Oil Dipstick

L

lawrence coldren

New member
Nov 23, 1999
6
0
0
I just acquired a 74 Canyon Lands and the oil level on the dip stick reads
well above the full mark, 4-6 inches, with 6 quarts on oil in the engine.
The PO said this was normal. I have changed oil and filter and the dip
stick reads full at 4 qts. I put 5 qts. in the engine and intend to put the
6th. in tomorrow. I see two potential sources of the problem.
1. The dipstick is not original and is to long. What is the proper length?
2. The dipstick guide tube has been shortened. Mine is located on the left
side of the radiator. Is this correct?
Any rational explanation and solution would be appreciated. Thanks for the
help.

Larry Coldren
Denver CO
 
The original location was on the driver's side of the radiator. Our lady takes
7 quarts with a filter change.
Gary & Edie
North Bend, Oregon Coast

> I just acquired a 74 Canyon Lands and the oil level on the dip stick reads
> well above the full mark, 4-6 inches, with 6 quarts on oil in the engine.
> The PO said this was normal. I have changed oil and filter and the dip
> stick reads full at 4 qts. I put 5 qts. in the engine and intend to put the
> 6th. in tomorrow. I see two potential sources of the problem.
> 1. The dipstick is not original and is to long. What is the proper length?
> 2. The dipstick guide tube has been shortened. Mine is located on the left
> side of the radiator. Is this correct?
> Any rational explanation and solution would be appreciated. Thanks for the
> help.
>
> Larry Coldren
> Denver CO
 
Or you may have a non toronado oil pan.

>I just acquired a 74 Canyon Lands and the oil level on the dip stick reads
>well above the full mark, 4-6 inches, with 6 quarts on oil in the engine.
>The PO said this was normal. I have changed oil and filter and the dip
>stick reads full at 4 qts. I put 5 qts. in the engine and intend to put the
>6th. in tomorrow. I see two potential sources of the problem.
>1. The dipstick is not original and is to long. What is the proper length?
>2. The dipstick guide tube has been shortened. Mine is located on the left
>side of the radiator. Is this correct?
>Any rational explanation and solution would be appreciated. Thanks for the
>help.
>
>Larry Coldren
>Denver CO
>
>
>
>
>
 
If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only supposed to hold 5
quarts of oil.

I'd make sure it was level and then trim the dipstick to read full with the
5 fresh quarts installed.

bdub

>I just acquired a 74 Canyon Lands and the oil level on the dip stick reads
>well above the full mark, 4-6 inches, with 6 quarts on oil in the engine.
>The PO said this was normal. I have changed oil and filter and the dip
>stick reads full at 4 qts. I put 5 qts. in the engine and intend to put the
>6th. in tomorrow. I see two potential sources of the problem.
>1. The dipstick is not original and is to long. What is the proper length?
>2. The dipstick guide tube has been shortened. Mine is located on the left
>side of the radiator. Is this correct?
>Any rational explanation and solution would be appreciated. Thanks for the
>help.
>
>Larry Coldren
>Denver CO
>
>
>
 
Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.
>Gary & Edie
>
Gary, are you sure about the 7 qts???

Dave Greenberg
GMC MOTORHOME REGISTRY
Seagate Towers 200 MacFarlane Dr PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
I should have added that I use the BIG Napa oil filter
which takes an extra quart.
Gary & Edie
North Bend, Oregon Coast (Rain today)

> Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.
> >Gary & Edie
> >
> Gary, are you sure about the 7 qts???
>
> Dave Greenberg
> GMC MOTORHOME REGISTRY
> Seagate Towers 200 MacFarlane Dr PH4
> Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
OK guys, how much oil?

Gary sez: " Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.",

bdub sez: "If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only supposed to
hold 5
quarts of oil."

The manual (X-7525A, page 0-11) sez: "5 quarts (6 w/ filter)"

A well meaning mechanic put 7 quarts in mine once and the excess was spewed
out all over the place. I'm gonna stick with 6.

