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dcarlson12
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 71
Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
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 Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 3:43 pm Post subject: Oil level mystery |
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Just finished rebuilding the Bug engine in my wife's 66. Converted to 1600 from 1300.
Yesterday I poured in 2 litres of oil and then waited and measured the level on the dipstick and it was mid way between the two 'indicator' lines.
I then added 0.5 litres which I thought would have brought the level up to the highest line.
Today, I preparation to starting the engine, I left the plugs out and the distributor disconnected and turned the engine over for maybe 20 to 30 seconds with the starter to try to prime the oil pump and get the oil light to extinguish. It did not go out so maybe the engine has to actually run for a short time to get the pump to prime and bring up the pressure.
In any case, about a half hour later I again checked the oil level and it now reads mid way between the two lines again.
I didn't actually check the level after putting in the full 2.5 litres yesterday.
I don't understand why it is not reading a the highest line.
I can't believe that there is 0.5 litres of oil sitting in the oil passages in the engine or am I wrong?
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The 'caretaker' of my wife's 66 bug; her dream car. |
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hitest
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008
Posts: 10296
Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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One thing you did while cranking the engine: you filled the oil cooler.
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| EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34021
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| hitest wrote: |
| One thing you did while cranking the engine: you filled the oil cooler. |
I wondered about that, too, upon initial fill and crank. But won't most of it drain back in a few minutes? |
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dcarlson12
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 71
Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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Actually a few minutes after making the initial posting, I checked the level again and it had crept higher.
I will see what it is like in the morning after sitting overnight.
The oil is 20w50 so it is what I would call on the 'thick' side and because it was/is at ambient temperature, it takes longer to drain back down.
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The 'caretaker' of my wife's 66 bug; her dream car. |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34021
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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20W-50 isn't all that thick. Cold it's like a 20wt, but hot stays thicker hot more like a 50wt would.
Today they use 5wt oil but engines are made to far closer tolerances than our old beasts. |
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dcarlson12
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 71
Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 11:41 am Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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Well this morning the level is about 1/8" below top line. Thus my post was kind of a waste of time and space.
Should I delete it?
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The 'caretaker' of my wife's 66 bug; her dream car. |
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bluebus86
Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| dcarlson12 wrote: |
Well this morning the level is about 1/8" below top line. Thus my post was kind of a waste of time and space.
Should I delete it? |
no, maybe not, still a useful post me thinks.
there are no dumb questions!!!!!
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Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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HRVW
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 2531
Location: Rosarito, Mexico
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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NAW.....a lesson for the newbees. Book says 2.5 but I always put in a full three qts.
(VW mechanic retired) |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 24764
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| HRVW wrote: |
NAW.....a lesson for the newbees. Book says 2.5 but I always put in a full three qts.
(VW mechanic retired) |
But that is most likely due to the VW of Mexico stock oil filter/pump. Filter will take about 1/2 quart of oil to fill it.
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cyclehobby
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2013
Posts: 156
Location: North Jersey
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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I would just recommend being cautious about possibly over filling. That can be bad. Consider also that your dipstick may not be correct for your year and therefore may be reading wrong.
Though I've rarely seen an aircooled VW that did not drip oil, I know that when I filled mine to the high mark on the dipstick, it took 3 quarts plus a little. When I changed the oil and put in the required 2.5, the oil level was smack dab in the center of the two dipstick lines.
I left it that way, now considering that as full and besides not using as much oil, I notice I'm leaking less as well. Bug runs great in all weather temps as well.
BTW, I use 20/50 weight in warm weather.
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1967 Beetle
Northern NJ |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 24764
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| cyclehobby wrote: |
BTW, I use 20/50 weight in warm weather. |
Suggest against that high of weight of oil. You need the oil to thin down enough to let the oil pressure relief valve to close up to send most of the oil to the oil cooler when engine is up to operating temp. Not going to do that when oil acts like 50 weight when hot and bypass the oil cooler.
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Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12468
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| Attention the W in the SAE classification stands for winter. Dont take my word for it, look it up. It has nothing to do with weight. As the earlier post suggested new engines will take 3 full qt of oil to fill, if using a filter pump even more. Why ? You are filling the cooler, oil galleys, pushrods even the rockers and the valve covers will have a coating or pooling of oil. Some of it will pool behind the main seal as well. It all adds up. |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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Something that everybody has missed here--------the o.p. increased his engine from 1300 to 1600. That is about a 23% increase.
So  -------2.5x 1.23=3.075
Hope this helps. |
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flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34021
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2016 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| iowegian wrote: |
Something that everybody has missed here--------the o.p. increased his engine from 1300 to 1600. That is about a 23% increase.
So -------2.5x 1.23=3.075
Hope this helps. |
Displacement and oil capacity are not related. |
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iowegian
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
Something that everybody has missed here--------the o.p. increased his engine from 1300 to 1600. That is about a 23% increase.
So -------2.5x 1.23=3.075
Hope this helps. |
Displacement and oil capacity are not related. |
I guess that was a bad joke, huh?  |
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34021
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| iowegian wrote: |
| KTPhil wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
Something that everybody has missed here--------the o.p. increased his engine from 1300 to 1600. That is about a 23% increase.
So -------2.5x 1.23=3.075
Hope this helps. |
Displacement and oil capacity are not related. |
I guess that was a bad joke, huh? |
I was'nt sure... so I gave straight line.
As a joke it was damn funny, though! |
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flyboy161
Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2009
Posts: 2091
Location: Perry, GA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Oil level mystery |
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| KTPhil wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
| KTPhil wrote: |
| iowegian wrote: |
Something that everybody has missed here--------the o.p. increased his engine from 1300 to 1600. That is about a 23% increase.
So -------2.5x 1.23=3.075
Hope this helps. |
Displacement and oil capacity are not related. |
I guess that was a bad joke, huh? |
I was'nt sure... so I gave straight line.
As a joke it was damn funny, though! |
I'm glad you clarified that Iowegian...I was a little worried for a second. I could just see all the newb's blowing out their front seals
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