Correct oil level with windage tray

[73 Mike]

This may seem like a super simple question but hasn't really turned out to be. It worked out that the aftermarket dipstick "normal" section was at the 3/4 mark at the bottom of the tray. I figured that if I aimed the oil level at the 1/2 mark when warm and running, it would be just about perfect.

As with many things recentil, this didn't quite work out.

When running, the oil splashes all over the dipstick to well past the top of the indicator section. When not running, the oil drains back pretty quickly but still doesn't even make the very tip of the dipstick. I've got tons of oil pressure but am concerned that if I burn much, I'll get too low quickly.

What are you folks doing to set the level? I assume that the running oil level has to be below the windage tray for it to be effective?

 

[big2bird]

Put in normal 5 qts, and make a new full line. As soon as the engine starts, about 1 qt is in the upper engine.

 

[TimAT]

I'll go with Bird- and an exception. If you have a normal stock pan then 5 quarts with the filter is correct. If it's an aftermarket pan, then----

And do you have the lower dipstick tube installed?

 

[73 Mike]

It is a stock pan and I do not have the extension tube installed. I'm not sure it would have worked with the tray. The openning is reasonably small though and only 3/4 of the hard portion of the dipstick fit through the hole.

 

[big2bird]

 

[Imo Apita]

That is a very nice windage tray, what brand is it?

 

[big2bird]

That is a very nice windage tray, what brand is it?

Milodon "Diamond" windage screen. The tray, pan, oil pickup, and tray studs are all from Milodon. Summit Racing.

 

[73 Mike]

My tray is considerably different.



Here is the dipstick protruding through:

 

[Red]

My tray is considerably different.



Here is the dipstick protruding through:

You need the guide tube to keep the dipstick down into the pan. Look how close your dipstick comes to the edge of the opening through the tray. When you push the stick down from the top, it can easily catch the inner edge of the tray hole and curl on top on the tray and not down through. This will keep it from giving you a true oil reading and be confusing.

I ran into this same problem where someone bent the guide tube inward after installing it and then bolting on the pan. The stick never gave accurate reading. It wans't until I dropped the pan to check for myself what was going on that it was discovered. I believe this could be what is happening in your case, you might like to check into it.