refill to dipstick mark or manaul listed capacity
- Thread starter turf1
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I would follow what the owners manual said for the amount of oil..
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Fill it up to the full mark on the dipstick. You don't get all the oil out when you change the oil so that's why it's overfull. I have 600 hours on one of my lawn mowers doing this method. Hasn't failed yet. Also check it cold.
Originally Posted By: 660mag
B and S are screw sticks, Hondas are dip sticks.
My honda gcv190 is a screw in, and it says to check not screwed in.
Fill it to the mark, not by the amount said in the manual.
B and S are screw sticks, Hondas are dip sticks.
My honda gcv190 is a screw in, and it says to check not screwed in.
Fill it to the mark, not by the amount said in the manual.
Originally Posted By: turf1
Over the years I have had several small engines that if I put in them the ounces of oil that the manual says to, the fill capacity is above the full mark on the dipstick. Which is correct? I am carefull to get the old oil out.
I always seem to have the opposite problem. Calls for 6 qts with the filter. I add 6 and it just hits the add mark.
Over the years I have had several small engines that if I put in them the ounces of oil that the manual says to, the fill capacity is above the full mark on the dipstick. Which is correct? I am carefull to get the old oil out.
I always seem to have the opposite problem. Calls for 6 qts with the filter. I add 6 and it just hits the add mark.
wow... sorry my bad. I thought by small motor you meant something around 3 liters... LOL boy did I mess that up.
My mower has the same problem though. 20 oz is the manual fill and it barely touches the stick if not screwed in which is the way they say to check it. I usually add to get it to the middle of the operating range.
My mower has the same problem though. 20 oz is the manual fill and it barely touches the stick if not screwed in which is the way they say to check it. I usually add to get it to the middle of the operating range.
Originally Posted By: justinf89
Originally Posted By: 660mag
B and S are screw sticks, Hondas are dip sticks.
My honda gcv190 is a screw in, and it says to check not screwed in.
Fill it to the mark, not by the amount said in the manual.
YES they do screw in to hold them in place, but the correct method to check the level (on a Honda, or Kawi) is by "dipping".. Personally I always just barely engage the first thread so I always have a repeatable method..
The Book is correct and should not be ignored.. IF the engine is drained when the oil is HOT or if the engine is disassembled the Manual recommendation will be right..
Fill it TO THE LINE, & just so everyone knows a "touch" over the "line" won't hurt a thing as these engines use a bit of oil between OCI's anyway. However DO NOT go more then an 1/8" or so over as this will result in oil ending up where it's NOT supposed to be and a bunch of nice white smoke..
Originally Posted By: 660mag
B and S are screw sticks, Hondas are dip sticks.
My honda gcv190 is a screw in, and it says to check not screwed in.
Fill it to the mark, not by the amount said in the manual.
YES they do screw in to hold them in place, but the correct method to check the level (on a Honda, or Kawi) is by "dipping".. Personally I always just barely engage the first thread so I always have a repeatable method..
The Book is correct and should not be ignored.. IF the engine is drained when the oil is HOT or if the engine is disassembled the Manual recommendation will be right..
Fill it TO THE LINE, & just so everyone knows a "touch" over the "line" won't hurt a thing as these engines use a bit of oil between OCI's anyway. However DO NOT go more then an 1/8" or so over as this will result in oil ending up where it's NOT supposed to be and a bunch of nice white smoke..
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I use a Sharpie to write the machine's oil capacity right on the equipment or engine in a position where it's easy to read and won't be washed off by spilled fuel. That way, I have ready reference for the manual's oil fill recommendation. After an oil change, if the machine has a dipstick, I place the machine on a level surface and take a reading. Easy, fast and sure.
The only problem with filling to the dipstick mark is if you've got a used mower that you don't know the history on, it is possible that at some point the dipstick got switched out and isn't the appropriate length for your engine. However, most dipsticks are about the same length on these small engines and they are fairly tolerant of reasonable over/under filling. So the likelihood that you're going to kill something isn't all that great unless your engine is a real odd duck or you never check the oil level.
This is much more of an issue with automobiles that had dipsticks swapped out by prior owners. I do know of people that significantly under filled an engine because the dipstick was far longer than the original and they were not the type to check oil level often. The engine used some significant amount of oil between changes and they seized the engine due to oil starvation.
This is much more of an issue with automobiles that had dipsticks swapped out by prior owners. I do know of people that significantly under filled an engine because the dipstick was far longer than the original and they were not the type to check oil level often. The engine used some significant amount of oil between changes and they seized the engine due to oil starvation.
Originally Posted By: 660mag
Right on with the repeatable method part.
I like to turn the threads backwards until the stick drops into the ready to thread position. And like an aircraft engine it's dip-check-wipe, dip-check-wipe, dip-check-install.
Yup, I "always" triple check the oil level.. IF the unit has a Filter I add oil to the line, start the engine, note the oil level drop and top off again using the "dip-check-wipe" method..
I've never checked the oil on an Aircraft though..
As to the Dipstick being incorrect I suppose that could happen and might be something missed by someone not familiar with the diff brands..
Still a lot of units out there that use the "Fill to Overflow" method..
Right on with the repeatable method part.
I like to turn the threads backwards until the stick drops into the ready to thread position. And like an aircraft engine it's dip-check-wipe, dip-check-wipe, dip-check-install.
Yup, I "always" triple check the oil level.. IF the unit has a Filter I add oil to the line, start the engine, note the oil level drop and top off again using the "dip-check-wipe" method..
I've never checked the oil on an Aircraft though..
As to the Dipstick being incorrect I suppose that could happen and might be something missed by someone not familiar with the diff brands..
Still a lot of units out there that use the "Fill to Overflow" method..
Thanks for the input. Just changed the oil hot but I used a puralotor L10241 filter instead of the JD filter. Saved 10 bucks. The pur. filter is a little bigger so I was able to get in the 2 qts. of oil the manual said it took. Its right up to the full line.
The Oil filter gets filled with oil in a matter of seconds once the eng starts.
As I noted above fill the engine to the line on the stick, then start the unit letting it idle for a few seconds.. Shut it down, note the oil level drop on the stick and top off..
No need to start it a few times..
As I noted above fill the engine to the line on the stick, then start the unit letting it idle for a few seconds.. Shut it down, note the oil level drop on the stick and top off..
No need to start it a few times..
My Subaru Robin genset has a screw-in dipstick with markings, but they also specify that "full" is with the oil just about to spill out the dipstick opening. So far as I can tell, that level and the dipstick markings agree. I haven't had to change the oil for the first time yet (only has 5 hours) so I don't know how that jives with the stated capacity (1.0L)
Can't edit my last reply...
Re-read the owner's manual and discovered that it says: "Do not screw in the oil filler cap when checking oil level." I missed that the first time around. Now I gotta go out and check the oil level in the dark and cold because I have BITOG's disease...
Re-read the owner's manual and discovered that it says: "Do not screw in the oil filler cap when checking oil level." I missed that the first time around. Now I gotta go out and check the oil level in the dark and cold because I have BITOG's disease...
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