Does anyone have a good way for checking your oil level. The maxima's dipstick blows...I would seriously pay to get another dipstick that I can just clean and check the oil level, instead of having to carefully and slowly pull the dipstick out and pray I have a good reading...

 

Nope...as far as Maxima dip sticks go....they all suck....Everytime I check the reading....oil is all over the dipstick and you can't read it well.....

But from what I learned....someone said to check the level in the morning right before you go to work.....I tried this one morning, and actually got a good reading....I don't know if its accurate though? Aren't you suppose to check oil fluid after the car is warmed up and turned off?

 

The best time to check the oil is after the car has been sitting for a long period of time. Letting it sit overnight is usually good enough.

 

make sure that the oil has time to settle down. When you pull it out, flip it over immediately to take a look at the notches to determine the oil level. I've never had a problem reading mine, although I admit its somewhat easier on other vehicles

 

That is the understatement of the friggin year. Haha, I hate the dip**** dipstick on my maxima. But other than that my car is a sexy mother*****er

 

I check mine before starting in the morning. Pull out the dipstick and turn it over to read the level on the back. The front is always much higher, like it rubbed on something coming out. It seems to work everytime.

 

i don't check it. fill it right at the oil change and forget it.

though if your engine is burning oil you might have a problem..

 

Wow... and I thought it was only my dipstick that was a pain to read... guess my struggles are shared by others too... I did do the morning checks, but I wasn't sure how accurate those were, so I used em as an approx confirmation for whenever I wasn't positive. Whenever I tried to warm the car up first... there was always oil all over the place... I would have to read the dipstick 2-3 times to be sure...

And yeah... I used to own a VW... and I've checked my wife's Passat's oil level, and never had a problem with those...

 

I've come to the conclusion that only the backside is readable. Also the car must really be on super level surface to get anything acurate.

 

well, only the backside has any sort of markings for the High and Low level

 

I thought the car had to be warmed up before you check the level.

 

I learned this in autoshop class too....

 

Me three...

 

Well, I learned that too and that is what it says in the manual... but when ya do it... there's always oil all over the stick and its hard to read the level...

 

not really... if ya think about it, when the engine is running, oil is going all over the place inside the block. to get an accurate reading, you gotta let it settle whether it's warm or not.

i think it's tranny fluid that you have to check when the car is warmed up.

 

It's funny my 85 Jetta's dipstick was easier to read than my max Oh well I still love my max and the dipstick won't change that.

 

You warm up the car, turn it off, take out the dipstick, whipe it, put it back in, and then you can read the oil level.

 

Hey is that the Korean friendship bell in San Pedro????

 

i went to the pros @ www.diynet.com...

Checking Oil

Check the engine oil frequently: driving with the oil level too low can damage the engine. When checking oil, wait until the engine has been off for at least 15 minutes so that the oil has drained to the oil pan. This ensures an accurate reading. Checking the oil immediately after driving may give a false low reading because much of the oil is still in the engine components.

1. The oil dipstick on most vehicles is on the side of the engine. It may be labeled (figure A). The dipstick extends through a metal tube into the oil pan. Locate the dipstick and pull it straight out.

2. Wipe the dipstick clean with a rag, and reinsert the clean dipstick. Make sure to depress it all the way.

3. To get a reading, pull out the dipstick again and inspect the oil on the tip (figure B). It should be in the safe zone between the "add" and "full" marks. Hash marks on the end of the stick usually indicate the oil level. Each mark usually translates to 1 quart. Markings may differ from one vehicle to another, so check your owner's manual.

4. If the oil is low, add enough to bring the level into the safe zone. Remove the filler cap (figure C), and add the oil at the fill opening. Don't overfill, as too much oil may foul the spark plugs.

The oil should appear clean and translucent. If it looks dirty, dark or milky, it's time for an oil change.

 

Sorry Polak, but Teedot is right... even our manuals say wait at least 10 mins after warming the car up to check the levels...

 

I always check in the morning. It's the only way on our crappy sticks.

 

If you check it when the car is cold, like in the morning, you get all the oil in the pan and it is a conservative measurement. Checking it after it is run will result in a slightly lower measurement, but it is hard to read. If you check it cold it is better to get an accurate measurement than a perfect one.

 

Oil = Cold
Tranny fluid = Hot

 

It shouldn't be hard to read if you wipe it clean and reinsert it, then check it.

 

on the acura i had it had two small holes drilled in the dipstick and this was the greatest one i've ever used. always an accurate reading.

maybe i should drill two small holes in mine...