OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Briggs vertical shaft oil volumes

Are the larger of the Briggs engines, 8hp to 12hp oil levels measured by screwing the dip stick into place?

Aldo, on all of the common Briggs engines you measure the oil by screwing the dipstick all the way in. On all the Honda and Kohler engines I know of, you just rest the dipstick on the top of its thread - see here:
http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMM142698_I0/Output/OMM142698_I09.html

It seems a bit silly that the manufacturers can't standardise their practice on this. It rather reminds me of the way car auto trans selectors worked prior to Ralph Nader and his book "Unsafe At Any Speed": Ford had the PRNDL that we all know and love, GM had reverse all the way down, beside low, and Chrysler had a weird typewriter gadget. So now we have federal legislation requiring everyone to use PRNDL. The moral of the story is, if the manufacturers don't get it right on their own, someone will eventually do it for them.

Thanks Grumpy. I just refilled the 8hp on the IPD by volume specs which said 1400ml. I tipped in 1300ml and it was way over the top. If the stick isn't screwed in its just about spot on.

I think Kawasakis FJ180 doesn't require the dip stick to be screwed in either.

I can't account for that wrong reading on your Briggs, Aldo. The dipstick is supposed to be fully screwed in. Perhaps the sump hadn't drained fully, or the engine is not exactly level when installed in that slasher?