TM 5-3895-346-14
OIL LEVEL DIPSTICK
ENGINE OVERHAUL
OIL LEVEL DIPSTICK
A steel ribbon-type oil level dipstick is mounted in an adaptor on the side of the engine (Fig. 1) to check the
amount of oil in the engine oil pan. The dip- stick has markings to indicate the low and full oil level. Current
engines include a 3/4-inch long rubber oil seal inside the cap of the dipstick. This prevents the escape of
vapors carrying oil from the dipstick tube.
Maintain the oil level between the full and low marks on the dipstick and never allow it to drop below the low
mark. No advantage is gained by having the oil level above the full mark. Over-filling will cause the oil to be
churned by the crankshaft throws causing foaming or aereation of the oil. Operation below the low mark will
expose the pump pick-up causing aereation and/or loss of pressure.
Check the oil level after the engine has been stopped for a minimum of twenty minutes to permit oil in the
various parts of the engine to drain back into the oil pan.
Dipsticks are normally marked for use only when the equipment the engine powers is on a level surface.
Improper oil levels can result if the oil level is checked with the equipment on a grade.
1 . Fill the oil pan to the fu1l mark on the dipstick.
2. Start and run the engine for approximately ten minutes.
3. Stop the engine and wait a minimum of twenty minutes. Then add the required amount of oil to reach the
full mark on the dipstick.
Figure 1. Typical Oil Dipstick Mounting
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