Small Engine & Correct Oil Fill?

oldflame

oldflame

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
My Toro 826 blower manual calls for 24 oz. of oil. When new, the dipstick indicated ~1/2" over the top of the fill range and a call to the dealer indicated it was OK. I change the oil after each season with 24 oz. and it's above the top of the fill line. The blower has operated flawlessly for eight years and doesn't burn oil, although the smell of oil is sometimes present in the exhaust when working hard.

I've noticed with some of my cars that the correct oil fill will indicate an overfill on the dipstick too. I've never blown rings with high revving so my guess is the dipstick is too low in the crankcase. Any thoughts about this?
 
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I fill my 824 according to the dipstick. I've never measured out to see the oz level vs dipstick reading.
 
oldflame said:
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I've noticed with some of my cars that the correct oil fill will indicated an overfill on the dipstick too. I've never blown rings with high revving so my guess is the dipstick is too low in the crankcase. Any thoughts about this?
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How do you determine "correct" oil fill except by the dipstick?
 
whoaru99 said:
I fill my 824 according to the dipstick. I've never measured out to see the oz level vs dipstick reading.
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I should also note that, for me, as long as the oil is 3/4 to full mark on dipstick, sight glass, etc., after change I'm good with that. I don't try to keep stuff topped up to full at all times.
 
old_tv_nut said:
How do you determine "correct" oil fill except by the dipstick?
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The vehicle and small engine owner's manuals specify the amounts of fluids to use. I suppose an engine block could be milled larger or smaller than average, but how do we know that a dipstick is at the correct level? The tube could be pressed too low into the block.

In the past 50+ years most of my cars showed the right level with the specified amount of oil ... but a few didn't. Can we really be certain? I'm seeking more experience than I have and some of you have sped around the block a lot more than me.
 
oldflame said:
The vehicle and small engine owner's manuals specify the amounts of fluids to use. I suppose an engine block could be milled larger or smaller than average, but how do we know that a dipstick is at the correct level? The tube could be pressed too low into the block.

In the past 50+ years most of my cars showed the right level with the specified amount of oil ... but a few didn't. Can we really be certain? I'm seeking more experience than I have and some of you have sped around the block a lot more than me.
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I keep tools that need oil and my air compressor at a sight level, or maybe a tad less than topped off.

But, if you aren't getting blown O-rings or gaskets, I wouldn't worry about it.

Car engines should not be filled too high. I know some ppl put in an extra quart. I don't know why, as I feel this only invites problems.
 
The trick to small engine top-mount dipsticks is does the manufacture recommend screwing all of the way down or rest it on top without screwing in?
It makes a difference on the correct level on the stick.

I mark my engines as to which method is the correct method.
I have some of both methods.
 
OBMG74 said:
The trick to small engine top-mount dipsticks is does the manufacture recommend screwing all of the way down or rest it on top without screwing in?
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For every tool I have, the dipstick should be screwed all the way down before checking the level.

Yes, it can make a huge difference if the oil capacity is a pint or less.

:thumbsup:
 
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This is my understanding of proper oil level. The proper oil fill keeps the level below the crankshaft throws. Too much oil, and the crankshaft throws will pass through the oil in the pan, frothing the oil. Oil with air bubbles affects pressure, and does not lube rod and crankshaft bearings properly. I never did overfill an engine to see if this is true. Paul.
 
Possible they screwed up the dipsticks. Ford did that in the 80s and the fix was to simply do an oil change with the specified capacity and make a new scribe mark on the stick.
 
For me it's either according to the manual or the dip stick whether it's my John Deere, Toro, Civic or the Acura MDX. My brain says anything else is guesswork and since I didn't design the engine I am not going to do that.
 
If it's any consolation I happen to know the guy who wrote the service books for Toro, follow the level on the dipstick as the 800 series blowers have two different engines one being OHV.

As for the other post... there IS no oil pump in these and the crank end has a dipper that is designed to sling the oil around.
 
I believe a lot of manuals specify the capacity based upon NO oil at all in the engine. No matter how well you drain your oil at a change, you'll never get ALL of it out. I add about 90% of the recommended amount after a drain, then trust the dipstick to top off as necessary. Running the engine for a minute, then shutting it off and letting it rest before checking after the initial fill will yield better accuracy. The earlier comments about some manufactures specifying fully-screwed-in dipsticks versus dipsticks just resting in the first thread are accurate...it varies.
 
RVT1K said:
I seem to recall seeing amounts of oil to use called out in owner's manuals. I've also seen amounts spec'd for both with and without a filter change.
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But if it has both a specified amount AND a dipstick, it makes the most sense to take the specified amount as simply informational, like "you are going to need to buy this much" and the dipstick as the measuring instument. The only way using a measured volume could make any sense is if there were instructions to measure the amount drained as well as the amount poured in. How do you know exactly how much you are removing with the old filter? The specified amount has to be just to get you close, unless you are at the factory filling a completely empty engine and filter; even then a check of the dipstick will double check if there's something drastically wrong with that unit.
Mr Boochie said:
....I know some ppl put in an extra quart...
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Yikes! :yikes: Do they also run their audio gear on 150 volts AC to get more out of it?
 
old_tv_nut said:
Yikes! :yikes: Do they also run their audio gear on 150 volts AC to get more out of it?
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These are the same folks who fill the radiator overflow tank to the neck.

Then wonder, why does the car always smell like antifreeze?

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I run my 2005 Impala-SS 3800 motor over by a quart knowing exactly where the oil line is in relation to the crankshaft, had the motor apart. I also fill the coolant jug to the 2/3 mark engine hot knowing where that will be and some of my audio gear on 240 volts because I can. As the old disclaimer goes: Your mileage may vary.
 
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