engine oil dipstick

[otherhalf]

Good afternoon. I have a 1953 farmal cub. When checking the crankcase oil, if I put the dipstick in with the readings up, I show 1/2 quart down, if I put it in with the readings down, it shows 1/2 quart over. What makes for the different readings? The marks should go up when checking, right? Thanks, Bill

[Eugene]

Mine also. My dipstick is off set to one side from the center of the breather cap.

What difference does it make? None. If you are concerned, just insert the dipstick with the blade up and down. Where the oil level crosses above or below the center of mark on the stick will indicate your oil level.

[Jim Becker]

I guess it never occurred to me to insert one with the markings down. For that much difference, I guess you have one of the short dipstick/tubes. The longer one has a bend that brings the dipstick closer to vertical. I wouldn't expect much difference on them. I do recall once before someone having trouble with his readings. In his case, he had a long tube installed so it turned out rather than up. His dipstick ended up way to close to horizontal.

[Yogie]

All of mine seemed off so on each one I made my own marks after filling with 3 quarts and running the engine a little while.
You go around a lot of hill sides here so it needs all the oil it can get.

[ricky racer]

You go around a lot of hill sides here.....

Now there's an understatement!!

[kthomas]

Hills, what hills?

KT

[Yogie]

You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

[ricky racer]

You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

I'll bet sledding in the snow is much more exciting in your neck of the woods than here too.

[Bob McCarty]

Ricky, Yogie is still under the delusion that there are mountains where he lives.

Bob

[Dan Robertson]

I once had a problem with the dipstick on the 55 Cub which has the short tube into the crankcase. It was actually possible to install the dipstick such that the tip would slide above the sump tube from the pan bottom up to the oil pump. This put the dipstick much more horizontal to the oil level in the pan, Hence an erronious reading on the dipstick when removed. If you look into the short tube with a flashlight you can see this sump tube I am talking about. Once I figured out what was going on I tightened the rivit that holds the dipstick to the cap, (it was loose) and now am more careful to point the stick more vertical when installing. My cap actually rubs the hyd. lines at the wide point as it is being pushed down.
You can see how close things are in the photo.

[Yogie]

Dan, I had to replace and go with long tubes in all of mine, oil wanted to pour out when the sickle bar was up hill.

[otherhalf]

Thanks to all who replied.I have been different oil readings for years. Dan Robertson hit the nail on the head. I have the offset dipstick and short tube. I did as he suggested and looked down the tube. There is an oil line at the bottom. I inserted the dipstick more verticle and got a full reading. When you put the dipstick in upside down, the offset lets it go past the oil line. Thanks for all the help. This is a great site. Everybody have a safe and great New Year. Bill

[v w]

You two flat landers have probably never been in a spot where the radiator spewed coolant out of the top either have you....

Yes, but it was from overheating. Vern

[DanR]

When you check the oil put a rock under the tire on the down hill side of the oil pan. Or is it the up hill side?

[Dan Robertson]

Just put the tranny in 1 or R with the engine off. It won't roll. HA, HA.