John,
Congrats on fixing your van.  I had a similar experience with a ski boat
at Boy Scout camp a few years ago.   The boat had a huge, gas drinking
v-8.  As I was preparing it for winter storage when I found that the
stopping point on dip stick was lose. I decided to change the oil after
a summers use.  There was less than one quart of oil in the motor.  It
should hold over 5 quarts.  Needless to say we had to rebuild the
motor.  The boys were checking the oil level religiously, with a
malfuntioning distick.   It did run much quiter with 4 more quarts of
oil, but it smoked like a train!!!

Live and learn.

Kenneth Winter
87 Toyfalia
95 Trooper