Dipstick or no Dipstick

[dvw]

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.

I added a bung to my Charlies pan. I run the level low enough in the sump that the stock stick location allowed the stick to the angled portion of the pan. That spot was above the oil level.
Doug

 

[383man]

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

I agree that if you built a good sealed eng in good shape you should not blow out dipsticks. My eng broke in good as it never uses any oil and as I said the dipstick never moves and its just a stock dipstick. Ron

 

[66Satellite47]

In my drag racing cars, '65 Coronet & '80 Arrow tube car, I didn't run a dipstick. I changed oil frequently & had the valve covers off often so I could see if there was oil contamination. No problems with a couple thousand runs at the track. However I do have a dipstick in my current street/strip '66 Satellite. If you can get the dipstick to fit, shouldn't be a problem running one.

 

[Cranky]

Ran with and without them and you can always tell if there's water or fuel in the oil by the looks and smell of the oil fill cap. Logged over 300 passes on my last track car and knew how much came out vs how much went in. Back when it was built, there wasn't many alternatives for dip sticks and well, I capped the hole and went racing.

 

[mmissile]

My racecars never have dipsticks. If they're leaking, we see it...and I change the oil after every race. I have (2) 3-quart accumulators that don't get used[anybody need one?]. We've also never found any wear from lack of oil.

 

[ckessel]

My Indy block has no provision for one, which to me is odd since it is a street based engine built by them. I will install one on the passenger side of the Milodon road race pan as there is a 1/2" pipe bung there. I plan on draining the oil, then start marking the stick at 6 qt then 7 then 8 when it gets refilled. I'm all for a stick. Don't want to go by engine noise or low pressure to tell me its low on oil.

 

[Hemirunner]

If it's a track only car, no need. If it's going to see the street, I'd put one in it.

 

[Budnicks]

Doesn't NHRA require a locking type dipstick ?, if you use one
IIRC in 11.49 & faster, {don't quote me, I'm going off memory}
some tech guys will let it slide or not notice too...
My all out track only cars never had a dipstick, many blocks don't have a provision, like someone stated above,
I also changed the oil & serviced them often enough not to ever worry about oil level, rings well seated/sealed too,
many times with a vacuum pump or even sometimes a drysump also
But my street/strip cars had a dipstick, that had a little spring hole on the top part of the dipstick-cap
& with tab on the tube, for a small spring that held them down, started doing that decades ago...
So they wouldn't mess with me at Tech, all my cars were faster than the 11.49 barrier too

 

[69clone]

Doesn't NHRA require a locking type dipstick ?, if you use one
IIRC in 11.49 & faster, {don't quote me, I'm going off memory}
some tech guys will let it slide or not notice too...
My all out track only cars never had a dipstick, many blocks don't have a provision, like someone stated above,
I also changed the oil & serviced them often enough not to ever worry about oil level, rings well seated/sealed too,
many times with a vacuum pump or even sometimes a drysump also
But my street/strip cars had a dipstick, that had a little spring hole on the top part of the dipstick-cap
& with tab on the tube, for a small spring that held them down, started doing that decades ago...
So they wouldn't mess with me at Tech, all my cars were faster than the 11.49 barrier too

I could be wrong as well but I think they only require a locking dipstick for your tranny. Not sure why one and not the other though.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

I could be wrong as well but I think they only require a locking dipstick for your tranny. Not sure why one and not the other though.

You would be correct,locking trans stick,oil is up to you.Stock ,,,lokar,,,,milodon,Mopar Performance or a sight glass.
I always had oil & trans sticks.But My junk is a street car that I take to the track a few times a year:blob1:

 

[dvw]

Oil level effects ET. Tell me how you know how much is in the motor? Race motors use oil, trust me I check many of them constantly. Some racers run 10-12 qts and change it at 20-30 passes. No wonder they don't need a dipstick. I run 6-7 qts in a 12 qt pan. Add as necessary and change it every 100 passes. Royal Purple ain't cheap. I check bearings and change oil at the same time. Never failed a motor due to an oil issue.
Doug

 

[65 3 times]

Trust but verify... I don't think I will be able to relax without checking level and feel before starting. Track only car. Too many $'s at risk. Dave

 

[mmissile]

I know how much I put in. It gets changed after every track day, so if it ain't leaking....it's not needed in my mind. Street engines are another story.

 

[69clone]

Woah are those your rides mmissile? Those are very nice.

 

[Darter6]

Is your engine a stroker? Maybe your engine builder sees a problem with not enough crank clearance. One engine I had the rod hit the dipstick. Had 2 sticks ,cut one short to plug the tube and put the other in the trunk to check the oil when needed. Just a thought. A spark plug boot holds a dip stick in on engines that like to push them out. I know,, don't laugh,,yes it is a Slant Six..Offset ground crank with aluminum rods.