[67drake]

I bought my ‘55 a few months back. I decided to do an oil and filter change on it this weekend as I’m done driving it for the season now.
So I drain the oil and drop the filter housing and drop in a new canister filter. Manual says 6 quarts with a filter change. I’m showing at least a quart and a half low after firing it up and letting it sit awhile!?
So is the manual wrong or did someone replace the dipstick with the wrong one? As far as I know the engine is the original 287. It may be hard to see, but the oil is just at the very tip of the dipstick.
Any ideas?

[jamesq]

I vote wrong dip stick.

I checked my 1955 Chiltons and it agrees with your six qt capacity.

James Q

[67drake]

OK. So does anyone have a original’55 dipstick they could measure from tip to the seating stopper?
I mean if it was a quart quart off I wouldn’t worry about it, but almost 2 quarts?
Plus, the way it is now, if it gets a little low, it’s not going to be readable on the stick, so I will have no idea how much to add to top it off.

[jamesq]

There's on on ebay, but it's pricey!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/15597697217...3ABFBM_oauhfNk

James Q

[67drake]

Originally Posted by jamesq

There's on on ebay, but it's pricey!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/15597697217...3ABFBM_oauhfNk

James Q

That’s definitely different than my dipstick. For starters mine has a bend in it from the add to full mark like I pictured.

[b-man]

Place an ad here for a dipstick.

Until you find one just keep putting 6 quarts in it and just check the oil level on that stubby stick more often.

No way does that little 287 need more than 6 quarts total with the filter.

[67drake]

Originally Posted by b-man

Place an ad here for a dipstick.

Until you find one just keep putting 6 quarts in it and just check the oil level on that stubby stick more often.

No way does that little 287 need more than 6 quarts total with the filter.

I agree. I just texted the previous owner to see if he knew of its origin. He was probably overfilling it this whole time. You would think somewhere along the line someone would have questioned why it took 7-8 quarts after changing the oil. Based on the other thread I started showing the doubled up filter gasket, I guess I’m not really surprised.

[Bill Hanlon]

55-58 Pontiac and 55-58 GMC (Pontiac) V8 engines used the same part number 518006 oil pan. The GMC Maintenance Manual calls for 5 quarts plus one for the filter.

[694.1]

the 57s used 2 different dipsticks, so there is that.

[Bill Hanlon]

Yes, A/C cars had one (and a longer tube) and non-A/C had a shorter one.

[67drake]

Originally Posted by Bill Hanlon

Yes, A/C cars had one (and a longer tube) and non-A/C had a shorter one.

Great info. My car is not an A/C car, so that’s a possibility if someone stuck the wrong stick or tube on there.
I still wish I could find someone with an identical car so that they could measure from the tip of the dipstick to the cap that seats against the tube.

[Bill Hanlon]

Originally Posted by 67drake

Great info. My car is not an A/C car, so that’s a possibility if someone stuck the wrong stick or tube on there.
I still wish I could find someone with an identical car so that they could measure from the tip of the dipstick to the cap that seats against the tube.

If you find one, have the length of the tube from the block up to the open end as well.