Would anybody with a 56 C180 be able to give me a part number off of your dipstick? My engine builder misplaced/lost mine and replaced it with a stick that isn't right. Parts book doesn't give the number and I'm told it's a TCM #. The stick he put in it is 639589-1, I know it's not right because it's showing 12 qts with the tail 24" off the ground.
Thanks Russ

I'll look at mine in the morning to see if it has a number. My engine came out of a 56.

Glidergeek,

Did you look at BOTH sides of the dipstick? Many of them are marked for floats on one side, and wheels on the other.

Why not call Teledyne Continental Motors and ask them what part number goes with your engine model? Loren Lemen there is a true expert.

MTV

Russ, My dipstick has 537298 on it. There is no -A1. It has a band(sorta like when they band a bird's leg) that says 180 up where you pull. I measured from the o-ring and it is 1 inch to the 12 qt mark,2 and 1/8 to the 10 qt, and 3.25 to the 8 qt level. The seaplane x's are about an inch apart, half way between the end and where it is brazed into the pull deal with the o-ring. When I put 11 quarts in mine it is just about up to the 12 because of the bushwheels. I can post a picture if you want.

Yes and when you call Loren bend his ear about your favorite Mopar ... He is full of info.

Marty
That number concurs with what the Cessna guy told me without the -A1. That stick is a back order item $208. Thanks all

Glidergeek wrote:Would anybody with a 56 C180 be able to give me a part number off of your dipstick? My engine builder misplaced/lost mine and replaced it with a stick that isn't right. Parts book doesn't give the number and I'm told it's a TCM #. The stick he put in it is 639589-1, I know it's not right because it's showing 12 qts with the tail 24" off the ground.
Thanks Russ

Russ & Flight :
Dipstick(s) need calibration .You can use the one you got back with the engine. When you drain the oil do this it's easy. The 0-470-520 min. is 6 quarts in the pan.If you have a oil filter(like a qt) add this number and to 6 add oil and check dip stick -take a 3 corner file and put 2 notches (both sides) on dip stick. Add 2 more quarts and put another notch .Do 2 more and another notch. If you fill up to 12 qts(not recommended ) do another dual notch. When you run over 10 qts. in Continental 0/IO 470-520 you'll blow it out down the belly . Notches can be felt in low light conditions -like night . When engine is hot just after shut down it takes close to 1/2 hour to get all the oil back in the pan . Been there done that . I use 9 qts aircraft oil and 1 Marvel Mystery oil .

Did the same file method on the O-300 in the C172-TD, as the marking were for it sitting level. Worked like a charm.

Gump

Our '55 180 had a stick that someone had made some artsy little lines and numbers on with an engraver...hard to read. The notches make much more sense, excellent tip.

gb

Yes I'll get a mark on it now, got the tail back on the ground. Its got 12 qts in it and I'll take out a qt at a time till I've got 6 in it and go back in with them to double check. I'm gonna ground run it tomorrow, weigh it Saturday and hopefully fly it Sunday. It's been 3 mos since I started this overhaul.

Thanks to all again

Dumb question I'm sure, but when on floats does the dipstick read a lower level then when on wheels? My new 180 doesn't designate which side of the stick is for floats and which side is for wheels, and the POH explains a different style of stick. It makes sense to me that it reads higher when on wheels, and that is the side that I have been using. Just wanted to tap into the vast knowledge here and make sure I'm doing it right.
Thanks

David

Yes, reads lower on floats. On wheels there is more oil in the sump because of the stance. Mine will read 2.5 quarts lower on the wheels side of the dipstick when on floats vs. on wheels.

Awesome. Thanks for the confirmation skyjeep.

When on Bushwheels it reads even more than when on 6x6's too.

Thanks Marty. I'll find that out when I put 29"s on in the spring. On 8.50s for this summer.

Does anyone know what the part number or source for the extended dipstick for the O470 is? I'm tired of burning the crap outta my hands checking the oil when the engine is hot. I think it was shortfielder's plane that I saw had one. Is it aftermarket or some other plane part #?

soyAnarchisto wrote:Does anyone know what the part number or source for the extended dipstick for the O470 is? I'm tired of burning the crap outta my hands checking the oil when the engine is hot. I think it was shortfielder's plane that I saw had one. Is it aftermarket or some other plane part #?

Mine is right there when you open the flap in the cowl. I thought that was stock. Is yours a ways down there? Mine is an R engine in a 62.

Just went through the same with my 7GCBC. On 26" Airstreaks, put in 8 quarts and the stick reads 7. Full quart difference from stock tires. Guess I'll add one when it gets down to 5 on the dipstick now.

A1Skinner wrote:Dumb question I'm sure, but when on floats does the dipstick read a lower level then when on wheels? My new 180 doesn't designate which side of the stick is for floats and which side is for wheels, and the POH explains a different style of stick. It makes sense to me that it reads higher when on wheels, and that is the side that I have been using. Just wanted to tap into the vast knowledge here and make sure I'm doing it right.
Thanks

David

David,

On Cessnas with float kits, the dipstick was marked with numbers on the "wheel side" of the stick, ie: 6, 8, 10, 12 marks. On the "float side" of the stick you should find two sets of XX s the lower being the lower limit, the upper being the upper limit.....or 8 and 12 as I recall, though it might be 10 and 12.

If you use the "wheel plane" side of the dipstick when on floats, you'll overfill the engine, and that can cause a mess.

MTV

Last time my friends 180 came back from overhaul it ended up with the wrong stick.
We did the add some - file some from 8 - 9 - 10 - 12. Added another smaller nick at 10 hot.
With a minor mechanical background I kept worrying about the notches combining with some theoretical resonant harmonic dropping off a couple inches of the stick. So as a birthday gift I ordered him the dipstick Cessna said it should have - It was also marked wrong - wasted 200 some $$s. Nicked stick never failed.