The 2.7L DipStick.

Forgive me for being a dipstick or a douchebag or a cornswaggle for asking this...I've read around and have not pinpointed...the thread...I know it exists... IT has to. ..

How...do you increase the friction or texture on the 07'ish oil dipstick so that the ******* oil sticks to it and shows the actual oil level? These 2 dimples are bullshit.

Ive been using 5W30 as recommended, but I have never seen such a shitty dipstick compared to the knurling found on ALL others i've owned.

Someone level me.

 

just use fine sandpaper to scuff the surface so the oil will stick. super easy...

 

I took a small single cut file and roughed up the area between the two dimples, cleaned off the filings with some acetone and paper towels. You know what? It didn't really help.

Yeah, sandpaper would work too. I just tend to overdo stuff.


Or you can do like my redneck brethren and rub that SOB with a chunk of whatever the nearest rock is, wipe it off on your sleeve, and call it good. Bonus points if you spit on it before you wipe it off.

 

Haha that's what I thought in my head basically. That bastard piece of steel is too smooth. I mean...really they couldint have rolled it with a carbide imprint showing "full" and "low" I guess its one of those things the Japanese do by taste.

 

I'm glad to see some other people have this problem too, I've been too embarrassed to ask about it. I consider my car knowledge to be pretty good and I have one hell of a time trying to read that damn dipstick. Mine is basically just one small smear of oil going half-way up the dipstick. More or less useless. Thanks for having the balls to ask. Have you found a good solution?

 

Yep... The V6 has the same issue. Try sandpaper or a file and crisscross the etches. The trick for a good reading after removal: wipe the dip stick off and wait 10 minutes before inserting for the read (gives the oil that gets dragged up the tube with the stick time to drain back down.)

 

I taped mine off and sandblasted the area between the holes. I'll post a pic of it tomorrow.

Greg

 

The dipstick on my 2009 2.7l reads 1 quart low, ie. when I change the oil and put in 6 quarts it read about 1 quart above the upper dot. Anyone else notice this?

 

Normal. Now that you have found the proper full level for your engine make note of the level for 6 Qts on the dipstick and move on to other things. Just avoid putting much more in then that mark from now on as some oil won't drain out of the engine during subsequent changes.

 

Takes about 10 minutes to tape it off, sandblast the area between the dots, and clean it.



I NEVER wonder what the oil level is.

Greg

 

Thanks for the picture! I have been struggling with my wife's 07 Camry dipstick, and now my Tacoma dipstick is just as bad. Don't have a sandblaster, so I'll try the sandpaper method.

Anyone have an idea how much different it will read between a hot and cold engine? Maybe someone with a sandblasted dipstick can check for us?

 

andyman,

Question for you, on your dipstick when you check it, does it smear on both side. When I check mine it will smear on one side. If I look on the other side it is perfect. Also removing it slowly enough and both sides are clear quite often. The subject baffles me, is mine being so much easier to read, a rare exception, or are we only hearing from folks who are having problems. Lets hear from the folks who do not have a problem.

 

Nice. I dont have a blaster but im going to rough it up. I dunno what Toyota was thinking not texturing it!

 

Like mentioned earlier just wait 10 minutes before reinserting the stick to check the level... you need to let the oil that gets dragged up the tube when the stick is removed time to drain back down. Doing this will give you the exact same reading on both sides of the stick with no smear.