Are oil dipstick measurements inaccurate in leveled trucks?

[jefo13]

I’ve got a Bilstein kit netting out about 0.5” of rake. I just changed my oil and realized that it is possible the dipstick is showing less than it should because of the change in dynamics, would that be possible? I put in 8 qts and it is still marking between the 2 dots…

 

[bloc]

I’ve got a Bilstein kit netting out about 0.5” of rake. I just changed my oil and realized that it is possible the dipstick is showing less than it should because of the change in dynamics, would that be possible? I put in 8 qts and it is still marking between the 2 dots…

I used to wonder the same thing, then I did the math.

For our 112” wheelbase, a 1” change in ride height at either axle relative to the other would cause a 0.5° change in angle. It is very small.

Likewise, we can take those numbers and calculate how much change there should be in oil level at the dipstick. Since I can’t go out and measure how long the engine is, I can easily determine it has a 94mm bore online. Times 4, plus a bit, we get about 16” of length from one end of the cylinders to the other. Let’s call it 18” for cylinder bank offset and other factors. If we imagined the dipstick is at the very front of the oil sump (it isn’t), again using the 112” wheelbase and 1” change in ride height, we’d see roughly 0.16” change in oil level. If I remember correctly the dipstick is configured to be one quart between the dots..

All of this to say, it is unlikely a suspension level will appreciably change oil level on the dipstick. More likely variations in oil temp from cold to fully hot or the amount drained before a change would explain differences there.

 

[jefo13]

I used to wonder the same thing, then I did the math.

For our 112” wheelbase, a 1” change in ride height at either axle relative to the other would cause a 0.5° change in angle. It is very small.

Likewise, we can take those numbers and calculate how much change there should be in oil level at the dipstick. Since I can’t go out and measure how long the engine is, I can easily determine it has a 94mm bore online. Times 4, plus a bit, we get about 16” of length from one end of the cylinders to the other. Let’s call it 18” for cylinder bank offset and other factors. If we imagined the dipstick is at the very front of the oil sump (it isn’t), again using the 112” wheelbase and 1” change in ride height, we’d see roughly 0.16” change in oil level. If I remember correctly the dipstick is configured to be one quart between the dots..

All of this to say, it is unlikely a suspension level will appreciably change oil level on the dipstick. More likely variations in oil temp from cold to fully hot or the amount drained before a change would explain differences there.

Thanks for the great analysis…. This should put it to rest…