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Dipstick or no Dipstick

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I am in a learning process. 543 stroker and I ask builder where dipstick was and he said no dipstick. I've always been the guy that got off the trailer opened hood pulled dipstick and smelled and checked level and smeared it all over my clean pants and shirt but knew I had enough clean oil to start. What do you guys do ? Dave
 
I dont think its good not to have one and i never seen one without
 
I may be wrong but I think a lot of race engine don't have dip sticks and I was told it was because the oil could be pushed out the tube. I don't know if that is the only reason or not though.
 
I may be wrong but I think a lot of race engine don't have dip sticks and I was told it was because the oil could be pushed out the tube. I don't know if that is the only reason or not though.

Yes it used to push my dipstick up. You just put a spring on to pull it down a bit.
 
I've had a number of motors without. Another reason is, on a high RPM motor, you should see what a dipstick does if it comes loose and gets caught in the crank.
 
My 440 was from a trail duster I thing a 75 or 76 but the dipstick was on the side of the oil pan. I do have a solid plug from where it looks like a factory dipstick would go.
 
I installed a 472 hemi and the TTI headers made it impossible to install any type of stock tube...so I ran an external off the side of the oilpan...I always want to know the oil level...and this works well
 
That is the story I got. I said what if you THINK your float stuck and you dumped some gas down there? AAhhh! Don't do that.
 
Seems odd to me. But there are a lot of you that know more about race engines than me. I have a 500 stroker and have a dip stick. Wouldn't want not to be able to check my oil.....
 
I went with the Lokar flexible to get around my headers. I have heard of "race" engines without a dipstick and they installed a sightglass in the side of the pan so the level can be seen. There are several types of sight glasses to be had. Also have a locking trans dipstick by Lokar.
 
My last blown 440 I plugged it I know how much oil I have in my engine, my new 496 I opted to run one since I'm driving this motor more on the street i10846.jpg20150826_160606.jpg
 
That is an oil accumulator.It's an extra 3 qts when engine is running,close the valve before shut down and it's a preluber,open valve and 3 qts of pressurized oil goes into the system.
 

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That is an oil accumulator.It's an extra 3 qts when engine is running,close the valve before shut down and it's a preluber,open valve and 3 qts of pressurized oil goes into the system.

Thats pretty cool. I'd seen them just never knew what they did. Guess when you have engines like those you wanna make sure everythings getting oiled asap.
 
I just use a stock dipstick on my 440/493. It never pops out and I do run a stock type PCV system. My eng seems to have no blowby and I never have any problems of the dipstick moving out any. I do see some guys getting the locking dipstick and trans dipsticks for more all out race engines. Myself I want a dipstick on my street car. I would think on race engines that may have the problem because of crankcase pressure that why not just run a locking type of plug on the dipstick tube that can be removed and then use the dipstick to check the oil. Then put the locking plug back on the dipstick tube and put the dipstick in the trunk when not in use. Ron

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I run dipsticks. If the motor is in good shape they don't blow out. 2 Of our motors are under boost and still don't blow the stick out. It's amazing how much oil a non leaking, non smoking, loose piston to wall motor can go though. You don't know how much is in there unless you measure it. Oil level affects ET even if there is enough to cover the pick-up. I have a friend that runs no dipstick in his S/C dragster. Runs 180+mph. The oil pressure light started coming on (yes it has a gauge also). Found the drain plug loose and more than 6 qt's in the diaper.
Doug
 
On my old 500 I didn't have a dipstick simply because the Charlies Pan did not have the provision. I hated it. Was always worried whether oil was low(engine didn't leak and never seemed to burn it either). Was just a very uncomfortable feeling. So I would change the oil more frequently than usual and always measured what came out so I could tell if I was loosing any.
I swore I would never do that again. So my new 512 got a different pan & has a locking dipstick from Mancini. Worked great w/the TTI headers.
 
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