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Kalun D · 05-23-05, 04:22 PM

This may not be scientific and I'm not a professional engine builder but here goes.

The pan I modified from a stock mustang pan measures about 6" deep, or 6" from crank centerline to car/ pan bottom.
This doesn't leave much room for variance of the oil level so the oil level is less than 1/2" away from touching the crankshaft. It can't touch the crank obviously.

So the furthest intrusion of the crank is marked on the pan, then the oil (or water) is then poured into the pan while it's off the engine to a point close to the crank position and that quantity of liquid is measured. Mark this fluid level, then install the dipstick and by measurement correspond a mark on it, then subtract a quart and make another mark on the dipstick for your low level.. I think 6 qts or more is a good amount to shoot for, 7 or 8 max with a wet sump, any less than 5 and you need extensions on your pan.

Or once you've measured the amount of quarts you can just assemble everything, fill with that many quarts and mark your dipstick that way. I used a generic dipstick from Summit that was way too long so I cut off the part that was marked and made my own marks. The quart distance between the upper and lower marks isn't always the same depending on the shape of the oil reservoir in the pan.

Don't forget that a dry oil filter takes almost a quart to fill and make sure everything is level during the whole process.

05-23-05, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kalun D Kalun_D 5 Tenths Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Seattle GT40: KVA body, scrat Posts: 556 Rep Power: 10	Re: dipstick calibration This may not be scientific and I'm not a professional engine builder but here goes. The pan I modified from a stock mustang pan measures about 6" deep, or 6" from crank centerline to car/ pan bottom. This doesn't leave much room for variance of the oil level so the oil level is less than 1/2" away from touching the crankshaft. It can't touch the crank obviously. So the furthest intrusion of the crank is marked on the pan, then the oil (or water) is then poured into the pan while it's off the engine to a point close to the crank position and that quantity of liquid is measured. Mark this fluid level, then install the dipstick and by measurement correspond a mark on it, then subtract a quart and make another mark on the dipstick for your low level.. I think 6 qts or more is a good amount to shoot for, 7 or 8 max with a wet sump, any less than 5 and you need extensions on your pan. Or once you've measured the amount of quarts you can just assemble everything, fill with that many quarts and mark your dipstick that way. I used a generic dipstick from Summit that was way too long so I cut off the part that was marked and made my own marks. The quart distance between the upper and lower marks isn't always the same depending on the shape of the oil reservoir in the pan. Don't forget that a dry oil filter takes almost a quart to fill and make sure everything is level during the whole process.