• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)

TR2/3/3A 60 TR3A Dip Stick Question

Share this page

Tinkerman

Tinkerman

Darth Vader
Offline
Among the many items that I bought as I rode along on this restoration was a small felt dip stick seal. Item # 41 in the engine section of the Moss catalog (NFI). I put it on the dipstick and there is about 1/4 of an inch sticking out on the dipstick? Is that going to make my dip stick read wrong. I did not take a reading when I first filled up with oil because the engine was brand new. Now since it has been run a bit and leaked some (leaks fixed) I have no idea what my oil level is. I look at the dip stick and see that it is at a level with the first mark. Short of draining the oil and starting all over again, I'm not sure what to do. If I put enough oil in it to bring it up to the second mark will I be over filling it?

Your thoughts and comments, as always, greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Tinkerman
 
Fill it to the line, don't worry. I believe the felt is supposed to hold the dipstick up by at least a little bit, and 1/4" just isn't enough to worry about.

The worst that could happen, it might leak a bit more. I find that mine throws substantially less if I leave it down a quart.
 
TR3driver said:
I find that mine throws substantially less if I leave it down a quart.
Click to expand...
:iagree: Took me a while to figure this out, but works for me, too....
 
I keep my oil level a little below the second line. My understanding is that anywhere within 1/4 of an inch of the line is OK. Better to have it down a little than to overfill.

As for the felt dip stick seal, a little sticking out is not going to harm anything. Furthermore, as it absorbs oil and as you draw and replace the dipstick over time, it will soon "mash" down. After a while, you'll want to insert a fresh seal. I routinely replace mine about once a year, though this is probably a bit excessive.

Rather than being too concerned about the level of your engine oil (as long as it is within the safe range), you should concentrate on keeping the oil reasonably fresh. That means changing the oil and the oil filter at appropriate intervals. All else being equal, attention to the quality of your oil will keep your engine in good shape.
 
Thanks fellows I knew I could get the answer from the forum. I have owned this car since 1989. It has naver had a running engine in it. It has been many a year since I drove an LBC so I have all these newby questions.
I will add more oil and move on!

Thanks, Dick
 
Back
Top