hmmm..but which is correct?
if the manual says 16oz, but the dipstick reads "full" at 20oz, one is obviously wrong.
considering some recent dipstick quality control issues we have seen:

http://www.snowblowerforum.com/foru...rum.com/forum/ariens-snowblowers/13026-ariens-dipstick-virtually-illegible.html

I would be more inclined to believe the manual, than to believe the dipstick.

Scot

 

yeah, I know what you're saying. I knew about the dipstick issues and that thread as I posted a pic of my dipstick in that thread and I also have a link to that thread in my original post.

Who's to say though, it could very well be a misprint in the manual too.

My manual states this:
136cc, 179cc, 208cc = 16oz
254cc = 20oz
291cc, 306cc = 32oz
414cc = 38oz

 

Who's to say though, it could very well be a misprint in the manual too.

Could be! I would send off an email to Ariens and just ask!
tell them you have two conflicting sources for "full"..the manual and the dipstick..they always seem good about answering questions..

Scot

 

I just asked them via email. before it submitted the question, a list of similar questions popped up wanting to know if any of them answered the question. I attached what it said.

According to that, I should go according to the dipstick and I did exactly what it says to do.

 

Here is LCT's image of correct oil fill. Stormforce 208

LCT USA: Liquid Combustion Technology | Global by Design

 

Here is LCT's image of correct oil fill. Stormforce 208

LCT USA: Liquid Combustion Technology | Global by Design

These 208cc's don't get that type of dipstick, we get the metal ones.

I did run across this:

When I add 16oz of oil, the oil level doesn't even make it to the hatched area as seen below on what my dipstick looks like:

 

I think LCT calls that a high oil tube option. I assume the AX208 is this LCT Stormkng snow engine which lists a high oil tube as a option.

LCT USA: Liquid Combustion Technology | Global by Design

 

I found this... When checking engine oil level Insert the dipstick into the filler neck and turn clockwise until fully seated. Then remove the dipstick by turning it counter clockwise.
Check the oil level shown on the dipstick.

 

That's what I do.....I don't know why anybody would do it any other way. LOL

 

That's what I always thought.....but on my Toro ZTR mower with a Kawasaki engine, the manual says to not screw the dipstick in to check the oil. Go figure...
Bruce

now that's bass ackwards.

While I was out in the garage playing with the Pro 32's chute linkage I checked the oil on the Path-Pro after it was sitting for a couple days in this nice cold weather. The oil level right pretty much right on full.

 

now that's bass ackwards.

While I was out in the garage playing with the Pro 32's chute linkage I checked the oil on the Path-Pro after it was sitting for a couple days in this nice cold weather. The oil level right pretty much right on full.

I agree....in 50 years of playing with motors of all types, I never heard of not inserting / screwing in the dipstick all the way.
Bruce

 

Well, I thought you did screw the dang thing in. I thought twice before posting it. I brought it up on the very odd chance that you did not do it that way.

 

no problem!! One never knows who's on the other end on the keyboard

BTW, I think 1 imperial oz = 0.96076 US oz. So that wouldn't work either.

 

It could be that they mean 16 imperial ounces. That would be like 20 or so US.

 

This is the response I got from Ariens:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for contacting the Ariens Company.

Sorry for any confusion with the oil capacity. What you are seeing in the engine manual, is just a minimum rough guess. The primary tool that you need to utilize, is the dipstick.

The engine manufacture does not put exact amounts in the manual because not everyone drains the oil the same way, therefore there is no exact amount. For example: If we were to put 20 ounces in the manual, but a customer does not drain it properly and then adds 20 ounces of oil, they will overfill and cause an oil mess when starting the engine. Then get mad at us for stating 20 ounces.

20 oz. sounds right for your engine, as long as the dipstick reads Full. Multi-viscosity engine oil, like 5W-30, expands when hot, therefore the 24 ounces that you saw drained out, could very well be possible.

Please reply to this message with any further questions or concerns. We are happy to help.

Thank you,
Greg
Ariens Company

 

That works for me. Dipstick is the final arbiter!

 

JRHAWK9! if the lower dipstick cap is removable you could check the oil level to see if it's at the top of the threads. i have the same high oil fill and check on my 254cc 9210 deluxe 28" but it's too cold to go out in the garage and look at it! i have about 4 hrs or so on mine and it appears to have used some oil? did you notice that with yours? not to uncommon in break in i guess.

