RE: Green-light-on saga, chapter 3

["Erkson, Toby" <toby.erkson@intel.com>]

Oh man, this made me think of something!

Due to the small diameter of the oil lines drainage is negligible.  If the
filter is positioned open end down then there will be a noticeable
difference
since the (HP-1) filter holds almost a full quart of oil.  Okay, this is
what
got me thinking.  My system, with the 1.5 oil sump, consumes 5 quarts of
oil,
including PREFILLING THE FILTER!  I'm gonna guess that those of you with
pressure problems are not prefilling the oil filter, hence you will show
roughly
a quart low and this can register with reduced oil pressure readings,
particularly when going around corners.

This is what I do when I change my oil:  Drain all the oil from a warm
engine. 
Remove oil filter, let drain, then light it on fire an toss into street
(just
kidding, wanna make sure yer payin' attention :)  Fill oil filter with fresh
oil. Like I said, a Fram HP-1 almost uses a full quart.  Once the filter is
just
about topped off, smear a fine film of oil around the filter gasket and
screw
into filter mount.  Now fill engine with oil like normal.  Close up engine,
start her up, let run for half a minute or so, then turn off.  Let oil
settle
for about 10-15 minutes then recheck the oil level.  Add more oil if need
be. 
You're done.
   Toby Erkson
   air_cooled_nut@pobox.com  <-- Please use this address for email
   '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L
   '75 Porsche 914 1.8L, ORPCA member
   Portland, Oregon, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8501/

>-----Original Message-----
>Where's your oil filter located?   Is it level w/ the sump, above ore
>below?  Vertical or horizontal?
>
>If it's above, you migh think about how much oil is
>actually in the system.   When the engine is 'cold', the oil 
>has drained
>oil of one or more lines and maybe even out of the filter 
>(depending what angle the filter is mounted on).
>
>let's say you ckeck the oil level on the 'cold' engine and it 
>reads "full"
>on the dip stick.  But, when you run the motor, the lines and 
>filter need
>to be filled up, so the motor is actually running low on oil.  
>Hence the light comes on.