Ok, I can't get an accurate oil level reading from my dip stick??? It either looks like I have WAY too much oil in my car, or that I have been burning oil like a mad man?? grrr lol Any ideas or tips???

 

to read your oil most accuratly, first run your car to operating temperature, then turn it off and wait 10 mins for the oil to drain, then read the level.

 

make sure the car is on a level surface and the car has been sitting for at least 10 minutes after shutoff.

when you stick the dipstick down the tube after wiping it off to check the level it collects residual oil inside the dipstick tube. usually it gathers on just one side of the dipstick. just look both sides of the dipstick when you check the oil level. the lowest reading is the accurate one.

 

ummm Thanks for the help fellas, but I do know the procedure for checking my oil I never had a problem on my 96 SE, and I can always tell on my girl friends Alitima as well.... But for some reason I can't get the oil to pool correctly on by dang dip stick??? LOL

Like I said... I can't get an accurate reading, and I have no idea what is wrong.

 

anything new, like mods, or new type of oil? how does the car sound? same as always?

 

Yeah, the car is running great... Oh, and I bought the 98 November 21 2001, and changed the oil about a month ago for two reasons. One was that it was almost time for it to be changed, and Two, I couldn't tell how much dang oil was in it lol. So even after they put 4 and 1/2 quarts in my car I still couldn't get an accurate reading on it??

 

Don't worry, it's not just you. If you want to keep an eye on the level since the 98 seems to leak (probably from the switch) just take the level from your parking spot after being parked overnight. Always check it from the same spot.

 

LOL... Well, that isn't going to work either cause there isn't ever a drop of oil on the ground.

 

Man, the only way I can avoid getting the smearing which makes it difficult to guage level is to check it straight cold... as in several hours off cold. Would the level be under-estimated by doing this?

 

COLD - that's when I check mine as well. After it sits overnight. The oil does pool really bad on my dipstick, making it almost impossible to check it after the car has been running. I ususally get an entire dipstick full of oil. Sometimes if I stick it in and out (no comments please) and wipe it off a few times, (man that sounds bad) I can get most of the nonsense oil out of the tube and get accurate readings.

 

aghhh I know how you feel...you have to try like 5 times to get that tube pooling to stop. Such a pain. I wish they had made the dipsticks out of a less bendy material as well...would make life easier.