dipstick accuracy

i just did a lot of work on my 64 country sedan wagon. i got the heads rebuilt and did the rest of the work myself to get the 289 v8 running like new. now it does but when i put oil in it according to the original 64 owners manual for the first time, the dipstick reads about a quart over. i have factored in that the filter takes about that much and made sure it was ful of oil. after letting things sit and trying it running, it is still measuring too full. does anybody have any ideas? should i just assume the dipstick is suspect?

 

Did the dip read proper before you did all the work?

I have a 67 289 still with factory dip, but sorry... I can't get to the engine rite now to give you the length. I can't see the dip length changing on the production line length wise over the years when the 289 was used....? I don't even know if the 302 dip is the same

Wish I could help you more, it will take a month of Sundays for me to get to the engine

 

Don't assume anything! Did you change the dipstick or the dipstick tube when you rebuilt it? Change the pan for a new one. Somethings fishy and blowin' bubbles in your oil ain't good!

 

I'm a little confused about what you did with the oil filter. Normally, when changing the oil, one removes the old filter, screws on a new one, and then adds the requisite amount of oil through the fill tube. You do not normally pre-fill the oil filter before attaching it. If you did that, which can take about a quart, and then added the amount of oil called for in the manual when doing a oil and filter change, you could end up with about one quart too much oil.

 

i agree i always pre fill the filter but rarley will it take whole Qt without making a mess. this would do that tho

 

I always combine the filter and the nominal fresh build amount of oil the pan requires after I just put the oil in the engine and mark it on the dipstick with a sharp small file. So,.. 8 quart pan + 1/2 guart filter = full. I never trusted those aftermarket dipsticks. It easy to reference the oil level once you've added up the suggested and the filter.

 

Normally most of us---many---some---Me---will fill the filter, dump the rest of that quart and add the remaining required quarts, usually a total of five for my cars. That way the filter is full and there is no chance of not getting oil immediately where it is needed. Right or wrong it doesn't hurt.
Then to check it, let the engine cool down and where ever it shows on the dipstick is what you should keep it at no matter where it is on said dipstick.
On GM engines when changing to a fancy two dollar chrome dipstick made far away I've had to file a new level mark at the proper level.
So easy a dipstick can do it!

 

x2

I was taught to pre-fill oil filters when I started working as a grease monkey over 40 years ago by "real" mechanics that could actually fix things on cars without replacing them. They even had units to pressure fill them at a lot of gas stations, it takes a good five to ten minutes to saturate and fill one otherwise. I know the oil light will go off a lot sooner or the pressure will register faster when you do, a lot less or none of the engine noise you can get on initial start after an oil change.
The naysayers say not to because you may dump dirt into it that wouldn't be filtered, but who gets dirt in the oil coming directly out of the bottle unless they used some kind of crud encrusted funnel or something?
The engine can take more or less oil than whatever's specified, that's an average, you can't just dump in what it says in the owner's manual and be surprised when it reads too high afterwards. You may need more than what it specifies too.

So easy I can even do it.

 

Dipsticks often get replaced when the old one breaks or gets lost. It is a common problem, and as time goes on, there is no way to know if it was replaced by a previous owner, or when it happened. Going from memory, the Ford dipstick usually had a part number stamped into it. If you take that part number to your local Ford dealer, if there is an old timer in the parts department, he should be able to decipher the part number, and give you a hint as to what year car it is from. Same thing happens with the dip stick tube. If it gets damaged, then the replacement might be longer or shorter, but it will still fit and "look" correct. Dipsticks are one of the most often parts recalled items because they get mixed up at the assembly plant. Most times, the owners never know about it, because it is corrected at the dealerships when the car comes in for service, and there has been a technical bulletin issued for car of serial number xxxxx - xxxxy.
Since I am aware of this problem, I snag dipsticks when I see a like model in a salvage yard that is the same as a car that I own. I then match it to the one in my car, and if it matches, I tag it and put it away for the day that I might need it. The most difficult ones to find are those of the 1960's & 1970's.

 

Some new filters are small.

 

So, you just put a smaller amount of oil in those!

 

The filter size doesn't even enter into it. As long as it is full from the onset and you added what the pan requires + or - a small bit. Two quarts overfull might be a problem. 1/2 quart overfull isn't. And any amount low is bad. Just keep it between the "mas o menos" level and you'll be fine. Were not building a piano here, but we are building a highly specialized and technical piano box. It's not rocket science. Most engines are very resilient. They are made to run that way due to the stupidity of the average owner who might check their oil levels once in a blue moon.
So here is the bottom line; Keep the oil level up but not overfilled and if you're low, add some. Simple enough.
Dave.

 

I'm just saying a small filter + correct amount of oil = high mark ?

 

I think is more apropos.

 

The filter size doesn't even enter into it. As long as it is full

You tryin to tell me size don't matter? An age old question.
As long as you fill, or mostly fill the filter, of any size, and add the remaining amount of that can to the crankcase, and add as many more cans of oil, not counting that first one, because it's already added, you have the required amount for that engine.
My Dodge truck takes 7 qts. Some engines require 4qts. Most V-8's take five total. If it's a Ford keep adding. It'll burn the excess in a few miles anyway.
Modern oil comes in 1 quart plastic bottles. Count each as one can or glass jar, as they were many days ago. Unless you go to a real garage and use the hose with a nozzle on it. Then it's even easier because all you have to do is set the dial to the amount of quarts you need. Squirt the filter reasonably full, stick the rest in that oil hole the engine where you've removed the cap marked OIL or 7IO, depending how you look at it.