Engine oil level

[Gizmops]

Hi, this might be a stupid question. I got the 80 back from the garage after they replaced the head gasket. Today i checked the engine oil level cold, nothing on the dipstick, put in 1 litre, still nothing, put in a 2nd litre, still nothing. Had to move the truck and rechecked , its now way up the dipstick. What am i doing wrong.

 

[felix2566]

I had a similar incident where I thought I was super low on oil, put about 2l in and checked it after a drive and it was over filled. Had to drain it back out. Can only imagine where I was parked was on a small slope. Not that it looks like it.

 

[Gizmops]

Thanks Felix for responding. Took her out today and checked again with engine hot. Nothing on dipstick. My drive is on a slope in 2 directions. I will try on level ground tomorrow, failing that i will drain completely and refill with the 9 litres it should have, maybe it has the wrong dipstick.

 

[Shayne]

New oil is near invisible on the dip stick sometimes , I always wipe the stick sideways on a paper towel or something which clearly shows the wet line .

 

[Gizmops]

When i pulled dipstick immediately after atopping engine, wiped it and put it back in oil was visible well above max level. 2 mintes later nothing.

 

[Shayne]

Only place 2 litres could go is on the floor or into your coolant and oil would float on coolant so you would still see it

Is it an auto ? could the excess liquid be filling your gearbox ?

 

[Towpack]

I roughened up one side of my dipstick with emery paper which holds oil and shows the level more clearly. .

 

[Towpack]

Only place 2 litres could go is on the floor or into your coolant and oil would float on coolant so you would still see it

Is it an auto ? could the excess liquid be filling your gearbox ?

No chance of that, it would pour out of the bell housing surely?

 

[Gizmops]

No oil in coolant, nothing on the floor, no blue smoke from exhaust.
Also gauge on dash only rises to 1st bar when warm.
Yes is is 4.2 auto

 

[Shayne]

It went somewhere

Wouldn't take 2 litres to prime the turbo ........ would it ?

 

[Gizmops]

Turbo was rebuilt last year, only had her 2 years, she drives fine., as far as i know, i dont anybody else with one to compare.

 

[Shayne]

What i mean is the turbo is oil cooled and suppose to be primed before you start an engine after rebuild , if it wasn't then the turbo oil pipe might have been empty before you started and moved the truck .

I'm getting confuse now , after moving the truck did you clean the dip stick and then test level ?

 

[Gizmops]

Yes , after driving about 15kms, fully wamed up, got home. Switched off, cleaned dipstick and checked level. Nothing visible.

 

[Shayne]

How long was it sitting empty while they changed the head gasket . I'm guessing new oil goes direct to sump before being pumped around the engine and i suppose it will take a fair amount to leave everything coated with a film of lubrication .

 

[Gizmops]

The head was sent away to be planed, so probably 3 4 days, but that was 18 months ago.

 

[Towpack]

According to Owners Manual specs it takes 1.5L to raise the oil from the lower mark to the upper level mark on the dipstick. Oil change volumes are 9.7L with a filter change and 8.4 without. At a guess I'd say a refill of a "dry" newly rebuilt engine could add another litre. Turbo is water cooled. 1HD-FT engine.

 

[Gizmops]

Thanks, that is my plan for Saturday,

 

[Towpack]

The FSM stipulates filling the turbo oil pipe with 20ml of oil prior to reinstallation of the turbo so a negligable amount really.

 

[IRLGW]

It could be all sitting in the head so be careful the gallery's arent restricted. Put the rocket cover breather into a vented bottle and start it up. Might be worth doing an engine flush.

 

[LandLocked93]

So...after all that...what happened??