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TR2/3/3A Oil change on TR3A

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JoeBeets

Freshman Member
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Just changed the oil on my 61 TR3A. My Bently book says it takes 11 pints, (Imperial pints, I'm assuming). That works out to 6.88 American quarts. Moss says 6.6 American quarts. Here's my problem: at five quarts, the oil registers about 1/8 inch above the full mark on my oil pan dipstick. I idled the engine for about five minutes and check again and while it dropped a little, it's still above the full mark. I don't want to run 1 1/2 qts. low, but I don't want to overfill it either. Any ideas?
Joe Beets
 
6+ quarts is about right... but I think you have to go with what the dipstick is telling you.

Did you change the filter when you changed the oil (if not you will not need to put in 6+ quarts)?

Was the car level when you drained the pan? Actually, I like to raise the right front a tad to get better drainage.

I suppose a dipstick could be off though I have never known it to happen -- but even then you've got a lot of leeway as it is 2 quarts from the 'add' mark to the 'full' mark. In fact, I never go all the way to full... usually keep it about midway.
 
Is it the correct dipstick?
Stranger things have happened...
 
I did change the filter and did have the front jacks slightly taller than the rear. The drain pan seemed to have alot more than five quarts, and the stick is exactly the same as the one on a friends 60 TR3. Strange.
 
Is the felt washer still on the end of your dipstick. Mine was completely worn out and it is big enough to change the dipstick reading.
 
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