Brainless question: Oil fill tube

[rang-a-stang]

I've always wondered why AMC put that big gawdy 6 foot lookin oil fill tube on the front of our engines. I know I can cut it down if I want, but I am wondering why AMC chose to make it so tall. I appreciate the ease of filling/addind my oil and can even imagine in the days of the old oil cans, it was probably even easier and more appreciated. Do you guys think its really only for ease in filling the crank case?

[Ristow]

yep.

[Brynjminjones]

They could probably foresee how often we'd have to top them up!

[ZackN920]

IDK, I think its kind of cool and different! Every other engine (other than old flatheads) usually have the oil fill in one of the valve covers and another hole for a breather. Our valve cover's are sealed!

[babywag]

I like it, works well on Jeeps. Was odd/seemed out of place on the oldsmobiles I owned.

[letank]

very practical for oil change, flip the oil container and let it empty.
another aspect is to let you know how much crap is being cooked, similar to a still, the owner's manual states that the tube should be cleaned to remove excess residue

[gpcl16]

FYI earlier Ford FE engines have a similar oil fill tube arrangement, (assuming they have stock valve covers and intake) though it isn't quite as tall and prominent. I had a '63 Galaxie with a 352. Also I learned the hard way to never pick up the intake by the tube on an AMC. Sometimes it's not in there as tight as you think and you drop a 90 lb intake on your shin... Seriously I have no idea why a stock AMC V8 intake is so heavy. I've had stock intakes off on big block Fords and Chevys that were substantially lighter. The only one even comparable is on an international V8 I'm putting together right now.

[FSJunkie]

I'm guessing you don't have air conditioning.

AMC generally made more of a point to make their cars easier to work on than other manufacturers did.

[rang-a-stang]

Nah, I have A/C. I'm going leave it, because it's practical. I'm just not used to manufacturers considering owner's convenience like that. I am used to oil drain plugs draining directly onto cross members or axles, Motor mounts going through a belt routing (so you have to lift the motor to change the belt), Spark plugs buried deep behind a laid over intake manifold and down/under the cowl making a spark plug change take all day, etc.

[rang-a-stang]

...oh, and transmission oil pans that don't have a drain plug making a trans filter change a ridiculously messing job.

[letank]

ah, ah, ah, I agree that oil pan drain to the driver's side diff is a pain. For the trans, add a drain plug when doing your first oil change. at least we can check out trans fluid level, unlike some bmws devoid of dipstick, you have to let the oil warm up at 175F, not 180, not 165... the diagnostic program is needed, then remove the inverted oil level plug to see if the oil barely drips out of the opening... some mercedes seems not to have an engine dipstick nor a digital gauge, it will tell you when level is low... but how much to put in.

[mwood65]

Because of that longer filler neck your jeep holds an extra quart of oil.

It's a performance mod.

[gpcl16]

ah, ah, ah, I agree that oil pan drain to the driver's side diff is a pain.

Indeed. They changed the front diff to drivers side drop and never bothered to change the oil pan. It bothered me so much that I relocated my oil drain plug to the bottom of the pan when I rebuilt my 360 4 years ago. It also helps to get a little extra oil and anything that may be in the bottom of the pan out at each oil change. I highly recommend it if you have a later FSJ and you have your oil pan off or engine out.

[Ristow]

i think most iv'e had had the plug out the rear of the pan. like my '77,assuming these pics still work.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showpost.php?p=1446315&postcount=150

[rang-a-stang]

The pan on mine was to the rear but when I removed it, I found 2 holes that had been welded up, it had a ginormous dent, and generally looked awful. It would have taken me hours to clean it up for paint. Now I have one that dumps toward the drivers side (which is probably OK since I have a passenger side pumpkin.