another dumb question?

[old ugly]

on the subject of oil leaks.
it has been posted for both engine and transmission that lowering the oil levels may slow down an oil leaks.
ford manuals show 5 qt in the engine oil pan, 4 1/2qt on an oil change. seems some are saying 4 quarts.

here are my questions.

how does lowering the level of the engine oil slow down the engine oil leak?
is the oil level not below the dipper tray?
is the engine oil level higher than the dipper tray when it has 4 1/2qts in it?
why does this action stop an oil leak?

sorry my little brain can't picture this remedy.

thank you
ou

[Patrick L.]

with 4 its there is just less to leak out.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

with 4 its there is just less to leak out.

hahaha
i like it lol

stops leaking when empty? maybe?

ou

[nkaminar]

Like the radiator, seeks it's own level. Cut out the side of an old 5 gallon oil container and wire it up under the engine. Just pour what leaks out back in.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Like the radiator, seeks it's own level. Cut out the side of an old 5 gallon oil container and wire it up under the engine. Just pour what leaks out back in.

good one.
i worked on a small locomotive with cat engine where they did exactly that.

but now i am curious, i have an old model A oil pan, i will measure out 4 1/2 qts of old oil, prop it up at the same angle as the one in the car and see how high it is in the pan.
maybe that is the case where the level is higher than the rear dipper.

ou

[goodcar]

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Originally Posted by old ugly

on the subject of oil leaks.
it has been posted for both engine and transmission that lowering the oil levels may slow down an oil leaks.
ford manuals show 5 qt in the engine oil pan, 4 1/2qt on an oil change. seems some are saying 4 quarts.

here are my questions.

how does lowering the level of the engine oil slow down the engine oil leak?
is the oil level not below the dipper tray?
is the engine oil level higher than the dipper tray when it has 4 1/2qts in it?
why does this action stop an oil leak?

sorry my little brain can't picture this remedy.

thank you
ou

4 quarts, 5 quarts, 10 quarts, whatever. Fill to "F" on dipstick, probably 4 quarts because a quart remains in the pan after draining. So if you add 5 quarts, then you probably have 6 quarts in which case it might leak. Lowering the level a quart would probably stop a leak assuming everything else is in good shape.

[old ugly]

well, i took an old oil pan, set it on the same incline as the model A engine, i put 5 quarts of oil into the pan and the level is below the dipper tray and is no where near the rear pan gasket.

so i am thinking that less oil in the pan will slow down an oil leak is an old wives tale.

ou

[Werner]

No, this is not a children's fairy tale. Because two things have to be considered.


When the car drives uphill or parks steeply with the nose up, the oil level at the rear bearing increases significantly. Slopes of the road around 15% that is about 8 ° angle.

So set your old sample oil pan to a 10 ° angle for the visual test.

I noticed that when the car was under the jack at the front, there was a lot of oil running out of the rear bearing when the level was at the top from the dipstick.



Then you have to consider too that the oil additionally splashes around in the oil pan space due to vibrations and trip holes and drips a little through the rear bearing.

[old ugly]

Originally Posted by Werner

No, this is not a children's fairy tale. Because two things have to be considered.


When the car drives uphill or parks steeply with the nose up, the oil level at the rear bearing increases significantly. Slopes of the road around 15% that is about 8 ° angle.

So set your old sample oil pan to a 10 ° angle for the visual test.

I noticed that when the car was under the jack at the front, there was a lot of oil running out of the rear bearing when the level was at the top from the dipstick.



Then you have to consider too that the oil additionally splashes around in the oil pan space due to vibrations and trip holes and drips a little through the rear bearing.

ok i will check to see what it looks like at a +10 grade.

ou

[Brentwood Bob]

Great explanation Werner, in a thread this year, someone with a steep driveway was troubled with oil leaks from this issue.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by old ugly

well, i took an old oil pan, set it on the same incline as the model A engine, i put 5 quarts of oil into the pan and the level is below the dipper tray and is no where near the rear pan gasket.

so i am thinking that less oil in the pan will slow down an oil leak is an old wives tale.

ou

You're right. The problem comes from stopping/parking on an incline. I guess that happens more often than one would realize.

[old ugly]

i set the pan at an additional 10 degree angle.
the oil level in the pan with 5 qts of oil and the oil pump in there, to add its volume, the oil level gets close to the rear cork pan gasket.
so this is what i think.
if the car is level, and the full oil pan and dippers filled to ford specs it should not leak.
but
if the car is on an incline it would be possible that the oil gets flung around onto the rear seal and it would definitely hit the cork gasket and pan gaskets.

so not a total old wives tale.

ou

[Dick M]

I always use this method when changing oil. I buy four quarts of new oil. There is approximately 1/2 quart left in the valve galley and dipper tray after draining the pan. After draining the pan, I add the 4 quarts of oil.

I change my oil every 500 miles so I am never below the add line on the dipstick when adding 4 quarts. It is usually just below the Full line after filling.

I used to live up a 2 mile hill. Every time I drove home I would have a puddle of oil under the car when I put in 4 1/2 or 5 quarts. The puddle was much reduced when I put in 4 quarts.

Remember, when driving up a steep grade, the oil level raises against the rear main allowing it to seep through the main and out the bottom of the flywheel cover.

[aermotor]

[QUOTE]

so i am thinking that less oil in the pan will slow down an oil leak is an old wives tale.

Incorrect as per the following posts.

John