Dipstick measuring doubt
- Thread starter dwm
- Start date
Ha Ha! I’ve typed something similar several times and then deleted it..... Glad I’m not the only one that thinks it may be possible some are overthinking this. The 185 I flew on floats had 2 X’s, low and high. Keep it between the X’s and all is good. Longer flight? A little closer to the top X......
wireweinie
FOUNDER
Palmer, AK
Sorry if I'm slipping into my 'life coach' mode!
Web
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mvivion
SPONSOR
Bozeman,MT
Ummm, seriously….you can’t figure that out? No wonder you’re having so much trouble with the concept of oil in an engine.
Its not rocket science.
MTV
frequent_flyer
Registered User
Arizona, USA
I have no trouble with "the concept of oil in a engine"
I own and maintain a Lycoming O-360 and a Lycoming IO-360. When I change the oil and filter on each of these engines I add 7 quarts. After engine run for leak check they both show about 6.5 quarts on the dipstick. They are both indicating that there is 6.5 quarts of oil in the sump. There is no indication anywhere that there is 7 quarts of oil in the engine but I know there is because I poured it in and it didn't come out.
Both engines use factory marked dipsticks and I believe their indications are normal. As you say it isn't rocket science. A correctly calibrated dipstick on a Lycoming O-360 or IO-360 shows the oil quantity in the sump.
mvivion
SPONSOR
Bozeman,MT
BC12D-4-85
SPONSOR
Fairbanks, AK.
Half a quart low = lower oil consumption. The manufacturers figure max burn rate allowed per hour x expected hours of running to leave a minimum in the sump. Too full blows out the reserve from a normal engine.
Gary
Gary
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Since we are discussing "dip sticks", I thought you may be interested in why a certain amount of oil is in the engine.
PART 3—AIRPLANE AIRWORTHINESS—NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND RESTRICTED PURPOSE CATEGORIES
OIL SYSTEM
§ 3.561 Oil system. Each engine shall be provided with an independent oil system capable of supplying the engine with an ample quantity of oil at a temperature not exceeding the maximum which has been established as safe for continuous operation. The oil capacity of the system shall not be less than 1 gallon for every 25 gallons of fuel capacity. However, in no case shall the oil capacity be less than 1 gallon for each 75 maximum continuous horsepower of the engine(s) involved unless lower quantities can be substantiated.
PART 3—AIRPLANE AIRWORTHINESS—NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND RESTRICTED PURPOSE CATEGORIES
OIL SYSTEM
§ 3.561 Oil system. Each engine shall be provided with an independent oil system capable of supplying the engine with an ample quantity of oil at a temperature not exceeding the maximum which has been established as safe for continuous operation. The oil capacity of the system shall not be less than 1 gallon for every 25 gallons of fuel capacity. However, in no case shall the oil capacity be less than 1 gallon for each 75 maximum continuous horsepower of the engine(s) involved unless lower quantities can be substantiated.
Who marked it?
I take it you were flying somebody else’s airplane that somebody else maintained?
Work airplanes. It looked like factory markings but can’t say for sure.
skywagon8a
MEMBER
SE Mass MA6
Cessna marks dip sticks on planes which have seaplane kits on both sides. One for wheels and the other for floats.
I’ve been told the factory didn’t mark seaplane dipsticks. I don’t know if that’s true or not. My seaplane Xs look like a child marked them. More like a distracted child with bad vision. One exercise I always did when going from wheels to floats was knowing how much oil was in the engine on tires so I knew what the dipstick markings represented.
I recall a thread on the Skywagons page where a guy commented on how much oil his plane used after an oil change. Predictably he got lots of comments about engines puking out a quart or two when filled to capacity. It turned out he had never verified his dipstick and it read low. Subsequently every time he came back from flying he overfilled his oil. The original post in this thread asked a good question.
I recall a thread on the Skywagons page where a guy commented on how much oil his plane used after an oil change. Predictably he got lots of comments about engines puking out a quart or two when filled to capacity. It turned out he had never verified his dipstick and it read low. Subsequently every time he came back from flying he overfilled his oil. The original post in this thread asked a good question.
My plane hasn’t seen the factory in 46 years and had had a few engines in that time. I’m pretty sure my dipstick came with the last reman arrival and I’m 100% positive it wasn’t accurate as an oil level indicator on either side until I marked it. I’d think my situation is as common as not.
BC12D-4-85
SPONSOR
Fairbanks, AK.
See page "i" at the beginning for Oil Dipstick Calibrations: https://www.seaplanescenics.com/documents/1975-cessna-185f-poh-1.pdf The 1975 and 1979 models I flew were marked the same.
Gary
Gary
