_ck69_

Seriously... all jokes aside.
I can never get an accurate read on my dipstick. The oil is always smeared past the "max" mark up until mid dipstick. Before you all ask, yes; I pulled it out, wiped it off, put it back in, pulled it out again to check.
I've had this problem ever since I bought the car. Since I do all my own oil changes on a regular basis I know how much oil I have in there, but I want to get this figured out. PLEASE HELP ME!

lilaclucymaxima

iTrader: (16)

Are you making sure the car is cooled down before you check the oil?

mtrai760

iTrader: (19)

Welcome to the VQ. We all have this problem, get used to it.

kcryan

iTrader: (1)

yup just let it sit for like 30 mins and then check

Ceasars Chariot

iTrader: (16)

i wonder if we have the worlds most difficult dipstick to read ? with mine if the level is low say 1 quart its impossible to read. but once i get it close to full it starts measuring.

97SEdriver

iTrader: (3)

I would say yes...we win...our vq3.0 dipstick has got to be the worst.

ewuzh

iTrader: (20)

I normally check my oil level in the morning after all the oil has settled. Also be sure your car is on a flat surface when you check it. How many quarts of oil are you using at each oil change?

f550maranello2

iTrader: (2)

WTF are you guys talking about, i have absoutely no problems with the dip stick... as long as i park on a even path iv never had a problem with it.. weird

kcryan

iTrader: (1)

Check if right after you turn off the car, you will see

MaxGordon7

iTrader: (36)

well of course its gonna be higher its really thin and expands. as long as im not bone dry i could really care.

TurTLe*

iTrader: (11)

haha. yea its weird as heck. something even more crazy i think it was on the vq35 on the 350z's where the dipstick wraps around the freak engine basicly

Black_Max_SE

I was wondering about this the other day. Before I left for work in the morning I checked the oil, after it sat all night, on the level garage floor. Same problem. Cleaned it off, put it back in. Same results.

You can make out a line most of the time if you look close enough.

theshawn

iTrader: (1)

I have the same problem, especially the first few weeks after changing the oil. But luckily, I don't burn any oil really as of yet so as long as I know I've put the right amount in I don't stress over it.

It sometimes seems to help though if I pull the dipstick out slowly and while looking at it I turn it slowly over and look at the back side. Many times the level on the back side matches up with the front top line. It's not an exact science tho. Definitely a pain in the ****.

chillin014

iTrader: (67)

the tranny fluid dipstick is worse than the oil one.

_ck69_

I'm glad I'm not the only one that's affected. Since this is such a common thing, do we actually know WHY it's occuring?

Vlasic

iTrader: (13)

same here, I never have a problem reading my dipstick. Just let the car sit for about 5-10 minutes and you can get a reading.