I went to the lube shop last week and this old guy almost frucked up the car. He put in 3 1/2 quarts of oil and looked at the stick at it looked fine. I checked my oil later to see if it was ok and it was showing a little low. I kept on checking it because the oil stick it weird!!! anyone else notice this. The side with the marks on it will read low...and barely visible....and the side that has no marks reads about a quart more. I think when he was looking at the dipstick it worried him.....and he stopped. Of course they do not have a book or anything for my car....and it was my first oil change with the max so I didn't even question his judgement. He seemed damn sure that 3 1/2 quarts was the amount that he needed to put in. I know better now! It is 4 1/4 quarts with the filter change. I went back last night and they appologized for the mistake.....and filled it up to the mark. Wheeeeuuuh I was worried for a minute that the max was eating or dripping.

Has anyone else noticed that the dipstick is reading different ....one sides high...the other low. The guy at the shop last night must have checked it about 50 times and every time he would pull it out it would be different on either side!

 

I agree, I think the Max's dipstick makes it really hard to read the correct oil level. I just go by how much the manual says it needs.

 

You’re certainly not alone; the dipstick has several bends in it that cause oil to be deposited in the guide tube on removal. The only way to get a reliable read is to clean the stick well and allow the oil to drain back down the tube, jab it and read the bottom. The best method is to check it after sitting several hours or overnight withdraw the stick about one half inch, reinsert (override capillary action) then pull and check.

 

odd design..

 

Dip stick designed by a dip stick. How do they let psychos design important elements such as this? Yes i agree...a royal pain in the ***....though their air filter design is wonderful.

 

and stupid me didnt read the owners manual to get the proper capacity....

i kept putting in oil till it looked full...and ended up w/ over 5 quarts....

then AFTER i already put it too much i checked the manual and... DOH!!!!

 

I think it is because the Max's dipstick tube is machined right in to the block. Most other cars have a flimsy little tube that runs into the pan. I agree that the Max's dipstick is a pain but I have to give Nissan credit for going all out and actually machining the block to accomadate a stick.

 

I have the same problem on my 98 SE. The side with the
markings reads low. Yet when you turn it over to the
unmarked side it reads high. I thought I was
the only one with this problem. I just put in what
the manual says.