How much oil for first firing of a 283 SBC?

I know it's probably a dumb question, but for firing off the engine for the first time, how many quarts should I use? The oil pan is empty as of now (just installed a new one), and for some reason I began wondering. Total newb question...I know.

 

Not sure what pan you have but use just what it calls for and you'll be good.

 

I would start with one in the filter then add until the dipstick shows near full. Mostly likely 5 1/2 quarts total. Run it then check level after it has drained down for awhile.

 

fill the filter before you put it on, then fill the rest until it comes up to the mark on your dipstick. That is ,providing you are using the right dipstick for that motor. In general, with a standard filter the capacity on a small block should be about five quarts.

 

Allso use a breackin lube GM has one. Its full of all the good stuff cams and lifters like. There is allso some other ones out there if you do a search on here you will find out a lot more. Good luck

 

YO Adam it's Ehren! First time firing... awesome. Use the standard amount in the oil pan but also fill the oil filter before you put it on. So if the engine has a 5 qt capacity. I'd say 4 1/2 in the pan and 1/2 in the filter. Was this engine completely rebuilt? If so, there should be a sufficient amount of engine assembly lube on all the internals. Did that sound Freudian? If you're breaking it in for the first time it's probably a good idea to run it for about 10 minutes between 1500-2000 rpm to get a a decent wear pattern started on the cam. Just make sure the engine can cool itself sufficiently. Of course it's a pain cause you've gotta try to to adjust the timing too as soon as it fires... and mess with the carb. Well I'm sure you'll get it. Good luck!

 

Poboyross,

Not sure what your fire up plan/routine is, but make sure to "prime" the oil system before you just fire it up. If you do not have an old dist or an oil pump primer you can always just crank the engine over until it get oil pressure before firing it. Always best to do this. On a sbc you need to have a "primer tool" or old ditributor to prime it correctly as the body of the tool/distributor completes an oil feed galley. If you just use a shaft to reach down and turn the pump the oil will not reach the entire engine.

 

Most all 283 engines I have seen run 5 quarts of oil when you include the one in the filter.

I'd fill the filter before putting it on, give it time to let the oil flow in so you do get it full as possible and then put four quarts in the pan and check the dipstick. If you have the standard pan it should read full, if it is a truck or maybe Corvette pan it may show a quart low.

 

fill filter, fill to full on dipstick, prime the system. Should be 5'ish quarts

 

Contrary to popular belief you don't need to fill the filter. I usually keep 6 quarts on hand unless I have a big pan then I get enough for the oil capacity of the pan and an extra.

You are going to prime it right. I mean if its first fire it needs to be primed before you ever turn it over, prime it then pull the dipstick. If it needs a quart then put one in it.

Ok I'm guessing that you have no idea what I'm talking about. before you drop the distributer in you slide an oil pump primer tool down the distributer hole and spin it with a drill until you develop oil pressure.

Then put the tool out of the hole and drop the distributer in its place.

 

Stock pan 4 and a half quarts .Including filter unless you used the quart fillter ,Then its 5

 

...about half as much that was on the outside of the motor when you bought it.

 

Yes,,on one of my engines (a straight 6), I can pull my oil filter and it'll be empty after it sits awhile. Also, the dipstick could be off in relation to the pan's capacity (mismatched), it's happened to me when assembling different parts to make one good engine.
Most stock Chevy small block pan and filters hold roughly 5 quarts.
If that's the case with yours then,, What I do is add 1 or 2 extra quarts to the pan so the crank will hit the oil and sling it on that cam as it's seating in. You must use Oil Additive too or the new flat tappet cam will not last long.

 

I would not recommend over filling your crankcase. Too much oil will cause crank "slap" as the cam lobes hit and have to push through the excess oil. This can damage your crank. In addition, the oil becomes airiated and whips into a foam which is not able to be pumped efficiently and oil starvation is a real possibility and if that weren't enough, you can blow a rear seal from too much pressure caused by too much oil in the pan. Stick with the amount of oil your motor was designed for and just pre-lube it.

Terry