[Finmike]

Stupid question, really.....but this is my first aftermarket oil pan.

Here's the deal: I just installed a Milodon 7 quart oil pan (#30900) on my small block Chevy. Milodon says the oil pan has a 7 quart capacity, but is this with the oil filter or should I add the extra quart of oil for the filter?

The reason I'm asking is because I filled the engine with exactly 7 quarts, filter INCLUDED, and the dipstick shows the level to be on the "add 1 quart" line. But this is a cheap chrome dipstick so I'm not sure if it's correct or not.

So, my question is: Is the 7 quart capacity with or without the filter?

Thanks.

[killerformula]

funny you should ask, I just put that same pan on my motor and filled it with oil yesterday. Mine is reading a little over full with 7quarts in the pan and the filter pre-filled. Don't forget some oil sits up top and is expected to be in the galleys.

Plus or minus one quart is probably not a big deal. Fill it up, run it, check it, and if its a bit high don't worry about it-

K

[DTL504]

I have the exact same pan it's the pan that holds seven qts. What I do is fill the oil filter before installing it and than add the seven quarts in the pan. Now check your dip stick and make a new marking for the 7qts. Remember the dip stick is based on a 5qt pan.

[edge]

DTL504 is right. Both Milodon and Moroso (I have had both), told me to fill the 7 quart pan to the rated capacity. However, both companies told me to figure 8 quarts in the system. I fill the filter, install the balance along with 7 quarts into the engine. Ed www.edgesz28.com.

[killerformula]

Originally posted by DTL504
I have the exact same pan it's the pan that holds seven qts. What I do is fill the oil filter before installing it and than add the seven quarts in the pan. Now check your dip stick and make a new marking for the 7qts. Remember the dip stick is based on a 5qt pan.

Yes, but the oil level should still come up to the same level on the stick regardless of how much oil the pan holds... that's why the pan has a deeper sump! The distance from the top of the deck to the oil level should never change, you don't want to fill a bunch of extra oil and have it ride up on your crank and get whipped around!

K

[edge]

Both companies instructed me to mark the stick with the new level mark, regardless if higher then the original "full" level mark. If you install a 7 quart pan (less filter) and it only takes six quarts to fill it to the original "full" mark, then either the stick is inaccurate or it is not a 7 quart pan. Either Milodon and Moroso are false advertising, or you need to mark the stick as they both instruct.

Before I installed my pans, I filled them with 7 quarts of water and checked the level to the gasket surface. Then I compared that distance to the distance the crank weights extend below the gasket surface. With a full seven quarts in the pan, the level will not even hit my Diamond Stripper windage try. Both companies told me that by the time the oil is sucked into the system with the engine running, you do not have to worry about oil levels hitting the rotating assembly.

I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations, especially when competitors agree with the same issue. Ed. www.edgesz28.com

[Finmike]

Thanks everyone for your input. I will go with the "7 quarts in the pan and a full filter" -route.

Thanks.