Oil level in a Lycoming O-320

[Flyingj]

For those of you running a Lycoming O-320 in a Citabria (non-inverted), I'm curious of techniques used in maintaining the oil level on the dipstick. What have you found to be the most optimum operating level and where do you let it drop to before adding a quart between oil changes?

 

[Bob Turner]

I usually run two quarts below full on the dipstick. That's six on the 180 hp. I add oil at 5, and make sure it is 5 1/2 before inverted flight.
Small Continentals it is 2 1/2 qt min, 3 max.
Stearman - 3 gallons. Partners wanted to run it at 5, but I pointed out that one of them ignores warm-up, and that three gallons warms up a lot quicker than five.

 

[Flyingj]

I usually run two quarts below full on the dipstick. That's six on the 180 hp. I add oil at 5, and make sure it is 5 1/2 before inverted flight.
Small Continentals it is 2 1/2 qt min, 3 max.
Stearman - 3 gallons. Partners wanted to run it at 5, but I pointed out that one of them ignores warm-up, and that three gallons warms up a lot quicker than five.

Thanks Bob!

 

[darrell whitley]

Mine likes to run at 6. When it gets below 6 I add a quart. I did the same on a C172. The only time it’s full is after an oil change.

 

[Big Ed]

My Super Decathlon with AEIO-360 likes 6, which also happens to be the aerobatic minimum. I add oil in 1/4 to 1/2 quart increments to keep it at or above that. I found that if I go above 6.5, I get the extra oil on the belly after the next acro flight.