oil level way low on gauge

[jmccjr]

I changed my oil for the first time today and replaced the exact amount which I took out (8 quarts) but now the oil level gauge in the dash shows one dash up from the bottom. Oil dipstick shows a little above halfway between min and max. What would cause the substantial difference in the two. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

PS. I had no metal shaving

[jdlmodelt]

who knows? just make sure you add enough to get it to the top line.

[Porsche9]

Definitely go by the dipstick.

[Steve Tinker]

The difference between each segment of the oil gauge is only about 100ml, so if your gauge is showing halfway, you under measured only slightly.
Be careful when you top up, as it will only take about a cupful or so to get it to the max level.

[schnellman]

I always underfill by two or three marks when changing the oil, and then top up one tablespoonful at a time. That gauge is damn sensitive, and I don't want to overfill.

[BFeller]

Did you account for the oil in the filter - either going in or coming out?

[kk2002s]

The dip stick is your source of truth. The gauge is all over the place
If I had a later boxster with only the gauge I'b be oil level paranoid all the time. I don't know how you guys with only the gauge sleep at night

[jmccjr]

Steve Tinker- Ill add a bit to see if the dash gauge goes up a little.

Bfeller- Yes I emptied filter oil into collection pan before we took the measurement of the waste oil.

Before I changed the oil I checked gauge and it was right on the full mark which I assumed was one line down from top. Then I replaced with the exact same amount that I took out that's why I'm baffled by the large variance. Sorry for the newbie paranoia.