 

yeah, if the lower one wasn't plugged that's what I would do. That's how you used to have to check the oil in the older small engines.

 

just changed the oil in my 921030 and 20 oz. came out and 20 oz. went back in. once i filled it and let it set a while i checked the oil and noticed it only read on the stick to the top of the xxxxx's.

That's good to hear. Same with mine.

Just as I thought, the stupid f****n' dealership overfilled mine. When I bought mine I requested one in the crate (like I do with all my equipment), but they looked and didn't have any which weren't already "setup" by their monkey's. They told me there's nothing to the setup of these, as all one has to to is fold up the handle and put oil in it. I figured, how hard can it be to fold a handle up and put oil in it. Well, I apparently found my answer....too difficult for the monkey's at Kimps in Howard, WI. Although I guess it's partially my fault as I should have trusted the oil level on the dipstick when I initially checked it before starting it for the first time and drained some out when I saw it was over filled. I doubt there is any damage done, as nothing leaks and it ran/runs fine, but it's just the point. People trust dealerships, but it seems they are becoming a place of mistrust.

BTW, I quoted your partial reply in this thread simply for others reading this thread.

 

mine when i got it was only about 1/2 way up the xxx's so i asked what kind of oil they use and was told ariens. a qt. of ariens is $9.00 and i wasn't ever going to buy any so why buy one qt. just to top the machine off. i asked the salesman at mid states equip. in janesville to have them top it off to the full line. the service mgr. was a horses behind and i had words with him before the sale and he give me more grief when he came out to add the oil i requested. i watched him like a hawk to make sure he got it right. i just put 5w30 mobil in it for the new oil and after this season will drain it and start using mobil 1 5w30 from there on. i would have went somewhere else to buy my machine but they're only 4 miles down the road. hopefully i won't need there support because they are rude and expensive at the service center for small equipment.

 

What's wrong with dealerships these days? Is it that hard to do what the manufacturer requires you to do in order to sell their product?

 

jrhawk9! a couple of things muddle the oil amount question! for my lct 254 ax engine lct states on there website for the engine an oil capacity of 16 oz. ariens in the owners manual states 20 oz. for the same engine. when i bought my new 921030 i checked the oil level of both of the 921030 they had in the showroom before i selected the one i wanted. both read identical and were about 1/2 in the ok zone or a tad less. are the engines shipped from lct with the 16 oz's of oil lct specifies and ariens mounts them during assembly and out the door they go? if so that would explain why the oil level appeared low on both the ones i checked. in your case the dealer probably seen the oil level and topped it off to the full line and slightly overfilled it. i'd be curious to see if others noticed where the oil level was when they bought their machine. update!
just got off the phone with lct regional rep and the engines are supplied to ariens dry with just a small amount of oil in them from assembly. at this point i don't know if ariens ships them to the dealers dry or they are filled at the ariens factory.

 

jrhawk9! a couple of things muddle the oil amount question! for my lct 254 ax engine lct states on there website for the engine an oil capacity of 16 oz. ariens in the owners manual states 20 oz. for the same engine. when i bought my new 921030 i checked the oil level of both of the 921030 they had in the showroom before i selected the one i wanted. both read identical and were about 1/2 in the ok zone or a tad less. are the engines shipped from lct with the 16 oz's of oil lct specifies and ariens mounts them during assembly and out the door they go? if so that would explain why the oil level appeared low on both the ones i checked. in your case the dealer probably seen the oil level and topped it off to the full line and slightly overfilled it. i'd be curious to see if others noticed where the oil level was when they bought their machine. update!
just got off the phone with lct regional rep and the engines are supplied to ariens dry with just a small amount of oil in them from assembly. at this point i don't know if ariens ships them to the dealers dry or they are filled at the ariens factory.

I had the same issue with mine when i went to change the oil for the first time on my Deluxe 28 (921030). I put in 16 oz and I could barely see the oil on the tip of the dipstick. I added the extra 4oz and it put it right on "full". I feel better with the 20 oz capacity. 16 oz doesn't seem like it would be enough to lubricate the engine.
Bruce