454 Oil Capacity: How Many Quarts of Oil Does a 454 Take?
It is possible to buy a used RV with a 454 motor inside and not get any information about lubricant capacities. When this happens you need to search and search until you get the right information. When you do, don’t let the word pints confuse you.
The oil capacity for a 454 V* is 12 pints plus 2 pints for the oil filter. If you are not up on your weights and measures, then that translates into 6 quarts for the oil pan and 1 quart for the oil filter. So 7 quarts in total for your next oil change.
To learn more about this capacity just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can fill the engine with the right amount of oil and protect your engine till the next time you need to change the oil.
How Much Oil Does a 454 Take?
When you look at the original owner's manual for the engine you will see a very straight forward list of lubricant capacities. The capacity for oil is the second one on the page and it is listed under crankcase.
Once you get to that section you will see 2 engines listed, one is the 350 and the other is the 454. Look across from the 454 and you will see the number 12 pints.
Go down one section and you will see the heading oil filter. Across from the two engines listed you will see the oil filter’s capacity. It is listed at 2 pints. As you know, 2 pints equals 1 quart and after that, it is just simple math.
12 divided by 2 equals 6 & 2 divided by 2 equals 1 so you need 7 quarts of oil to fill the oil pan and filter to capacity.
454 Oil Capacity
The word is that no matter the year this engine was produced for RVs it took only 7 quarts of oil including the filter. Some people may say more if you are not using the stock cooler that came with this engine.
The way to do an oil change for this motor is to drain the old oil and then add 5 quarts. Wait for the drain down and check the oil level. It should be at the add line.
Then add another quart and wait again. The dipstick should read full. Some people like to fill the oil filter first before putting the new one on. It saves time in getting the oil pressure up to normal.
The problem most people have is that the older the dipstick gets the harder it is to read. That is the time you should buy a new dipstick as the unreadable one makes doing oil changes a little more difficult.
Any auto parts stores should have one in stock and if not they should be able to order one for you.
What Kind Of Oil Does a 454 Take?
You will get different opinions on this. Those that own this engine use what they prefer and will tell you it is the best engine oil for that type of motor. These opinions start the synthetic vs. Real motor oil debate all over again.
The different owners have all recommended that you use either 10 W 40, 15 W 40, or 20 W 50 depending on the weather temperatures in your region. Some people say synthetic oils are over-rated and over priced while others disagree with that conclusion.
Then still more say for you to not use synthetic oil during the breaking-in period while others state it is okay to use it for the break-in period. A lot of the time, it will depend on which year your motor was made. Some older models may need 10 W 30 while others may need 15 W 40 synthetic.
As for brands, many owners use the Shell Rotella, others use Valvoline and you will find many top brands that will work for your RV’s engine. Owners are saying to stay away from the Fram oil filters and use something like Wix or some other better brand.
Best Oil For a 454
The best motor oil will be one that is tailored made for your region of the country. If you are not living in cold weather, then you can get away with 5 W 40 or 10 W 40.
Other regions of the country may have you using 15 W 40. As to brands, stay away from the off-brands. They can do more harm than good to your engine. One owner recommended Quaker State Defy 10W-40, Valvoline MaxLife 10W-40, or Shell Rotella T6 5W-40.
Other owners suggested that you go with any of these brands- Delo, Rotella, Defy, Delvac dino. One owner was very emphatic about not using synthetic motor oils in these older engines.
The reason he gave was that the seals for the 454s in the 70s and 80s models were not made for synthetic oils and you could get possible leaks in your motor. Other owners called that a myth but you be the judge of that issue.
What will affect your decision will be the price per quart. The more expensive is not always the best option. The $12 per quart oil is not that much better than the $4.00 per quart oil if the brands are well-known.
Some Final Words
Changing your oil with the right oil and amount is important. Lesser known brands do not have all the ingredients the top brands do and can do more damage to the interior of your motor than anything else.
Just make sure to stick to 7 quarts so that you know you have enough engine oil inside the crankcase when you start up. If you go for the top brands, anyone will do, just pick the one that fits your pocketbook and won’t cost an arm and a leg.
