I have an ‘84 Fiero with a duke here that I bought 4 ½ years ago. The engine ran when I bought it, but it had clutch problems, so I had it towed here and it’s sat ever since waiting for me to get at it.

Well, I finally have a chance now to deal with it. I thought I’d better “prep” it before trying to start the engine after not having run it at all during these last 4 ½ years. I drained the oil, which looked brand new, and I also wanted to change the oil filter.

I was rather shocked to find only about a tablespoon of oil in the old oil filter (which also looked brand new on the inside).

I’m kind of stumped as to how the filter could have so little oil in it. As you know, with the angle the oil filter sits at, the oil can’t drain out of the filter. Is there any chance the oil could of somehow siphoned out of the filter over the last four years?

Or is there a chance that when I heard the engine run (for a few minutes) at the previous owner's place, that oil wasn't actually making it to the oil filter? Is that even possible?

I’m rather reluctant now to try starting the engine until I get some feedback on this.

Anyone come across this before?

its probably all sludge at the bottom of the pan now....

quote Originally posted by hookdonspeed: its probably all sludge at the bottom of the pan now....

Ummm, I don't see the connection.

syphoned down
when you drained the oil, it creates a vacuum thru the oil pickup, sucking the oil down

Think about the angle of which the filter is mounted on the block. Over four years of sitting the oil will drain back.

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: syphoned down when you drained the oil, it creates a vacuum thru the oil pickup, sucking the oil down

Now that you mention it, I had forgotten to remove the oil filler cap on the valve cover when I first started to drain the oil, so yes, there might've indeed been a vacuum created.

Hmmmm.... I'm feeling a little better now. Thanks for the response, Pyrthian.

Anyone else have some feedback on this issue?