Oil level

[Lawman]

I drained the oil from the oil pan via the drain plug that unscrews from the bottom/side of the pan (twin LM 318's) It was a slow process but in the end I only got 3 quarts out and there was nothing on the dipstick when reinserted. I have external dipsticks and they basically go down to the bottom of the pan?? I always though that the dipstick needed to go into the top of the pan for an accurate measurement? Last year when I used my oil extractor I only got 3 quarts out as well and when I added 3 the dipstick read full?? I have a 6 quart pan (no step). Any thoughts would be appreciated .

[prowlersfish]

There is only 2 choices , your not getting all the oil out or you have the wrong dipsticks or tubes

Is the plug at the very bottom of the pan and is the plug at the low end of the pan ? ( the engines have a 10-12 deg tilt and are higher at the front .)

[larryeddington]

Tilt is about 3 degrees on a v drive and around 11 on standard. Cast aluminum pans hold 5+filter quarts and stamped metal 4+filter. Cast pans have dip stick going into fitting on side of pan. Stamped pans has dip stick entering at front of engine by fuel pump.

[Lawman]

Yes, the drain plug is at the rear bottom of the pan, and when I reinserted the dipstick after draining everything I could, it was dry. Must be the wrong dipsticks for the motors?? Does anyone else have external dipsticks like this? How can they be accurate if they go to the bottom of the pan? Strange !!

[mikeandanne]

It seems you have the pan dry now---- so just fill with the correct amount of oil for that particular pan ,put stick in and note the mark of the oil and drill a small hole or file a slot--- also you could fill the pan one quart short,mark that and then add a quart, mark that, and that would be the full mark-----no need to hunt for other sticks-----always remember the oil filter holds some oil,so you need to know what the pan fill is with and without filter change---- Mike

[Lawman]

Will do. Thanks to everyone that replied !