Reading a dipstick

This is you and me both - glad someone else had the same problem. I now have 4-5 different oil filter wrenches that I bought trying to get my '15 I-4's stock filter off haha. Took me a few hours, as well. Glad to hear that I'm not just a weakling! Finally got it off, though, and was hooting and hollering all over my garage like a moron.

Back to the original issue - lots of guys report this. My dipstick sucks to read - I just gave up. I just put in right around 6, as the manual calls for. You'll be good.

 

I rough up my dipsticks with an engraver, makes it a lot easier to read. Drilling the full mark dimple out with a 1/16 bit helps too.

 

I let mine drain for exactly 1hr, put 6 qrts in and its always right at the full mark and no issues what so ever.

 

I did the same - took a file to the one side. It's not perfect, but it's good enough. I always put the right amount in anyway and let it 'settle' - just as a backup check.

 

How is that going to blow a seal?

The manual says 6.1 US Quarts with a filter. I just throw in 6 quarts.

 

Something about a penguin on a motorcycle, a mechanic, and ice cream...

 

LOL! Haven't heard that one in a while.

 

One of my favorite old jokes.

 

Just in case someone hasn't heard it:

 

Blowing seals is one of the biggest risks of overfilling on oil. Pressure gets too high, seals blow.

 

No, The oil pump puts out the same pressure regardless of how much oil is in the system.

The biggest risk of overfilling the oil is if it is high enough for the crankshaft to slap it and cause foaming. The resultant air in the foam causes the oil pump to loose suction. The bearings then get burned from a lack of lubrication.

High oil levels are not going to blow a seal.

 

I was about to type this very thing, thanks for doing it for me Jimmyh.

As far as adding 5.75 instead of 6 quarts... get out a 1 cup measure and look at it. Do you really thing that much more oil will blow a seal?? :giggles: Sorry, I can't help it.

Just add oil per the manufacturer. Your engine will be fine.

 

Ed-Zackery what CurtB said!

 

I never read the dipstick.

Drain oil. Pour in 5.5 and done.

 

It acts as though the oil is all the way up to the dipstick tube on the inside of the engine. If so then the idea of putting an o-ring on the dipstick end and creating a seal creates a vacuum that sucks oil up the dipstick tube when you extract it to take a look. Now when you go to stick it back in you are soaking it in the oil that is draining back down the tube. Only the first time out after settling a long while stands any chance of a good reading. Test the theory by removing the dipstick o-ring.

 

I buy a 5qt jug + 1 qt. I fill it with the 5 qt jug first, start it and let it run for a few minutes and then check it. However: the next day I pull the stick > before starting it after it has sat all night<<<. It's never at the top dot. I slowly add to it over the next day or so until it reaches the top dot. It takes about 1/3 qt to get it there. If I add 1/2 qt it goes over the top dot by quite a bit. Also another issue mine has is the stick really needs a good hard push to get it to seat all the way into the tube. I usually only check the oil when it has sat all day or night before starting it and I check the level before I wipe it off and then again after. They always match.