My newly acquired 1948 Chevy 3100 has a 1954 235 passenger car engine in it (according to the engine serial and casting numbers). I checked the oil when I got it and it was just under the full mark. I drained the oil tonight to do an oil change and only got 3 3/4 quarts of oil out of it.
I put 4 quarts of oil in it and it brought it right up to the full mark on the dipstick. The engine does NOT have an oil filter housing currently on it (I have the oil filter housing and plan on reinstalling it at a later date).
Internet research says the engine should take 5 quarts of oil, but putting this much in would surely show overfilled on the dipstick. I'm questioning whether or not the correct dipstick and/or tube for this engine is actually installed in it...
If I measure from the fill mark on the dipstick to the stop washer (that rests on the top of the dipstick tube), I get 13 3/8".
If I measure the dipstick tube length sticking out of the block, I get 5 3/4".
If I measure from the top of the dipstick tube to the oil pan rail (bottom of block), I get 8 1/4".
By my best guess (and not accounting for the mounting angle of the dipstick tube), the fill level line on the dipstick sits at 5 1/8" below the oil pan rail / bottom of the block when installed.
Do I have the correct dipstick/tube for this engine or does it really only take 4 quarts of oil?
NOTE: oil pan is not bashed in but I'm not sure what oil pan is on the engine (passenger car or truck).
Last edited by SinisterPerf; 10/06/2023 4:04 AM.
