TDI oil level

[ahistand]

I'd like to know approximately what height the oil level comes up to on the dipstick for those of you who've installed a TDI at 50 deg. I realize the angle of the motor (depending on front trans mount used) will alter the reading on the dipstick....so if you could also indicate what trans mount you are using.

I raised the front of my trans up 1.5" from the stock WBX location, which means my engine does not sit as "tail low" as a stock Vanagon diesel engine would. So naturally my oil level will read lower. I guess my concern is how low is too low.

I haven't fabbed a proper dipstick yet, but using a welding rod, when inserted all the way down till it hits the bottom of the pan, the level is only coming up to about 1.25" up on the stick. That seems way too low to me. The very bottom of the oil pickup sits about 3/16" off the bottom of the pan, but you know the actual pickup screen is about 1/2" higher. Anyway, with the level that low, it seems like I could easily run into some starvation problems upon cornering.
BTW this is after filling with 4.2 quarts of oil, per Bentley manual.

[Waldi]

When not using a oil cooler, fill in 4,5l oil with empty oil filter (i fill the oil filter before mounting it) and mark the max.
With the JX oil level measurement like i do it on a 1Z, AHU, AAZ the max sighn is the min sighn.

[?Waldo?]

I've never used the stock TDI dipstick as I find it to be sometimes be a real pain to remove everything from the hatch area to check/add oil. Instead, I've always made an '83 style dipstick that curves up and to the rear in order to have access at the license plate door.

[westyventures]

In Syncro configuration (pan slopes slightly to rear) it takes 5 liters w/filter. At about 1 liter low, you can swerve the van and watch the oil pressure drop slightly, indicating air.

[ahistand]

So Karl and Andrew, since you both have the curved dipsticks, do they extend all the way down and touch the bottom of the pan? How far up the dipstick does the oil register?

Karl if your pan on the Syncro tilts towards the rear, and with 5 quarts has pickup issues in turns, or swerves, then my pan (which tilts slightly towards the front) should need at least 5 quarts to have a similar oil level as your Syncro.....if I'm thinking right.

Well maybe the level on the dipstick wont change much depending on the slope of the pan.....I think the dipstick is nearly in the center (longitudinally) of the case. I'll go check mine.

[?Waldo?]

The dipstick is very close to the center of the pan as long as it isn't the '82 version in the filler tube. The oil pickup tube is also close to the center of the pan. I've run a couple of the stock '83 style dipstick/dipstick tubes but I have not measured the distance from the bottom of the pan to the bottom of the dipstick. With the stock dipstick, I have found that the level had to be at the full mark or I would see weird oil pressure drops when the turbo would spool up. I've seen that same occurrence on a couple different engines in a couple different vans. I don't currently have a stock dipstick on hand to measure. All three of my current vans have custom dipsticks that I made from bass guitar strings so I can't really help with your current questions.

[cawvin]

[westyventures]

[cawvin]