What's up with this POS engine oil dipstick?

I cannot read the damn thing. Is there a technique?

 

There were a few threads on this, the best advice I've seen was to take a small drill bit and put more holes in it. People have tried roughing it up and that didn't seem to work. Don't worry, there are a lot of people in the same boat (me included).

 

I was just reading about the sanding part and was planning to do it until your post. I think I will try the drill thing. Should the holes be the same diameter as the punch marks on the dipstick?

 

Thanks I'll report back with a pic.

 

x2, a vise and a drill press would be ideal I'd imagine. I'm going to try it with just a vice and drilling by hand when I finally get a free weekend.

 

i just let everything settle down a bit. engine off, give it some time. check it. never had an issue.

sure, pull up to a gas station and pull the dipstick, it is a challenge to pin down a reading. at that point, i am just checking to verify that there IS oil, not how much.

 

I tried the drill bit thing. Too much for my bits. They didn't make a dent. So I tried this instead:



It might have helped a tad, but I can't really tell. Maybe it is just too clean oil.

 

No problem, shipping will run you about $70

 

i am not so sure it is the dipstick. it is the area around the tip of the dipstick that dumps a bunch of slop onto the stick when you yank it.

go to your truck first thing in the morning and pull the dipstick. you will see the cleanest line showing you cold oil level.

i was just in portland. i got confused at what you can and cannot do with that person running around filling our gas for us. so i never was confortable checking my oil. was a stepping on his turf? anyways, i got up in the morning and from my hotel room, grabbed a napkin. i went down and checked my oil..i got the most definative line..my oil level was fine.

try it.

 

Yeah.. it does suck. I did my first oil change myself on my truck about 3 weeks ago and I still can't determine whether or not my boy is a little overfilled or about a half quart too low.

My position on the situation right now? F*ck it...

 

Use a center punch and dent it at the low and high marks...

 

Another fail of 2nd Gens

 

Dipsticks are overated. Thats what the maint req light is for


When the oil starts to change color it is easy to see it albeit after 3K though.

 

i say plastidip the end a different color.

 

Like my grandaddy always said if you cant read the dipstick sell that piece of shit.

 

5.5 quarts of oil and you're good to go. a bit more or less is not going to hurt anything.

 

Is it really that hard for you guys to read a dipstick? Do i have x-tra good, x-ray vision? If you pull the dipstick out in the sun you can see the difference between dry metal and oil covered metal. That's what i've always done.

 

Could be this. I only checked in the garage light.

I thought about that. The oil temp has me thinking that it would fall into the engine one day.

 

DO NOT PLASTIDIP THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK! Seriously, don't even consider it. Horrible idea and was only mentioned as a joke. It will not stand up to the heat in the engine and can only cause problems as I'm sure rubber doesn't lubricate very well.