The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil level in oil filter 1941 235

Gentlemen,

Checked the oil on my 1954 235, and noticed it was high. I thought increasing oil level can rarely be a good thing, but there is no sign of any contamination. Checked the oil filter canister and it is nearly empty and the volume is about the same as the increase on the oil dipstick. The inspection was on a cold engine that had not been run for over one week. Sort of new to this technology, is this okay or what?

Baseline information: This engine has been rebuilt by a reputable inliner mechanic and has approximately 8 hours of run time since rebuilding. The time of use has been short duration shake down runs no long duration or highway driving, basically 20-30 minutes at a time.

Thanks in advance,

Paul

Function of bypass filter: Oil pressure from engine pushes oil to filter canister. Oil passes through filter and back to the oil pan. So when the engine is running there is pressure inside the canister. Oil is flowing out the canister and back to the pan. So filter canister is full when engine is first shut off. It is not under pressure. It will drain out the bottom of the canister over time and back to the pan. What you have is normal.

If this is the case, is the best time to check the oil level within 30 seconds or so of shutting of the engine?

You have to sort of get to know your own motor. On mine, there will be a difference between say 1/2 hour after shutting down and 4 hours.

Some by-pass filter canisters drain back into the pan when the engine is off, and some do not (their drain holes are higher up on the center hollow "rod"). Some canisters have drain plugs near the bottom of the canister.

The "fill" instructions/procedures are different for different types of by-pass canister filters.

When replacing oil and filter for each type:

1. If they drain-back/out to the bottom when the engine is off: fill the crankcase with oil, to the fill mark on the dip-stick (or, with the amount specified in the Owner's Manual). Then, add oil to match the capacity of your filter-canister. You could then run the engine for a few minutes, stop the engine, wait five minutes (or, 30 minutes), check the dipstick level, and then mark the dipstick.

2. If they do not drain to the bottom when the engine is off: fill the crankcase with oil (to level, or with the amount of oil specified in the Owner's Manual). And, put the appropriate amount of oil in the filter canister and then close/seal the canister. Run the engine for a few minutes, stop the engine, wait five minutes (or, 30 minutes), check the dipstick level. Add oil, if necessary.

Some people use a siphon, turkey-baster, or Sludge-Siphon to empty some styles of canister at an oil change.

Maybe people with different types of canisters will post their techniques?

I have the S-6 bypass oil filter on my 49 216. It does drain down to the oil pan but only about half it's content (maybe a 1/2 qrt). It takes 5 to 15 minutes or so for it to drain down after shutdown.
To keep from overfilling the oil pan too much on oil changes etc, what I do is fill the crankcase to the dip sticks full mark, then install the filter in the can and slowly fill it up. It takes about 1/2 qrt and button it up. Since it takes awhile for it to soak through and drain whatever amout it will, I generally wait 5 - 15 minutes before I check and run it.
It'll show over fill but not by much.

The C-6 filter can has an oil drain plug near the bottom so I pull the filter, remove the drain plug and give it a couple minutes to drain. Since I'm now in the habit of useing surgical gloves for messy jobs I then will take several papar towels and just reach in and manually wipe the can out clean. That is usually good enough to get it all out. When I pulled the head for rebuild I fully cleaned out the filter can w/kerosene and water and since then it hasn't collected too much sludge to where I couldn't towel it out.

Dave

Okay, then from the input it sounds as though the oil on the dipstick should read high (high as in a full oil pan plus the added amount of oil contained in the filter)when the engine is dead cold correct? From my observations, the AC L-1 oil filter is of the type that allows oil to drain from the canister. At this point I am as protective of my rebuilt engine as a father of a knock out pretty daughter going on her first date. I can just envision piston skirts slapping oil in the bottom of the crankcase. Should the oil level be checked after say 1-5 minutes after the engine is stopped?

Thanks for the input.

Paul