Reading the dipstick

[tuney443]

I changed my engine oil today in my 440ICD,but stupidly I didn't notice the dipstick has 4 crimp marks with no low or full designations and I was using a 5 gallon can to pour so I couldn't tell when 9 qts. was in.The upper crimp would have the level of the oil app. to the top of the pan--is that right?

[tuney443]

80 views and nobody knows my answer--didn't think it was that difficult.

[Tractor 850]

I have no experience with the GM diesel but,
generally the upper mark is full with the filter being full.
Most engines full is when not running but some is with the engine running.
I'm sure someone out there has a copy of the manual for your machine and can be more exact than I can.

[tuney443]

Thanks Tractor 850,but that's not it,not why I'm asking such a very basic question.What I need to know is why are there 4 marks on my stick,the upper most one has a notched line across the stick which would normally be the correct level, but it seems awful high on the stick and putting the stick next to the outside of the engine and pan would have the level at the very top of the pan, which to me seems too high.

[CELSESSER]

Tuney,
The manual just refers to low and high marks on the bayonet dipstick. It says to check with the engine NOT running, at least 10 minutes after having run for at least 10 minutes to completely distribute the oil.
The dipstick you have may not be OEM. If it were me I would drain the pan plus the filter housing. close it back up then put a measured 8 quarts in then run it for 10 minutes, shut it off and wait 10 minutes then look at the dipstick to see where 1 quart low is and mark it. Then I would put in the last quart and do the above again to determine the correct level on the stick for full and mark that. That way you are sure of what you have in there.
The cost of the oil that you will lose is nothing compared to the cost of that Jimmy
" The stink of brain farts only lasts if you dwell on them."
Chuck

[tuney443]

Yes Celsesser,I thought of doing that,but before I do or have to, I was hoping someone might be able to measure the lenghth of their dipstick with where their marks are.

[CELSESSER]

Tuney,
Yes, it should be a set distance from the shoulder of the dipstick to the "full" and "add" marks. I don't have one to measure as the 2-53 in my 440ICD got swapped out for a 420 gas motor two owners ago. I would only wonder if there were more than one style oil pan on the 2-53's that might change the capacities and thus the dipstick measurement. Don't know. On a Zetor tractor I use at work, the oil pan is quite shallow and the oil level when full is conciderably above the oil pan gasket. A pain since it keeps vibrating the oil pan bolts out and tends to leak a bit when that happens. The first time I saw that tractor, the owner roared up to where I was standing and it was drizzeling oil out of the pan joint ,I put 6 pan bolts and 7 quarts of oil into it just to get it to the end of the dipstick (holds 13 with a filter change!). The owner is dead but the tractor keeps running.


Chuck