Correct oil level for stroke and pan

Dustyrides · Mar 7, 2022

What is the correct oil level in relation to the rotating assembly? I am building a 494 CID with 4.150" stroke and am using Hemi 6 qt. pan. Right now the full dipstick mark is about the same as the lowest point the bottom of the connecting rods see. How far into the oil surface should the the crank go at startup when the pan is full? I'm assuming this is how to determine correct oil level, correct me if I'm wrong.

69Bee · Mar 7, 2022

A 6 qt pan should hold...........6qts! Put 6qts in the engine, run engine for a minute to circulate the oil and see where it is on the dipstick. Adjust dipstick mark as needed.

toolmanmike · Mar 7, 2022

The crank should not touch the oil level.

33 IMP · Mar 7, 2022

The idea is to get the oil as far away from the crank as possible! And still have enough available to the pickup to keep from starving the engine.
That's why there are deep sump pans.
69bee gave you the right answer.

Dan64 · Mar 7, 2022

I have a Milodon road race 7 quart pan and they spec 7 quarts Plus filter so maybe 7 1/2 quarts. I have seen Engine Masters where they ran with less than the advertised amount and picked up some HP but i wouldn't do it, a dyno doesn't provide oil movement under acceleration. I'm a fan of the show but feel like they dropped the ball on that episode and did their fans a disservice.

33 IMP · Mar 7, 2022

Dan64 said:
I have a Milodon road race 7 quart pan and they spec 7 quarts Plus filter so maybe 7 1/3 quarts. I have seen Engine Masters where they ran with less than the advertised amount and picked up some HP but i wouldn't do it, a dyno doesn't provide oil movement under acceleration. I'm a fan of the show but feel like they dropped the ball on that episode and did their fans a disservice.

Well, they did mention, (in passing) that they probably wouldn't try that in a car.... but I agree, they didn't make enough of a point that it could be dangerous to run a three quart low oil level in a car.
I hope the people that watch engine masters are smart enough to think about that.

Dan64 · Mar 7, 2022

33 IMP said:
I hope the people that watch engine masters are smart enough to think about that.

Lol, I hope so but every time there is an effort to make something idiot proof they build a better idiot.

Lefty71 · Mar 7, 2022

With a stock pan, on an engine with stock stroke (RB), the oil level is 1.5" below the lower skirt of the block when the engine is not running.... Obviously, if a longer stroke, you may need a deeper pan to safely maintain this distance so the crank doesn't hit the oil (or splash), especially if you are wanting to run a higher capacity pan. I wish more manufacturers made a touring type pan like Milodon does for the Mopars, since ground clearance can become problematic.

dvw · Mar 8, 2022

The further away the better. Absolutely don't want the crank to dip in the oil. However while running the level will be lower than static. My buddy has raced his 4.150" stroke Hemi to 7400 with a short 7qt pan. It's getting swapped this year. If you have a fair amount of money in the motor I'd put a deeper pan on it. Broken rods are no fun. Don't ask how I know.
Doug

Dustyrides · Mar 14, 2022

The Full (6 qt.) mark on the dip stick sets the static level about even with the rod bolts at lowest point of rotation. I'm thinking that when circulating it should be safely below the stroke but plenty of supply?

pedal2themetal · Mar 15, 2022

HI if you are using the stock stick you should be fine.. But yes you do NOT want the crank anywhere close to the oil the amount of turbulence the crank and rods can make quite a storm in the pan. if the crank whips up the oil it well make air bubbles in the oil and won't lubricate effectively.
good luck, take care, be safe
tim

toolmanmike · Mar 15, 2022

pedal2themetal said:
HI if you are using the stock stick you should be fine.. But yes you do NOT want the crank anywhere close to the oil the amount of turbulence the crank and rods can make quite a storm in the pan. if the crank whips up the oil it well make air bubbles in the oil and won't lubricate effectively.
good luck, take care, be safe
tim

It whips it into a froth.

oldkimmer · Mar 18, 2022

toolmanmike said:
It whips it into a froth.

That’s why u run a windage tray. I was contemplating running the Hemi/44@-6 pan on my 543. It now I’ll get the 440 source alum pan. Kim

1 Wild R/T · Mar 19, 2022

FWIW I have a Milodon 30761 which is their version of the stock Hemi 6 qt pan...... As a test I dropped the stock Mopar windage tray on/in the pan & filled the pan with water (one qt at a time) till the water contacted the tray.... Took 8.5 qts... So 6 qts plus the filter leaves plenty of space between the crank throws & the oil...

rrTor-Red · Mar 23, 2022

69Bee said:
A 6 qt pan should hold...........6qts! Put 6qts in the engine, run engine for a minute to circulate the oil and see where it is on the dipstick. Adjust dipstick mark as needed.

I agree 69Bee but also, shouldn't one need to know if its a stock or original dipstick or after market too? Some after market ones are shorter, etc. compared to original ones.

69Bee · Mar 23, 2022

rrTor-Red said:
I agree 69Bee but also, shouldn't one need to know if its a stock or original dipstick or after market too? Some after market ones are shorter, etc. compared to original ones.

That is why I said to check the level on the dipstick and adjust the "Full" line as necessary. Also, don't forget to compensate for the oil filter by adding roughly half of a quart.

Correct oil level for stroke and pan

Dustyrides

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69Bee

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toolmanmike

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33 IMP

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Dan64

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33 IMP

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Dan64

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Lefty71

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dvw

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Dustyrides

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pedal2themetal

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toolmanmike

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oldkimmer

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1 Wild R/T

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rrTor-Red

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69Bee

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