The Ninj Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Hey again, My new car apparently has got a raceline sump and according to the instructions you need to callibrate the dipstick. Now because I've only had the car a couple of days I've got no idea what the correct level should be on the dipstick. Theres no indicators on it and I checked the oil level last night and it's about 1cm high from the bottom of the stick. Had a look at the instructions that came with the car and it says that after installation you should fill the engine with exactly 5L of oil and then mark a line on the dipstick. Anyone else have the same sump and if so what did you calibrate your dipstick to? I could always do drain the oil completely then fill it up again I suppose but it seems like it's been done recently as the oil is nice and clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big R Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 5l in my car with a Raceline sump is at the normal full mark on the dipstick - which makes sense to me ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE.B Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 If you drain the sump to put a measured amount back in,remember that part of the 5 litres is still in the oil filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenh Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 ....................unless you change the filter at the same time, which you should always do. The filter is cheaper than the oil, and even more cheaper than a new set of bearings! Mean to say that the same instructions apply to the Raceline shallow sump on the duratec. exactly 5 litres, and then note or mark the dipstick. It fascinates me that if you have a (Westfield) factory supplied engine (even a brand new one in a factory built car) they dont do this. On mine, full is half way up the dipstick, between the bottom of the dipstick and the original Ford full mark. So I work on the basis that if the level is above the bottom mark on the dipstick its ok. Cant say if it is the same on the zetec of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Er... the upper level on the dipstick is a fixed mark. Regardless of sump, fill to the max on the dipstick. Ford would have spent *thousands* on making sure that the full mark kept the oil out of the way of being thrashed to a foam by the crank, whilst maintaining enough of a reserve for surge events during cornering/braking/accelerating. A Westfield is going to corner/brake/accelerate much more violently than the Mondeo the engine came from, so keeping th oil up to the marks is even more important. The issue comes when capacity of the standard sump is reduced due to a raising of the sump floor. *Then* I might consider over filling. But if sump capacity has simply been retained by reworking the shape of the sump, by adding wings for example rather than simpy shortening it, then fill to the max mark on the dipstick, and make sure you have the standard dipsrick that came with the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ninj Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 ok all this iss good if you have a dipstick with a mark on it! I looked at mine last night and I'm pretty sure I'ts go no markings on it. Like I mentioned before, my oil is about 1cm deep according to the stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Get a new dipstick from Ford. It'll be cheaper than a new engine... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ninj Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 ok cool, so the next question is which oil is best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterg Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 do a search for ZETEC and OIL and you should get one or two results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ninj Posted October 29, 2009 Author Share Posted October 29, 2009 5W40 fully synth then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenh Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Er... the upper level on the dipstick is a fixed mark. Regardless of sump, fill to the max on the dipstick. Ford would have spent *thousands* on making sure that the full mark kept the oil out of the way of being thrashed to a foam by the crank, whilst maintaining enough of a reserve for surge events during cornering/braking/accelerating. A Westfield is going to corner/brake/accelerate much more violently than the Mondeo the engine came from, so keeping th oil up to the marks is even more important. The issue comes when capacity of the standard sump is reduced due to a raising of the sump floor. *Then* I might consider over filling. But if sump capacity has simply been retained by reworking the shape of the sump, by adding wings for example rather than simpy shortening it, then fill to the max mark on the dipstick, and make sure you have the standard dipsrick that came with the engine. Blatters, that is what I thought, but I am told it isn't so. It was debated on this board a month or two ago, so I asked Troy Robinson at Northampton, who rebuilt my engine a while ago, and he said definitely 5 litres, no more or less. Not sure of the logic, but looking at my dipstick the bottom is curled up slightly, so maybe the bottom fouls slightly on the baffling in the sump? I'm not sure, only know what I've been told by several sources who should know more than me on engines. In fairness to the factory, they also said to put 5 litres in when doing oil changes, they just didn't mark the 'stick accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_margaret Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Are you supposed to put W40 oil into silvertop zetec engines? I thought it was W30 on silvertops due to sticking valve issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistonbroke Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 instructions for dunnell low line sump ......... edited to say my version 1.8 AND 2.0 Engines, coded CDW as fitted in the Ford Mondeo, are installed at an angle of 8deg . If Installing the unit vertically to the chassis as in the westfield and/or modifying the sump to give extra ground clearance the "standard dipstick" needs to be modified to indicate the correct level . The distance measured from the bottom of the plastic handle should be 483 mm If using the "standard" baffle plate, this should be modified by having a small area ground off the edge to allow for the shorter clearance of the dipstick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big R Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 As I said in my earlier post - 5l hits the full mark on my std 2.0 zetec dipstick once it has been run for a few minutes i.e. the filter is full. I was advised to use Comma XTech 5w30 and I’ve had no problems in either track or road use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It Almost Looks Like A Car Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 I have a Raceline sump on my 1800 silvertop zetec, when I fitted it I had to cut a bit off the bottom of the dip stick as it was to long to fit (the original ford marks have no relevence!). I then filled exactly 5L and scored the dip stick to the level. Not had any probs. Also, it was only the early zetecs that had sticky valve problems, have a look at zetecinside.com, lots of info. I use 10w50 millers synthetic competition oil in it, but makes sure it is fully warmed up before I give it any proper stick! Antony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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