440 oil level

[Patrick Slegers]

Hello everyone,

Stupid question but what's the minimum and maximum oil level of the 440 engine?
I have a '72 Imperial with a 440ci and my mechanic says that the dipstick is not the correct one, that even if it reach the "Full" mark, the oil level is still too low.

Thank you
Patrick Slegers
Braambessenstraat 46
2400 Mol
Belgie

 

[69monaco]

If you have the original oilpan the engine needs 5 liter.

 

[GOLDMYN]

Drain the oil, change the filter and put 5 qts/liters of oil and 1 container (4oz)ZDDP additive,. then notch your dip stick

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Drain the oil, change the filter and put 5 qts/liters of oil and 1 container (4oz)ZDDP additive,. then notch your dip stick

Run it first then let it sit a while, then notch the dipstick.

 

[mrfury68]

My 383 takes almost 6 qts. to hit the full mark on the stick.

 

[bluefury361]

My 383 takes almost 6 qts. to hit the full mark on the stick.

check your owners manual capacity section. should be 5 QTS. with filter. It's not uncommon for the oil level indicator to be miscalibrated a little. Over filling is not good as it will get into the crank as it spins and cause frothing of the oil and air in the system, plus a loss of HP.

 

[1978 NYB]

Stock pan = 5 quarts

 

[73Coupe]

Run it first then let it sit a while, then notch the dipstick.

The level in the sump slowly rises after the engine is shut off, as the filter drains, even if the filter has a back-flow valve.
From my experience, comparing a gas station check (5 min) and then a check after sitting an hour+, the level will vary as much as half the distance between ADD and FULL (1/2 qt).

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Does not or I should say should not drain from filter (bad filter). Oil is up in the heads lifter valley and splashed around all over the inside of engine.

 

[330dTA]

440 RB has a surprisingly small oil reserve. 4 quarts to the pan, and one more direct into the filter. Thats less than five liters, in a 7 liter engine. I consider that hazardous. No wonder the idiot light comes on so easily. - My 1987 Fiat with a 1.5 liter twin cam had the same capacity. My present dd takes seven-and-half liters minimum.

The difference btw high and low mark on the dipstick of ANY engine seems to be one liter, i.e. a bit over two quarts.

 

[63Fun]

You should confirm in your manual the correct oil level. Most were 5 quarts, but mine is a 6 quart.

 

[commando1]

but mine is a 6 quart.

That is in the manual??

 

[63Fun]

That is in the manual??

 

[commando1]

Yep. That is in the manual, I guess.

 

[Patrick Slegers]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate it!

Patrick

 

[63Fun]

Yep. That is in the manual, I guess.

Yep, I always found it surprising that it holds 6 quarts. My GTX only holds 5.

 

[bluefury361]

This is interesting. I would verify application though. There were some OEM 6, and even 7 quart pans, although mostly on HP applications.
A filter and 5 quarts puts my oil level, (440 & 318), right on the full mark.
Like I mentioned, overfilling can cause serious problems.

Years and years ago, while working at a Sunoco service station, a customer came in complaining about poor performance and oil smell. He attempted to change his own oil and couldn't get the oil pan drain plug out. So ..... He installed the new filter and just added 5 quarts of oil to the old oil.

 

[63Fun]

Years and years ago, while working at a Sunoco service station, a customer came in complaining about poor performance and oil smell. He attempted to change his own oil and couldn't get the oil pan drain plug out. So ..... He installed the new filter and just added 5 quarts of oil to the old oil.

Wow, that's bad!!!

 

[Ripinator]

The manual page shown here is not clear. Does it intend to say there should be five quarts total, including an extra quart for the fileter? Or does it mean there should be five quarts PLUS one for the filter, so that the pan would contain six quarts?

 

[LocuMob]

A shop I worked at had a customer complain their car wouldn't start after changing the oil. Had a tech go to their house and they discovered the problem immediately, they had filled the engine to the top with oil! They even commented on how they wondered how places could charge only $20 and still make money!