stock 454 oil capacity

[Tiger Joe]

what is the stock oil capacity for the 454s from 73-87?

we swapped a 454 on our 79 C30. We have an original owners manual for a 79, says 6 qts. the engine we swapped in is supposedly out of a 76 pickup originally, was mostly irrelevant because we rebuilt it all, BUT we did use the oil pan on it. had no dipstick so I bought a replacement dipstick for a 79 454.

engine is exactly on full with only 5 quarts.

just want to figure out if I had the wrong oil pan, maybe the wrong dipstick, or if it really is supposed to only be 5 quarts

[MJN]

Here is a link to a 1977 GM service manual. http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/tech...ice_Manual.pdf

Bottom of page 0B-2, crankcase capacity without filter is 4 qts. The filter holds another quart so 5 quarts total assuming all stock parts were used. The 1979 GM service manual states 6 qts without filter change and 7 qts with filter change on page 0B-17.
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/tech...ice_Manual.pdf

[DieselSJ]

Dipsticks and tubes should be matched for the year as there were some different lengths.

I don't know what the manual says, but my '87 takes 6 quarts when I change the oil and filter.

[100%Chevy]

It all depends on the oil pan used and the size filter used.
I had a 427 TD that had a 10 quart pan and 2 quart filter.Came from a big tandem axle truck with a fifth wheel.
My 65 Impala with a 454 actually holds a little less than 5 quarts.
And,then there's add on oil coolers too.
If you have the original pan on the engine,look up the numbers on the engine and see what it calls for.
Mike.

[Tiger Joe]

Interesting.

So they must have changed pans between 76 and 79 to allow for extra capacity.

And the 79 owners manual says 6 with filter not 7.

[tucsonjwt]

My 83 C20 454 takes 7 qts. It is a camper special - deep oil pan, factory oil cooler, 1 qt. long oil filter. Surprisingly, it has never burned oil, but I drive it only in the city. I think if I hammered it on the freeway it would start to drink some oil.

[Tom]

5qts......amazing. A 4cyl mercedes will take 8-9.

[LT7A]

I have this exact same dilemma. My 454 was swapped in in lieu of a 6.2 diesel before I got the truck, and I don't know when it's from. Maybe you and I can post pictures of our oil pans and if anybody else that has a factory setup and knows their capacity is willing to post a picture, we can get closer by comparing oil pans. My dipstick shows full at 5 quarts, but my truck is a Camper Special and I would like to change the pan out to bigger capacity. But there's always a chance that I've just got the wrong dipstick.