[DeTomaso] Oil dipsticks that can actually be checked!

[Asa Jay Laughton]

And if you're doing it with a stock oil pan you can perform the same 
method with fewer quarts of oil.  We did.

Locally a Pantera owner had replaced his dipstick tube with a new shiny 
one from a vendor.  He didn't however replace the actual dipstick, it 
was still stock.  He did this not long after having purchased the car if 
I recall.

He filled the crankcase until it read full on the stick.  He then ran it 
for a while, checked it again and added between a half quart and a quart.

 From then on, it smoked like a locomotive.  He was certain he'd blown a 
head gasket.  It was using oil all the time and fogging the 
neighborhood.  He began letting it known he was in the market to sell as 
he didn't want to tackle a new engine.

I suggested he drain the oil, completely.  Then I went over to 
supervise.  He put five quarts in and it didn't show on the stick.  We 
put the car in the air and I verified it had a stock Ford 351C pan.  I 
told him to start it.  He was extremely nervous but I told him to watch 
the oil pressure, if it didn't come up immediately, shut it down.

It came right up.

I had him add another quart.  I then had him borrow a small tubing 
cutter and instructed him to cut about an inch and a half from the end 
of the tube facing him at the back of the engine.  Oh, and just for good 
measure, I had taken a measurement of -mine- from where it entered the 
block to the end where the stick went in.  I measured his and it was 
suitably too long.  We later found out the vendor had instructions to 
cut the tube to the proper length.  The owner had never seen the 
instructions and simply installed it.

So he finished it up and drove it happily for some time after that 
before actually selling it.  He claimed it had more power, never smoked 
again and was a blast to drive.  No wonder, he'd been putting between 
eight and 10 quarts in just to see it on the stick.  Imagine the crank 
trying to move all that extra oil out of the way.

Asa

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
&  Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com
http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism


On 3/4/2013 9:07 PM, Garth Rodericks wrote:
> Stock Dimensions:
> Length of tube below the ridge that bottoms out on the engine block: 9-15/16"
> Length of tube, above ridge: 25"
> Total length of tube: 35"
> Tube diameter: 3/8"
> Full mark of dipstick: 11-9/16" below the ridge
> Add mark on dipstick: 12-3/8" below the ridge
> End of dipstick: 13-1/4" below the ridge
> Ford TSB calls for dipstick to be 38" - Measured from tip to the bottom of the handle 'cup'
>
>
>
> And here is the correct procedure to establish your dipstick length and full/add markings if you're using an Aviad or Armando "10-quart" Road Race oil pan, regardless of the dipstick or tube length:
> Aviad&  Armando Oil Pan Capacity
> Source: http://www.poca.com/pipermail/detomaso/2007-November/091125.html
>   
> To settle it for all of you that have bought an Armando pan,
> when AVIAID designed that pan the static oil capacity of the pan was set at
> 9qt.   That fills the pan to the
> underside of the hard tray that is bolted in on top of the pickup box assembly
> in the pan.   Our instructions for actual
> capacity determination are to fill an empty pan, installed on the engine in a
> car sitting on flat ground, with 8qts. of oil. Mark your dipstick. Add one
>
> additional quart, and mark the stick again.   This is full. The first mark is the low mark. This should be only about
> 3/8" given the sump area of the pan.
>   
> Start the engine, letting oil circulate and fill the engine,
> filter and any cooler or lines that may be part of the system. Shut the engine
> off, and add back to the top mark. This will be system capacity.
>   
> Depending on engine and operating conditions the ideal level
> can vary. Ideal oil level is a point between fluctuating oil pressure and
> excess carry over of oil out of the engine venting system.   If the engine tends to trap oil up in the
> engine, it will like an extra 1/2 quart.   If the engine returns oil well, it might like 1/2 quart low.   Experience will tell.
>   
> John Schwarz
> AVIAID Oil Systems
> 10041 Canoga Avenue
> ChatsworthCA91311-3004
> 00 1 818 998 8991 phone
> 00 1 818 998 8993 fax
> aviaid at aol.com emailaviaid.com
> web
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