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Discussion Topic:
Quantity of oil for 37 Phaeton?
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BRL |
11-27-2021 @ 7:52 AM
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New Member
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Hi: As a new owner of a 1937 Phaeton (type 78-750) I decided to change the oil last night since I dont know the history of its oil changing. This car does not have the oil filter option. I have the glove box reference book for this car and it says it takes 5 quarts of oil. From my looking around on the net, I see people say this is an error and it should take 4 quarts, not 5 quarts. So I decide I will just measure what is in there since the dipstick reads exactly in the middle of the "safe driving range". I drain out the oil and I measure the volume as 3-3/8 quarts. I decide to fill it up with exactly 4 quarts (Lucas 10W-40 hot rod/classic) and now the dipstick reads about 1/2 inch above the "full" mark. I used a very accurate measuring cup for checking my quantities and I looked at the dipstick after getting the engine warmed up to operating range. Do I have a problem here? Should I drain out the 5/8 quart of oil that makes it go above the dipstick full mark? Regards, BRL
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37RAGTOPMAN |
11-27-2021 @ 7:58 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1958
Joined: Oct 2009
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HI do you have the 21 stud engine, ? 18 mm spart plug holes, you sure you have the correct dip stick ? measure it, mine is 13 7/8 to the hilt compare it to mine, it should take 5 quarts, without oil filter, I rechecked my original 1937 owners manual and it says 5 quarts let us know, 37Ragtopman ,Maine
This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 11-27-21 @ 11:36 AM
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TomO |
11-27-2021 @ 8:54 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7252
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Your sump should hold 5 quarts of oil. The 60 HP engine used 4 quarts of oil, but all other V-8 engines up to 1948 used 5 quarts. In 1949 Ford changed the quantity to 4 quarts. You may have the wrong dipstick. The correct dipstick will show just a little over full with 5 quarts. There should also be a leather seal at the dipstick stop. If it is missing, your dipstick will read about 1/4 to 1/2 quart high. Running with 4 quarts will make the engine run a little hotter as the oil is part of the cooling system of a gasoline engine.
Tom
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JayChicago |
11-27-2021 @ 9:01 AM
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Deleted my post. I was composing while TomO was posting. His answer, his experience, is better.
This message was edited by JayChicago on 11-27-21 @ 9:05 AM
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3w2 |
11-27-2021 @ 11:23 AM
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The Ford instruction for an oil change was 4 1/2 quarts even though the capacity is 5 quarts as about a 1/2 quart is trapped in the engine block and won't drain out. It is important not to overfill the oil pan. But if you only put 4 quarts in, you are a 1/2 quart short and likely your dipstick will read 'Full' when you add the 1/2 quart.
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Jacques1960 |
11-27-2021 @ 2:27 PM
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Given the typical 1,000 mile oil change interval, I run 4.0-4.5 qts motor oil and MMO for the balance. May not do much good, but also does not appear to cause any harm.
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BRL |
11-29-2021 @ 7:23 AM
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Hi 37Ragtopman: I made some checks last night: my engine has 21 studs on each head...so I am pretty sure it is the 85hp engine. I measured the length of my dipstick and it is 13-7/8 inch from the end to the shoulder that stops at the dipstick tube...just like yours I guess. My oil is clean now and a little hard to read on the stick, but I re-check it and it still reads the same as the other day: about 1/2 inch over the "FULL" mark. Someone else mentioned that the dipstick should have a seal(leather or fabric?) at the shoulder stop but mine does not...does yours have this? I have also attached a photo. Regards, BRL
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BRL |
11-29-2021 @ 7:33 AM
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Hi Tom: I have verified I have the 85hp engine (21 studs on each head) and I have the same length dipstick as 37ragtopman but another check of the dipstick last night is the same: 1/2 inch over "FULL" with 4 qts of oil. Now, my dipstick does not have a seal on the stop as you mention and this should hold the dipstick a little higher out of the dipstick tube. Assuming I have the correct dipstick, do you know where I could buy this leather seal? If they are not readily available, do you know what the specs of the seal are?....possibly I can fabricate it if the dimensions do not require any unusual fabrication equipment. Regards, BRL
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marko39 |
11-30-2021 @ 6:25 AM
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I have a pack of furniture and cabinet pads with several different sizes. They are felt and the 1/2" dia. ones look about right. I am going to try one on my 39 stick..
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TomO |
11-30-2021 @ 8:06 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7252
Joined: Oct 2009
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The dipstick tube should measure 8 21/64" and the dipstick should measure 16 5/8" long, end to end. It would measure 13 3/4" to the hilt without the seal. The seal is about 1/8" thick and would make less than 1/2 quart difference in the level. The dilemma that you face is with too little oil your engine will run a few degrees warmer and you will lose the protection of having enough oil in the pan when you are driving fast and accelerate. With too much oil in the pan, the counter weights can cause the oil to froth reducing the efficiency of the oil pump or having the oil leak past the slinger seal when you are parked uphill. I do not know why your dipstick shows over full when you have 4 quarts of oil in the sump. Your oil pan has the same capacity as the one in my 40 Merc and my dipstick shows just over full when I add 5 quarts to an empty sump. Every Ford piece of literature that I have says that the oil pan has a 5 quart capacity and to fill it with 5 quarts when you change the oil. I suggest that you measure the dipstick tube and go with the specifications in the Owners manual.
Tom
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