Anyone else have a heck of a time getting an accurate reading on the dipstick? I have searched and it seems like many have issues but have not read about an accurate way to check. Everytime oil is all over the thing!

I have left the dipstick out overnight and checked in the morning
Checked with the dipstick in after a day
Checked immediately after driving while warm
In immediate succession, pulled wiped inserted checked, pulled wiped inserted checked, pulled wiped inserted checked....

I had an 02 i35 (3.5 engine) that had the same issue, could never get an accurate reading.

 

I have had this same difficulty on all my Maximas beginning in 1984. In the old days (pre-Maximas), once the oil had been In use for 2K or so, and began to collect impurities, it became more visible. But today's engines run so clean that the oil is difficult to see. I do as you do, begin after the engine has sat overnight so virtually all oil will have drained down from the engine, start with a clean stick, then insert and remove the dipstick and hold in good light and look very closely and still sometimes have difficulty determining exactly where the oil level is. I often repeat the process, hoping for a clearer result, but it is usually the same. I wish the process was a little more definitive, but it is what it is, so we go with what we have.

 

Glad I'm not the only one, I've really only ever noticed this on the 3.5's. I've owned 8 cars and done PLENTY of oil changes for friends, never had issues like this. I am really liking the Maxima but actually thought before I bought it...I wonder if this will have the same dipstick reading issues I had on my 02 i35, nah, it's 14 years newer, haha.

 

Same issue here, but if there's oil on the dipstick, that's probly a good thing

 

I actually laughed when I read this subject! I knew what was coming. Yes, this Max is a stinker to check oil level on. Crap, at 8,000 miles my oil is still almost invisible on that stick. I wait for 3-4 hrs. after parking to check the oil level. You really do have to look very carefully. This engine, as well as the sweet little 2.5 on the Altimas, use practically no oil between changes (even extended ones), so usually I just pull the stick, wipe off the oil. reinsert the stick, pull it out again and look carefully to see if the oil level is at least as high as the top cross-hatch area on the stick, which it ALWAYS IS. Normally the level is slightly higher on the rear of the stick because of the "obtuse" (sorry, could not help myself) angle at which the stick enters the oil pan.

 

My 02 i35 drank oil, glad to hear the 3.5's no longer do that.

 

Yep. The problem lies in the fact there is a dead zone in the tube as it curves downward. You cant pass the dipstick through this without oil getting smeared all over the dipstick. Nearly impossible to get a good reading. I put a 5 quart bottle in for a oil and filter change and call it good. 5 quarts still come out when i do my next change so thats how I do it.

 

That's about how I handle it "catch"!

 

I also have this difficulty on a 2016 SR, found that after a 1 minute idle take out the dipstick, wipe, re-insert upside down then take out there's a good clean read.

 

I have found that it is best to do a dipstick check when the engine is cold, or maybe 2 hrs. after sitting after engine is turned off. As I recall the dipstick goes in at an angle so I check the oil level on both the front and back of the dipstick and "split the difference". Honestly, I have 55k miles on the engine and between oil changes at 7500 miles she has never used a drop!

 

Well said. I have had no consumption of oil between 5000-mile interval changes using the synthetic Nissan oil with 39000 miles on the clock of my 2019 Platinum.