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#24902 07/03/2003 2:21 AM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 99 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 99 | How many quarts of oil does a '55 235 take? I feel like an idiot, but I've just finished replacing the rear main seal (and all went well  ) and I've put in 6 quarts of oil so far and it isn't even showing up on the dipstick yet. I added the oil through the valve cover (through the vent)... I believe this is the correct way for these engines, right? I feel like a fool, but I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything correctly. Thanks!
Neil
1955 Chevy 3200
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#24903 07/03/2003 3:01 AM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 140 | It's entirely possible the dipstick is the problem. How do you know it goes deep enough, or is the right one? You don't, really.
If it were me, I'd get a long piece of wire, welding rod, etc and check to make sure I could hit the bottom of the pan with it. Then I'd add oil, 1 quart at a time, and notice where it comes up to. Then I'd compare that to the dipstick that I had, and work out whether it was right, etc.
How do I know? I've done it on custom oil pans.
Also, open the drainplug and see if 6 quarts come out. I'm not sure how, but just maybe something got put together wrong. If you don't get close to 6 quarts out, something's wrong somewhere.
Good luck!
George | | |
#24904 07/03/2003 3:54 AM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Make sure there's a drainplug in the hole.  | | |
#24905 07/03/2003 7:31 AM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 99 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 99 | believe me, multiple times I made sure the drain plug was in the hole You were completely right George... I had the wrong dipstick in the engine. The junkyard I bought the truck from must have put the wrong dipstick in, and here's the kicker: before I did the oil change and replaced the seal, the dipstick was reading correctly. Basically the engine was overfilled with oil... by approximately 2 to 4 quarts as I figure. The engine had been smoking a lot and definitely seems to be running much better (and less smokey!) now. Fortunately I've only run the truck around the yard so total the engine maybe ran for an hour overfilled with that much oil so hopefully very little damage was done. What kind of damage could be caused from too much oil? I know that it is extremely bad for the engine, but what gets damaged? Thanks for all your help!
Neil
1955 Chevy 3200
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#24906 07/03/2003 9:39 AM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 | LOL, too much oil will make the seals leak and also can interfere with the crankshaft rotating parts. The rotating parts can beat the oil to a foam and cause aeration of the oil (air bubbles). This in turn can cause the oil to be too thin and not lubricate properly  If you havent driven the truck on the road, you will most likely have done no harm. I always look at the oil on the dipstick with the engine running to see if there is any sparkle or metal in it.
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