style:

1QT...1/2"
2QT...1"
3QT...1-3/4"
4QT...2-1/4" (Right at the lower line in the F)
4.5QT...2-1/2"

1929-1931 style:

1QT...No Show
2QT...3/8"
3QT...7/8"
4QT...1-1/2"
4.5QT...1-3/4" (Right at the upper line of the F)

Providing all OLI are the same, this will tell you about just where and how much oil is in your engine.

Pluck

Was there an overseas version dip stick?

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by RonC

Was there an overseas version dip stick?

I have no idea but you would think so...I wonder what the Forigen Instruction Booklets say?

Pluck

[Marshall57]

Putting in a new engine or when the oil pan is removed gives you a chance to see just how accurate your dip stick is. After you put a quart or two down the distributer hole you put in the rest of the five quarts, run the engine for just a bit and let it set until it is cool. When you check the oil you will know that it is in fact holding five quarts and you can memorize where the oil level is on your particular dip stick. I read where a fellow had a dip stick that showed the engine oil level low when it really wasn't. The guy would add oil just to have the engine toss it out, making a mess and causing lots of frustration.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

This thread has way too many dipsticks. Put in the oil, look on the schtick.

[duke36]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Steve:
In response to the post about measuring from the top of the dip stick (block hole stop), would you provide the total length of your '30 -'31 dip stick blade so we can compare yours to ours as a reference? Many thanks for taking the time to provide the useful info. I think I've been consistently over- filling with oil especially with an oil filter installed.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by rip94611

Steve:
In response to the post about measuring from the top of the dip stick (block hole stop), would you provide the total length of your '30 -'31 dip stick blade so we can compare yours to ours as a reference? Many thanks for taking the time to provide the useful info. I think I've been consistently over- filling with oil especially with an oil filter installed.

Here you go:

1928 Bayonete: 8-3/4 inches;

1929-31 style: 7-15/16 inches

Pluck

[walkerlakeprinter]

Good answer. I have two dipsticks, one with the elongated loop and one with the round loop. Lining up the bottom of the loops, the Full marks line up, even though the elongated loop stick is 7/8" longer from the bottom of the loop.

[Anteek29]

Hmmm, so far no risque dipstick jokes

[Russ/40]

Am I hearing correctly? The Bayonet is the long looped stick. My stick has a circular top with an "L" at the bottom, about 1 1/4" above is the "F" about a 1/4" above the "F" is the scribed line. Ive been running just a little above the halfway point between "F" and "L". Still have a rear main leak, but I guess you cant avoid that.

[Jim Mason]

Btw, the Ford fax booklet says the engine holds 1 imperial gallon.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

After ALL this, do we REALLY have it STRAIGHT???---I don't "THINK" SO!!!
Bill Confused

[katy]

Originally Posted by Jim Mason

Btw, the Ford fax booklet says the engine holds 1 imperial gallon.

Don't know which booklet you're talking about, but the 1928 Ford Model "A" Instruction Book says, "Oil pan capacity 5 quarts." (on page 4).

[100IH]

Sticks need to be measured side to side from hilt to "F" mark, not total length. Then the question remains the pan rail to top of hole for stick - measure samples from all years. Lastly, has anyone considered different oil pan capacities? Where the comparisons are not equal, mixing block, pan and sticks will introduce additional variables. Personally Scarlet, I don't give a damn.