I have Milodon 8qt pan part #30940 in my 408 stroker with their accompanying dipstick #22010. When I received this engine from Muscle Motors in Michigan, they stated to fill filter, fill engine and score the dipstick. Mechanic installed engine and called me and said he couldn't read any oil on dipstick. I couldn't either. MAYBE a tiny bit on tip. We knew we had oil in it so we fired it and all has been well. I've since tried a dye and still the same results. I hate this dipstick. It's tiny and round and very small flat area. I've confirmed it's the right dipstick but also seen some reviews criticizing it. I don't even drive the car 1000 miles a year so I've been changing the oil at least once a year but not being able to check the oil is frustrating and shouldn't be the case!

Wondering if anyone has found a better dipstick and tube for this pan? It's a nice billet tube and stick and seals nicely but I'm over it.

Thanks. Larry

I have a similar issue with my big block and the road race pan. I don't think there is a passageway in the pan baffle for the dipstick, At least my motor isn't in the car yet.

Frustrating. I'm about to pull pan. Stick doesn't feel like it's hitting anything. Appears to be very short for this block.

A lot of the aftermarket BB Mopar oil pans aren't set up for a stock location oil dipstick tube so I either grind and dimple them (aluminum pans) or massage the steel ones to make them take the stock type tubes.
On your deal maybe try a stock dipstick in that tube to see if it will read oil on it or not
I've had to mark a lot of the aftermarket dip stick and tube kits Normally I'll fill the new motors up along with the filters and start and run them for a while and then shut them off and let them sit over night before marking the dip stick full mark That allows the oil filter to be completely full and fill all the nooks and crannies that will sit in the lifter valley and heads that won't drip down

Thanks Cab. I thought about trying one from '79 Power Wagon with the Milodon tube but the stick looks so wide and long compared to their's. I'm thinking an OEM stick and tube like you said might be best solution

Can you snake a small welding rod down the tube ? If so, and it stops before getting wet, Mark it at the top of the tube, one could measure the length of the tube etc and compare

If you can get an idea how much the dip stick is too short, maybe you can trim the top off the dipstick tube with a tubing cutter?

I had one that had a cover on the dipstick that fit over top of the top of the tube. It was a fit petty tight, if the stick wasn't pushed down hard enough to seat it properly over the tube, the stick was about a 1/2" too short. .

Larry...I feel for ya bud!

In my case I picked up the Milodon 30940, 8 qt deep pan, then found a good price on the fancy 22060 dispstick...unfortunately that combo never made it past the : "umm, that ain't gonna work now, is it!!!" stage.

I gave up and went back to my MP chrome setup that was in the previous 360 motor. The benefit I had was that with the engine being up on the stand I could measure it out and see how the current dipstick markings would measure up to the actual crank's lower sweep (from the counterweight).

Make no mistake, I did have to clearance the Milodon pan to make this work. The MP stick (being a steel piece that's about three times wider than the Milodon one) did butt up against the pan's front baffle, plate and that would prevent it from literally fully seating. Perhaps that's what you're seeing as well...although if that was the case you would feel it as the Milodon stick should not fully seat either.

Here are a few pics...

Thanks for pics! Okay I guess mine is 22060! Sorry for confusion but when I read my invoice writing wasn't real clear but I read 22060 and did a search on that but dipsticks didn't come up. I also thought the second 2 could be an 8. I took a second look and thought it might be 22010 and dipsticks did come up. Ugh. Either way, I still have the problem. I ordered a Milodon oil pan gasket and as soon as it arrives I'm pulling the pan. I think with pan off it's going to answer some questions for me. I have a windage tray also. The stick doesn't feel like it's obstructed whatsoever. Slides in very easily.

Here's invoice and dipstick which measures 18.5".

Thanks.

Larry

I received the new Milodon four piece gasket for their 8 qt. pan. Do you think this gasket set requires RTV/Sealant, and if so what would you recommend I use? And just dabs in the corners or what? Thanks! Larry

Milodon has a QC issue, imo. I got their pan for an LA as well as their oil pan stud kit. Guess what, some of the studs won't work with the pan.

You may also want to watch the Engine Masters episode How oil kills power.

Ugh. Another company with QC issues Muscle Motors built this "Killer Krate" several years ago and I've had no problems with anything other than the dipstick.

I think I saw that Engine Masters but have forgotten the results. I know there's talk of windage trays not being worth installing. I hate to pull it out though. I don't know.

Seems to be the norm on the QC Before pulling the tray, I was taught the factory boys weren't stupid, (at least back then they weren't)

It has nothing to do with windage trays.

Season 3, episode 32

If you know a welder have a piece of tig rod welded to the Milodon dipstick, make it long and trim to fit. I always use replacement dipsticks, they are long and hit the baffle in the pan, so I drill a hole in the baffle for the dipstick to go through.

I’ve read milodon isn’t what it used to be. When I bought a 31580 about 15 years ago, the windage tray had the dipstick hole, the pickup screwed in and was spot on. I installed that setup with the engine in the car. Worked super well. Now I read these dipstick issues, and people also say the pickup hits big time. Pic I saw on here in last couple years showed it coming over the pan rail! What on earth happened to those people at milodon?

Don’t even get me started on what that company has become.

💨

Stopped by Summit to look at a Milodon HV water pump and there was a GMB Chinese water pump in the box

Gus

Had you gone to Milodon's website you'd know why and that it isn't just a repackaged pump.

Well I went to Milodons's website and took a quick look and didn't find any information on why they use a CRAP water pump like a GMB unit. I've probably replaced a couple dozen leaking GMB pumps since they came onto the scene.

