Sorry I do not know the answer to that. However, what is critical for the dry sump LT4 and LT5 motors is that after the motor is shut off, one waits five minutes before readings the dipstick (per GM), in order to get an accurate reading.

Hopefully someone can answer your exact question.

 

I have a few thoughts (1) when you look at the dip stick, do your extruded marks line up exactly the same on both sides? (2) is the dip stick properly seating all the way into the tube? I have never seen a different level on one side of RedHot's dip stick (like yours, a wet sump C7) verses the other side. Also, the extruded marks line up perfectly side to side. (3) you are checking the oil level when the oil has been warmed up, not cold?

 

It is off by about one mark on opposite sides. I have tried inserting the dipstick several different directions but always the same result. Yes, level floor. Wet sump Stingray. Does anyone else have this issue?

I have the same issue with my 2014, so you're not alone. My situation is even more extreme than yours though, as I get almost no oil on one side of the dipstick. Fortunately, the side that does pick up oil is accurate.

The dipstick must be passing through a membrane as it enters/leaves the engine block and this cleans off some of the oil. At least that's my guess.

 

Or that's your story and you're sticking to it? :semi-twins:

 

This seems to happen a lot on some of the newer GM vehicles on which I have checked the oil. My take on the problem is that it seems to me that the dip stick no longer goes vertically into the oil reservoir; rather, it slides in at an angle. If you go in perfectly vertical, both sides would give the same reading. If you went in perfectly horizontal, one side (the bottom side of the dipstick) would show overfilled, and the other side (the stop side of the dipstick) would show empty (no oil on it at all). In other words, on the side which is facing down, the dip stick will show a higher reading than on the side which is facing up. At least, that is what it seems like to me is happening.

Anyway, I have seen multiple new GM vehicles that way, and the worst one I have ever seen is on my brother's new Sierra 2500 HD: one side will show spot-on where you want to be in the hatch marks, and the other side will make you think you are almost empty of oil. It's unnerving.

 

The dipstick on the dry sump is maybe 1/16th" thickness. Even if the dipstick went in slanted or horizontal (it doesn't & you'd feel it if it did )- you are still only talking about 1/16th of an inch in oil level. Considering GM gives a window from 5-10 mins or 3-5 mins depending on which article you read, I'd say it's still not an exact science for measuring the oil level.

If the dry sump cars have a much thicker dipstick ( I doubt it) then maybe you have a point, but the dipsticks (for all cars) are just a guide & therefore have a good amount of owner error factored in.

 

Chances are that your oil fill is OK, but the bigger concern would be excessive wear on the side of the dipstick that is not getting sufficient lubrication.

A while back, Mazda started using a wire instead of a strip of metal for a dipstick, saving maybe a gram or two. At least there was only one side.

I think a deeper crosshatch knurl would retain the oil better to get a better reading. I have this to a lesser extent on my dry sump GS. Hard to read.

 

I'm sure there's a simple solution, but I don't know how else to explain it... This is the first vehicle of mine that's had this dipstick issue.

 

My 2014 + 2016 Corvette where / are the same reading on one side only with the wet sump. My GM's trucks not all [9 over years] but most are the same one side only. All I do is read the oil side and if questing a reading look at how many miles are on the oil, any oil drips under the vehicle and any evidence of oil when running in hard acceleration. My thinking is the back side is either scraped off when removing the dipstick somehow. Without question a very poor design in a very critical check. Add in that the oil is so clean its hard to see on the wet side to. I have a dry sump 2016 Corvette to and that read is seen on both sides but once again a very poor way of checking oil waiting 5 minutes after shutting down only???? Any time after that all false readings??? I would think GM would look into a flat backing dipstick for one and a dipstick that does not look like a spring on the wet sumps?? Come on man....

 

Rodney's answer seems like it makes the most sense. I would just make sure you are doing the 5 minute delay thing and take the highest reading as true. You don't want to overfill.

 

I can't buy the explanation about one side getting cleaned off when the dipstick is removed, because, on the Sierra 2500HD, the dipstick is twisted at the bottom. One side of the dipstick is covered in oil, including the helical section on that side, but the other side isn't. I can't think of any other way to explain it.

Mobius, introducing the cosine of the angle between the dipstick axis and the surface of the oil as a factor in one of the terms for the measurement error does not seem desirable. It inherently makes the process more ill-conditioned. What if the area near the end of your dipstick is bent until slightly deformed, for example?

 

SOOOOO, after all the speculations did anyone call a trusted dealer(tech) and ask the question????!!!

 

I have a 2014 base model no dry sump but I know exactly what you’re talking about I purchased it new it’s been this way for four years the way I resolve the issue is to literally turn or twist the dipstick 360° and then both sides will read the same which is full even after changing the oil I experienced what you experience and that’s how I resolve it and it’s giv n me peace of mind since.

 

^^^^Good idea. I will try that.

If the reading is symmetrical, that proves the dipstick is not entering the oil vertically.

 

Maybe the next GM advance will be an oil level indicator that reads out on the information center, as exists on my BMW