This is my first post on any automotive forums. Late 2012 I bought a 1969 Ford Galaxie 500. It has a 302 V8 5.8L Engine. When its been sitting and I check the oil, its at the ADD line. So i added a half quart and checked again and it didnt go up. I added another half (to make it a full quart) and it still hasnt gone up. On the dipstick it says to check when the car is hot and running in park. So I started it and let it run for 5 minutes or so. While running I checked it, pulling it out, wiping it off and sticking it back in and then looking. Except now when I pulled it out, there was no oil on the dipstick at all. Please explain, am I missing something extremely obvious or does it need a lot of oil? Thanks in advance!

 

Boy, this is a tough one!
I believe you are using the wrong dip stick.
Engine oil level is not usually read on the stick with the engine running, but the automatic transmission is. Look for another dip stick much closer to the side of the engine.
If this is of any help, the engine oil will have an almost clear appearance when first installed, but will turn brown to black after having been run a while.
Automatic trans fluid in your vehicle should have a red appearance when fairly new and can turn darker after miles of use, but still have that red telltale color. If you added motor oil to the trans it should be drained out and the filter and fluid replaced with the correct fluid.

 

 

Sorry to have a double of the same image. The image posted twice is where it said to add the oil. That cap unscrews easily and thats where I added the quart. The other 2 pictures are where the oil dipstick are. On the dipstick i believe it also says to only use genuine ford oil bla bla bla, all that old stuff. And im using non synthetic oil too. I know that the oil designed for new cars wouldnt work well in this car.

 

The dipstick in your pictures is definitely the one for the trans. There should be another dip stick that is more forward on the engine. I don't recall which side it was on. It should go almost straight down to the bottom of the engine.

 

 

Found it! Right near the ignition coil! Now that I look, it definately seems to need an oil change. But that probably overfilled correct? Is it dangerous to have it at that level? Ill be doing a complete oil change next month anyway!

 

There are mixed opinions regarding using synthetic oil in an older engine. I have been using synthetic oil in everything I have with no bad results. I don't , however have any engines quite that old. The oldest is around 1978. If you reside in a cold part of the country, synthetic would be a consideration since it does reduce cranking effort on starting. Check around and do a little research you may be surprised .

 

Here is an article that covers the oil needs of old engines:
Zinc Oil Additive - Hot Rod Magazine