Gus

Okay thank you I will check it out.

It's disappointing to hear of QC issues with another company I use to be able to just buy their stuff and forget it. I always bought their water pumps (had early failures on Mopar HD ones of late) and thermostats. Another company like that, non-automotive though, is Sony. I use to be able to buy anything Sony and knew it was the best. Not anymore.

I appreciate the info on tig welding extension and I do have someone that can do that. Once I pull the pan I'm going to know a lot more. I hope to get to it next week and have some answers...finally.

Thanks all.

Larry

Sorry, I didn't read all replys so if this has been touched on already disregard.

Someone on the E-bodies site was having trouble reading the dipstick. He added way more oil than the engine should have needed and the oil was still not registering on the stick. He posted a picture of the dipstick and the metal looked plated. It wasn't chrome but it was a bright plating. I suggested painting the end of the dipstick because I had a feeling the oil was not sticking to it OR the plating was making it very hard to read. After he painted the end of the dipstick, the oil level was easy to see.(he had it way too full by the way) When I read your original post, this is what popped into my mind. You said you used a dye so maybe this isn't the issue but is there a chance the oil is just not sticking to what ever coating they have on the dipstick? Paint the end and see. It might be worth a try.

I was the one posting the picture of their pickup sticking out past the oil pan rail. The windage tray fit very poorly as well and I used their dipstick and wasn't impressed with it either. Definitely tons of quality control issues with their parts. Of course after calling milodon though, they said they've never heard of any issues and that it was something wrong with my engine...... typical corporate response.

years ago, i thought GMB pumps were the good ones ???
"how times have changed......."
as to the dip stick [i have been called that before. ] sometimes drilling a small, 1/16" hole at the add and full marks on the stick helps the oil to stand out more.
be sure to de-burr the stick on both side after drilling the hole, so as to not make the stick "stick" sliding up and down the tube, as well as insuring no metal chips get introduced into the pan.

I've got to check my engine build receipt but I believe Milodon was probably still making quality stuff when it was built. I believe it was around 2014. I barely drive the car 800 miles or so a year. My feeling now is the dipstick is not long enough. It seems to be the proper material and not some funky plating and doesn't feel like it's obstructed. I'm determined now to just pull the oil pan. I've already purchased the gasket set and doesn't appear it's entrapped by anything...fingers crossed I won't have to raise engine.

I went and looked, but didn’t want to be the dummy that couldn’t find it, so I didn’t post anything. I figured this was about private equity involvement, but saw nothing mentioned on their site.

Should I be using an RTV or other sealant with the Milodon oil pan gasket set?

I use a THIN film of Permatex Ultra Black with a good amount in the corners of the seals top and bottom. I prefer it to "squeeze" out a bit when tightened. Wipe off excess while still wet or wait till dry and trim with a SHARP blade

Thank you very much! I will pick some up. Going to pull pan hopefully Monday

for the gaskets, all you need is a small dab of RTV at the four intersecting corners.

I know sometimes less is best but I've not had good experiences sealing small block Mopars especially rear mains. I'll have to see if builder used sealant anywhere but corners. I don't suppose a thin layer around the rest would hurt though.

In a perfect world it shouldn't be needed, but an ounce of prevention - - - ,
I also let the sealer set for 24 hours before use. A lot fewer issues with minor leaks like rear ends.
I had a strange one a few years back, fresh build by a local shop. had a leak midway back on the pan rail. When the pan was dropped the gasket was stuck to both surfaces yet leaked as though there was a void in the middle of the gasket. STRANGE

I use rtv also, but just a heads up those black fiber type gaskets can split with to much torque and the rtv, it acts like a lube. So snug them up with rtv and torque to spec after solidifying.

it was a black fiber gasket from best gasket company I believe

Always want to followup for those who may encounter similar issues. Took me longer than expected to pull pan.

What I found; dipstick indeed too short! Barely passes windage tray and only by maybe half inch if that much. Builder did not use gasket at back of pan, just filled with sealant. Obviously manufacturer defect and uneven surfaces to work with so now I have to trim the gasket to fit surface. Also going to find a longer dipstick

I'm not blaming Muscle Motors who built it because I'm sure they got parts this way and were fighting a schedule. AND otherwise super happy with engine. It runs super strong. Insides were VERY clean.

I just called milodon tech line and told him my problem and I barely finished and he spouted out "you need dipstick 22220". Wow he sure had that part number handy without even thinking twice! If that's the one I need then why in hell did you tell me 22060 before? I just ordered it on Summit for $30

You only need a dipstick long enough to read "full"

Not me I want to know when to add oil, not only when it is full

The first thing that comes to mind reading these last 2 posts is how they no longer have transmission dip sticks.

Dang them bean counter saving penny's

Them there dipsticks don't give a darn bout us con-soomers!

My conclusion is Milodon dipsticks suck. I received the longer one and it's impossible to get a read on oil level. Their dipsticks are just too small. This engine is very low miles and very clean so the oil is light colored and I have to run my finger down the dipstick to even tell there is oil on it and it's so tough to see when it starts. I gave up. Just for heck of it I pulled dipstick out of 5.7 Charger and to my surprise it fit down Milodon tube and all the way down to the plastic eye finger pull which is about an inch from sinking all the way in. I pulled it and can very clearly see the oil level on that flat and wide stick! So I'll just use that stick to check oil. It comes to the "H" in "CHECK WITH........"

Engine is all sealed up and I am glad I can actually check oil even though I change it yearly and that's usually only about 500 miles max.