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My Oil Dipstick has 3 lines

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pjsmetana

pjsmetana

Jedi Warrior
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Dipstick.jpg


Which line is my minimum and which is my maximum oil line? As you can see... I have 3.

I changed my oil a few days ago, then went for a long drive yesterday... maybe 80 miles. When I got home I noticed I was leaking a LOT of oil. Well, I got under my Spit today and found that the rear oil pan bolts were all a little loose. I tightened them all up then went for another drive. No leak. But, I thought maybe there was the possibility that I was leaking because I was over full, the top line. When I was revving the engine up to around 4k RPM or higher I would get some blow-by of oil out of the dipstick hole. My oil level is now sitting at the 2nd from the bottom line on my dipstick, and as it is, at this level, I have no leak and there is no blow-by out of the dipstick hole.
 
Normally, the uppermost line would be "FULL"; I've no idea what the lowest and faintest line is!? Meanwhile, it's possible that the dipstick tube in the block (if the block is so equipped) has shifted. Also, do you have a good felt seal on the dipstick itself?

I'm not positive about the 1500, but most of the "small car" Triumph engines take around 4.8 quarts (US) of oil (including what's needed for the filter). Next time you change your oil, make sure you put in as close as possible to the recommended amount, run the engine to fill the filter, etc., and then see where the oil level is on the dipstick.
 
Andrew Mace said:
I'm not positive about the 1500, but most of the "small car" Triumph engines take around 4.8 quarts (US) of oil
Click to expand...

From empty to top line was 3.5 quarts US. I don't have a manual yet.

Andrew Mace said:
do you have a good felt seal on the dipstick itself?
Click to expand...

Seems as tight as the one on my 03 Honda Lunchbox... err... Element.
 
Andy's question on the felt seal may have been in regard to its thickness. Over time that seal can get smoozed dowm to something thinner than original leading one to think there is more oil in there than there is.

BTW, Triumph seemed to like a lot of room between the 'add' and 'full' marks, about 2 quarts on the 4-cyl TRs -- I do not fill all the way to the top line but that is just me and my car.

3.5 quarts doesn't seem like enough (but I do not know what a Spit takes.
 
Geo Hahn said:
I do not fill all the way to the top line but that is just me and my car.
Click to expand...

All righty then... I'll try running her with the oil filled to right between the 2 deep lines and see if that works out. I just don't want to run it low on oil.
 
Geo Hahn said:
Andy's question on the felt seal may have been in regard to its thickness. Over time that seal can get smoozed dowm to something thinner than original leading one to think there is more oil in there than there is.
Click to expand...

Yep: thickness of same (or complete absence of same; also a potential problem)!

Geo Hahn said:
3.5 quarts doesn't seem like enough (but I do not know what a Spit takes.
Click to expand...
I confirmed that it is 4.8 quarts US (give or take an ounce or two; triumphspitfire.com quotes 4.75 qts.).
 
3.5 quarts US takes me to my top line. Oil is cycling fine all the way to the rockers and back. I don't see why mine would take less than everyone elses...

As far as the dipstick goes...

img079.jpg


Guess its a little smooshed. Do I replace just the felt or do I just get a new stick and it comes with it? I should probably get a new stick anyways seeing that mine is... odd.
 
Andrew Mace said:
...I confirmed that it is 4.8 quarts US...
Click to expand...

pjsmetana said:
3.5 quarts US takes me to my top line. Oil is cycling fine all the way to the rockers and back. I don't see why mine would take less than everyone elses...
Click to expand...

Did the oil change include a new filter? (capacity w/o a filter change will be less).

If you did change the filter did you run the engine for a bit before checking the oil level? (oil will read high until engine has run and filter has filled w/oil.

If not those reasons, perhaps look for a huge dent in the oil pan? (almost kidding).
 
maybe the dipstick is from another engine or from another model year spitty and a previous owner marked the full level for this engine.
 
You should of course try to get the oil to the proper level, but the nice thing about the old british sports cars is that they pretty much all have an oil pressure guage that gives you a real reading and not just and idiot light, if the pressure goes down suddenly or fluctuates up and down (independent of engine speed) it is time to check the oil level right away.
 
Geo Hahn said:
Andrew Mace said:
...I confirmed that it is 4.8 quarts US...
Click to expand...

pjsmetana said:
3.5 quarts US takes me to my top line. Oil is cycling fine all the way to the rockers and back. I don't see why mine would take less than everyone elses...
Click to expand...

Did the oil change include a new filter? (capacity w/o a filter change will be less).

If you did change the filter did you run the engine for a bit before checking the oil level? (oil will read high until engine has run and filter has filled w/oil.

If not those reasons, perhaps look for a huge dent in the oil pan? (almost kidding).
Click to expand...

Yes it included a new filter. K&N HP-2004

Yes I ran the engine. 15-20 seconds

There is a tiny dent in my pan... lol maybe dime size.

philman said:
maybe the dipstick is from another engine or from another model year spitty and a previous owner marked the full level for this engine.
Click to expand...

Then I should definitely order a new one to be sure. Who or what site should I trust with this? If no opinions then I'll just use Moss or VickyBrit.

glemon said:
You should of course try to get the oil to the proper level, but the nice thing about the old british sports cars is that they pretty much all have an oil pressure guage that gives you a real reading and not just and idiot light, if the pressure goes down suddenly or fluctuates up and down (independent of engine speed) it is time to check the oil level right away.
Click to expand...

Not this Spitfire... its an 80... so I got the dummy light. Guess I'll order and install a separate gauge as well.
 
pjsmetana said:
Then I should definitely order a new [dipstick] to be sure.
Click to expand...
New felt? Maybe. As for the dipstick itself, surely there's someone else here on the Forum with a Spitfire 1500 who could measure their dipstick.

Also, do you have a tube into which the dipstick goes, or does it go straight into the block? i.e., is the tube missing, or is it present but possibly pushed down into the block? I don't think the tubes or dipsticks are still available, but someone might have it/them used....
 
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