MCM 888 how much oil

[frank246]

I have a 77 MCM 888 Ford 302,
Ive drained out the old oil and about 2 quarts came out ?
I replaced a new sierra oil filter (primed) and started filling up the oil.
After some 2,5 quarts the dipstick read Full? After letting the engine run for some time I added some oil so the stick read full.
My clymer manual tells (and also others) that the oil cappacity on this engine is 6 quarts or 5.7 Liter.
I do not trust the level on the dipstick although it is the original one and also the tube (sidemount in oilpan) and the pan are original (rear sump).
I should fill 5 quarts and top off untill dipsticks says full and not overfill !
I am sure 3 quarts is not enough so put in 4 quarts and stick reads some 3/4" above full. And now I am confused, my MCM 140 4 cylinder takes 4 quarts.
Should I put in 6 quarts regardless what the stick says or burn the oil as 3 quarts can not be correct also for cooling.
I am aware that the sump differs the cappacity but this is an original standard 888. Does anyone knows exactly how much oil I have to put in this mercruiser engine.
Why can the stick be this much off?
Thanks in adv,
Frank

 

[Don S]

Re: MCM 888 how much oil

You aren't getting all of the old oil out of the engine. The old models you have to stick a tube down thru the dipstick tube to suck out the old oil. If you don't get it all out, then you can't put the requierd 6 quarts in. One thing you don't want to do is overfill. That can cause engine damage.
The best thing you could do is to install a drain hose to the oil pan, then use your pump to pull the oil out of that hose and forget about the tube in the dipstick tube. It just never worked very well.

 

[frank246]

Re: MCM 888 how much oil

Thanks Don,
I drained the oil by removing the sump plug, having it drip out over night.
After the low amount of oil comming out I checked the drain plug for clog but nothing left in there.