Curious oil dipstick discrepancy

[Mikelj5S230]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but when I put the oil dipstick in any other way than the loop facing away from the block, I get a low reading, by a quart or two. Why is that I wonder?

[Bob Gaines]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but when I put the oil dipstick in any other way than the loop facing away from the block, I get a low reading, by a quart or two. Why is that I wonder?

The lower portion of the dip stick is curling up instead of going straight in consequently holding the bottom end of the stick from fully going into the oil resulting in the inaccurate reading. The obstruction that is the cause of this happening when you install the stick in a certain way will need further examination. I am not sure if this is worth worrying about given you get a good reading when installing with the loop facing away from the block.Just my thoughts.

[Mikelj5S230]

Thanks Bob, good explanation. I have seen this happen to some other cars I have with long drip sticks, but this one is pretty short. It did tempt me to add oil, until I repositioned it just in case. But I figured since the car was just newly restored and had hardly any miles on it, being more than a quart low was probably not the case.

Another question while you are here, is the rear window on an "S" model made of anything special? There are no stamps or codes on it like all the other windows, and some minor blemishes look funny for a standard glass window. Thanks.

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Bob, good explanation. I have seen this happen to some other cars I have with long drip sticks, but this one is pretty short. It did tempt me to add oil, until I repositioned it just in case. But I figured since the car was just newly restored and had hardly any miles on it, being more than a quart low was probably not the case.

Another question while you are here, is the rear window on an "S" model made of anything special? There are no stamps or codes on it like all the other windows, and some minor blemishes look funny for a standard glass window. Thanks.

The rear window is standard Mustang stock. I have never seen or heard of a assemblyline original piece of glass to be void of trademark or date code. It is typical for high end new replacement glass to be typically acid etched with the proper trademark and date code to replicate the assemblyline. Worst case situation and this detail was forgotten on the restoration the trademark and date code information can be added to the glass without removal.

[Mikelj5S230]

Thanks, yes that is what I had thought too. I guess the restorer was not that careful (or cheap) about replacing this glass.

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks, yes that is what I had thought too. I guess the restorer was not that careful (or cheap) about replacing this glass.

As problems go this is a relatively easy one to solve . The biggest problem will be the logistics to coordinate with the person to acid etch the stencil onto the glass.

[Mikelj5S230]

Yes, having had this done several times on other restorations, it is just surprising a restorer would forget about or ignore something so simple.

[FL SAAC]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but when I put the oil dipstick in any other way than the loop facing away from the block, I get a low reading, by a quart or two. Why is that I wonder?

easy peasy solution

always make sure you insert the oil dip stick in the right way

another issue is incorrect marking on oil dip stick

we fixed that with the following


 we just changed the oil on our car poured in new oil

made sure that the car had the capacity of oil quarts in it we wanted

also assured the car was on a level surface when parked

then went about notching the oil stick with what we thought was the right amount in its oil pan

next time we checked the oil it was at or near the notch, mission accomplished

done deal

[shelbydoug]

Something else that should be mentioned as far as the accuracy of the markings on the dipsticks.

Cars like the Mustang have the driveline installed not level but at an angle, not level.

Cars like the Pantera, Cobra, Mangusta have the driveline installed level.


This matters because it changes were the oil will show on the dipstick. You need to compensate for that and additionally, when you read the dipstick, the car should be sitting on level ground.

[FL SAAC]

Something else that should be mentioned as far as the accuracy of the markings on the dipsticks.

Cars like the Mustang have the driveline installed not level but at an angle, not level.

Cars like the Pantera, Cobra, Mangusta have the driveline installed level.


This matters because it changes were the oil will show on the dipstick. You need to compensate for that and additionally, when you read the dipstick, the car should be sitting on level ground.

Very well expressed that's why:

we just changed the oil on our car poured in new oil

made sure that the car had the capacity of oil quarts in it we wanted

also assured the car was on a level surface when parked

then went about notching the oil stick with what we thought was the right amount in its oil pan

next time we checked the oil it was at or near the notch, mission accomplished

[shelbydoug]

Something else that should be mentioned as far as the accuracy of the markings on the dipsticks.

