4.0's inaccurate dipstick

This describes mine as well. 'An idea' is about all I get.

I will try the overnight, one-pull method. I learned to pull, wipe, pull again and read, and made it an unconscious habit. I'll have to force myself to read that first pull!

 

1/4th of a quart? Easy does it guys

 

I've owned and/or maintained more Toyota's than I have fingers and toes, dating from early 80s to present.

Every one of them read above the full mark with a new OEM filter and the specified(owners manual) amount of oil. I always change my oil when the engine is fully warmed up and I let it drain for an hr. or more once the drain plug is pulled, so there' no residual oil.

Some read a bit over full; some more than that. All that I've owned have gone no less than 300,000 miles; some over 400,000.

Just my 2 cents.

 

..and make sure its the engine oil your changing.

 

Non-OEM filter can affect it. WIX 51516 needs 5qts plus 1/8 of a qt. OEM filter full mark with 5qt. I pull the dipstick after oil change (full hour drain), tie a reminder to the steering wheel, and check next day. 52k miles have never added oil between changes. If I had a garage I'd just leave the hood up.

 

Not true with my dealership! I bring my own oil and they make sure to spill some around the fill hole to lube exterior motor components and to prevent overfilling. As part of their service they also "burp" the washer fluid system by leaving the lid off to allow air bubbles to escape. In order to build a trusting relationship between customer and dealership, my truck is also taken\ delivered back too me by the same incompetent, apathetic dumbass that has no business being a service writer.

 

http://youtu.be/3pcqVQe-4z0

 

I dislike the dipstick. Not easy to read.

 

If you are the only one with this problem it is possible that you have a dip stick that is the wrong length or marked wrong.

 

I'm on my 6th oil/filter change and 5 quarts wets the dip stick dead center between the two holes.

 

I ... uh ... No. Too easy.

 

I have dry areas on my dipstick as well , however the oil I do see
is very clean, even when used for 8,000 Km

 

Yes and it really bugs me lol.

 

With a fresh oil change, my dipstick is practically unreadable. Oil is clear as water. I gotta wait a week or two for the oil to get a little dirty. Even then, backside of stick says I got about 25qts in her whereas the front is reading what I assume is accurate.

Boggles my mind this is an actual problem. Guess this is why there is no DS for the v6 tranny. The tranny dip stick engineers consulted the engine dip stick engineers, viewed engine dip stick progress and decided to sunset the whole project.

 

Mine also;better make sure you get it on the first pull.

 

Build by hand, by me. I think I got the hang of it.

 

so we are looking at the dipstick and deeming it inaccurate..but using the dipstick to come to this conclusion?

i dump oil, as soon as the stream drips..i am putting the plug back in. a multi hour drain is patience++!!

i look at the dipstick as a rough indicator. it isnt a precision measuring tool. 5 quarts gets me damn close, and i usually add a bit later. i think even the oil filter you choose make a difference at the stick.

 

I fill the engine till it's midway to 3/4 up the dip stick you dip stick! And the litres conversion makes it more like 4.75 quarts.

Says to put in 5.2 litres however it also says to have the oil within the margins of the low and full lines. Call me cautious.

 

5.5 is the maximum. Required to operate properly would be the low point on the stick, which is approx. 3.9qt.