This sort of disparity points out that what is posted here by well meaning
and experienced GMC owners can't always be taken as gospel.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
 
Dave,
Your summary neglected to mention that I use the extra capicity NAPA filter
which holds an extra quart of oil. 6 is for you, 7 is for me.
Gary & Edie
North Bend, Oregon Coast

> OK guys, how much oil?
>
> Gary sez: " Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.",
>
> bdub sez: "If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only supposed to
> hold 5
> quarts of oil."
>
> The manual (X-7525A, page 0-11) sez: "5 quarts (6 w/ filter)"
>
> A well meaning mechanic put 7 quarts in mine once and the excess was spewed
> out all over the place. I'm gonna stick with 6.
>
> This sort of disparity points out that what is posted here by well meaning
> and experienced GMC owners can't always be taken as gospel.
>
> Happy Thanksgiving!
>
> Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
 
>OK guys, how much oil?
>
>Gary sez: " Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.",
>
>bdub sez: "If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only supposed to
>hold 5
>quarts of oil."
>
>The manual (X-7525A, page 0-11) sez: "5 quarts (6 w/ filter)"
>
>A well meaning mechanic put 7 quarts in mine once and the excess was spewed
>out all over the place. I'm gonna stick with 6.
>
>This sort of disparity points out that what is posted here by well meaning
>and experienced GMC owners can't always be taken as gospel.

And if you have a Ragusa pan add another quart for a total of 7.

Henry

Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (831) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com
 
Henry,
The Ragusa pan adds 1 quart to the tranny. I'm not aware of a Ragusa
crankcase? Perhaps a senior moment, Henry?
Gary & Edie
North Bend, Oregon Coast (Lots of rain)

> >OK guys, how much oil?
> >
> >Gary sez: " Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.",
> >
> >bdub sez: "If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only supposed to
> >hold 5
> >quarts of oil."
> >
> >The manual (X-7525A, page 0-11) sez: "5 quarts (6 w/ filter)"
> >
> >A well meaning mechanic put 7 quarts in mine once and the excess was spewed
> >out all over the place. I'm gonna stick with 6.
> >
> >This sort of disparity points out that what is posted here by well meaning
> >and experienced GMC owners can't always be taken as gospel.
>
> And if you have a Ragusa pan add another quart for a total of 7.
>
> Henry
>
> Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
> PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
> Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
> ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
> fax: (831) 462-5198
> http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com
 
Gary,

My "digest" response was posted before I had seen your clarification.

BTW, is the oversized filter a direct replacement that I can have put on
instead of the Delco PF-24, and what's its part no.? I like the idea of
displacing heat and diluting contaminants through 17% more oil.

Also, sorry to hear you lost your little companion. Today you can be
especially thankfull for the 13 years you were together.

[72 degrees w/ slight breeze]

Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
(often late responses to "Digest" subsctription)
 
>Gary sez: " Our lady takes 7 quarts with a filter change.",
>
>bdub sez: "If you've got the stock oil pan, the engine is only
>supposed to
>hold 5
>quarts of oil."
>
>The manual (X-7525A, page 0-11) sez: "5 quarts (6 w/ filter)"
>
>A well meaning mechanic put 7 quarts in mine once and the excess was
>spewed
>out all over the place. I'm gonna stick with 6.
>
>This sort of disparity points out that what is posted here by well
>meaning
>and experienced GMC owners can't always be taken as gospel.
>
>Happy Thanksgiving!
>
>Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
>

Actually, Dave they were all saying the same thing only expressing it
differently. Gary uses a filter with an extra quart capacity which he
clarified in a follow-on posting.

Billy was only talking about crankcase without the filter.

The answer, which you obviously found in the manual, is 5 qts plus one in
a standard oem filter.

I guess the moral here is, check the manual first.

David Lee Greenberg F22009
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
NEXTEL Mobile: 561-262-0233
 
> Henry,
>The Ragusa pan adds 1 quart to the tranny. I'm not aware of a Ragusa
>crankcase? Perhaps a senior moment, Henry?

Yep. Sent it off and realized that I said the Ragusa (which DOESN'T fit the
engine) when you guys were talking about engine oil.

Thans to all of you who e-mailed me to remind me...

Henry
Who's going to go back to bed in a few minutes ;>

Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (831) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com
 
>Owners manual for my 403 says 6 quarts with filter. Six quarts shows
>a half quart low on the dip stick. I soon learned that if I put an extra
half quart in, it soon gets rid of it. So I go with the 6 quarts.
>Justin

I experinced the same and after making a new mark on my dip stick,
decreased oil consumption from 800-900 MPQ to 1,100-1,200 MPQ!

David Lee Greenberg F22009
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
NEXTEL Mobile: 561-262-0233
 
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