Cars like the Mustang have the driveline installed not level but at an angle, not level.

Cars like the Pantera, Cobra, Mangusta have the driveline installed level.


This matters because it changes were the oil will show on the dipstick. You need to compensate for that and additionally, when you read the dipstick, the car should be sitting on level ground.

Very well expressed that's why:

we just changed the oil on our car poured in new oil

made sure that the car had the capacity of oil quarts in it we wanted

also assured the car was on a level surface when parked

then went about notching the oil stick with what we thought was the right amount in its oil pan

next time we checked the oil it was at or near the notch, mission accomplished

Yes. Good solution.

The point is, one should be aware of these variations in order to avoid the "Chicken Little...'the sky is falling" scenario.



The Pantera actually has a special dipstick and tube so it should be less of an issue.


My 302 in my '68 GT350 doesn't seem to have any significant issues.


The big culpret is the 428 in my '67 GT500. That one can easily show low depending on how the car sits. A novice most likely WILL have a conniption first time through?

[FL SAAC]

Something else that should be mentioned as far as the accuracy of the markings on the dipsticks.

Cars like the Mustang have the driveline installed not level but at an angle, not level.

Cars like the Pantera, Cobra, Mangusta have the driveline installed level.


This matters because it changes were the oil will show on the dipstick. You need to compensate for that and additionally, when you read the dipstick, the car should be sitting on level ground.

Very well expressed that's why:

we just changed the oil on our car poured in new oil

made sure that the car had the capacity of oil quarts in it we wanted

also assured the car was on a level surface when parked

then went about notching the oil stick with what we thought was the right amount in its oil pan

next time we checked the oil it was at or near the notch, mission accomplished

Yes. Good solution.

The point is, one should be aware of these variations in order to avoid the "Chicken Little...'the sky is falling" scenario.



The Pantera actually has a special dipstick and tube so it should be less of an issue.


My 302 in my '68 GT350 doesn't seem to have any significant issues.


The big culpret is the 428 in my '67 GT500. That one can easily show low depending on how the car sits. A novice most likely WILL have a conniption first time through?

we concur

[csheff]

Which would be a correct tube to install on the 67 500. are they all the same?

[Bob Gaines]

Which would be a correct tube to install on the 67 500. are they all the same?

Which would be a correct tube to install on the 67 500. are they all the same?

Off the SB topic at hand however it is same throughout 67 GT500 production. A lot of people are concerned how the tube is seated into the block. Don't be fooled into thinking that the tube should be seated all the way to the raised stop on the tube length because it doesn't go down near that far. It is the same as a 67 390. You can feel the stop inside the block hole and or measure it to the surface so as to know how far the tube will go down into the block on the tube body. For clarification and so there is no confusion given this is brought up on a small block discussion the dipstick tube is different on a small block compared to the big block.

[shelbydoug]

Which would be a correct tube to install on the 67 500. are they all the same?

Which would be a correct tube to install on the 67 500. are they all the same?

Off the SB topic at hand however it is same throughout 67 GT500 production. A lot of people are concerned how the tube is seated into the block. Don't be fooled into thinking that the tube should be seated all the way to the raised stop on the tube length because it doesn't go down near that far. It is the same as a 67 390. You can feel the stop inside the block hole and or measure it to the surface so as to know how far the tube will go down into the block on the tube body. 

Good point to bring up. That tube is just weird. Original to the car, but still weird.

It positively looks like it is not installed far enough into the block as made. Probably some kind of a tale to go along with it originally?

With the various dipsticks with varying markings available, the combination is sure to freeze you in your tracks. You have to count the quarts going in, then reference it on your dipstick accurately.

I do not know if the confusion is enough to cause a brain aneurysm, but the scenario definitely caused severe "brain fog" in me. Fortunately it was at home and I did not need to find my way home. Not that time?