bubbly oil
 

I have a 72 280 SE 4.5 that I recently acquired, I noticed that the oil was bubbly with air so I just changed the oil. Filled it with 8 quarts to the upper mark, started it for a few moments, checked the level and its down to just above the lower mark and full of tiny bubbles. Is this normal or am I experiencing oil pump cavitation? Is this a threat to the bearing surfaces or no? Drop the pan or no? The capacity chart shows a maximum of 8 quarts, did the new oil filter take up the missing oil? Anyone have this sort of problem? Advice will be appreciated.

I don't know about the bubbles. Never had that happen.

As far as the dip stick and the drop you observed...let it sit over night and check it in the morning. I saw the same thing just this past weekend when I changed my oil, after about 10 minutes of sitting, checked the level and it was down. In the morning it was just below the upper mark. A combination of the filter filling and oil in the upper gallery and other passages made it appear to be low.

Just a quick question. Was the oil cold when you checked it? Sometimes there might be a little churning and a frothy texture to cold oil that goes away once it's up to operating temperature.

Drive it until hot, then check it again. Be careful, though, that dipstick and the oil will be hot! :eek: Don't ask me how I know that. ;)

BCingU, Jim