[GMAs]

Ahhhh what we covered before was that cont engine sent out a SB that covered the oil level problems in the engines...and that you need to go to their site and get a copy of it...

Seems that they can vary the lenght of the tube... tube... going into the engine... which can change the reading of the fixed length tape that you read the oil level on... naturly if the tube is long then you are going to read lower than what is actually their... if it is short then you are going to read higher levels than what is their.. kinda thing...

Now... don't over fill the engine... EVER... EVER... if you do and I find out... your life will never be the same again... smile...

Here is what we tell 'em to be safe... when you change oil.. and/or filter... put only 8 quarts back in... DO NOT GO BY THE DIP STICK LEVEL UNLESS YOU HAVE CALIBRATED IT... We had one person put 12 quarts in... and then TRY and go fly... Well... lets say they don't have to oil the runway anytime soon... not to mention that he had to get a new engine... kinda thing...

NO MORE THAN 8 IN THE ENGINE... yep count the quarts that you are putting in.. if they are not reading right then you need to calibrate your dip stick... and that is done by changing the Tube lenght... Cont engine has done some fancy low tech things.. and this one seems to work... they cut the dip stick tube and put a rubber hose in line... by changeing the lenght of the rubber line.. you can change the reading of the dip stick ... they also asked that you check for the correct dipstick before you start playing with hose lengths..kinda thing...

So go to their web site and check it out first and make sure you have the correct one.. ya they do get mixed up somehow... and you might not have the right one... they used to give them away but, now they are charging for the dipstick tapes... your mechanic will cut it to lenght.. and re-rivit it back on to the handle..

but,... it sounds like yours is not for your engine if its reading low when you put your oil in...

HOW TO CALIBRATE IT... is easy... start with 4 quarts... after changing oil.. and not starting the engine... then go to 6 and finally to 8.. checking the level against the markings on the stick... don't worry about the engine oil up in it... it is taken into account..and while could make up a quart difference... the filter and engine will absorb 1 quart... it is not considered in the level of things... and as bob says.. after runing is not the time you want to top it off... 8 quarts is the maximum that should be in the pan... and what it reads when runing is not the same... it will be around 7 or 6-1/2 or so... but, shouldn't go below 6. let it stand over night and it will come back to where it is when you put the oil in...

So now what if its reading high... you shorten the hose between engine and dipstick tube... by pulling it out further... or else changing the tape... same if its not reading enough... you push the tube in.. or get a longer tape... but, under no conditions should you try and go more than 1 quart difference.. if it is over that range.. new tape... is required.. like in your case ...

Start with changing the oil and checking the stick.. take notes and write it down ... you put in 4 and it reads ??? you put in 6 and it reads ??? you put in 8 and it reads ??? kinda thing... from that you can measure the length of markers... and know then what length you need to read right...

Hope this helps GMAs..