I learn something new every day…

I have been a car/truck guy ever since I was a teenager, which was many decades ago. I have always been told to check my engine oil level after the engine has cooled down/cold. So that is what I have been doing on my ‘08 Tacoma base truck.
As you know, the dipstick on this truck is difficult to get an accurate reading on. I checked it cold several times and it was nothing on one side and a narrow streak up the other side. I thought it was low on oil so I added a quart of oil. I drove it for a while then came back home and let it cool down. I checked it again and it looked like it had way too much oil in it. See picture.
I knew the only way I could know for sure was to drain the oil then I would know exactly. Well I didn’t want to do that so I took it to the local Toyota dealership. I talked with the service manager and told me something I did not know. He said in these Toyota’s to check the oil level with the engine HOT. He checked it and it showed the oill level was low.
They changed the oil ( 6 quarts conventional oil 5w-30 which I did not know ) and filter. When they finished he checked the oil and showed me the dipstick. I could see the oil was at the proper level…on both sides of the stick. I couldn’t believe it.
He said it is probably burning some oil since it has 416,000 miles on it. It rides and drives like a new truck. i will check the oil on a more regular schedule.

 

oh god.

1st dont trust the dealership. The dude is talking out his ass.

The reason why you cant get an accurate reading is simply because the oil tube holds residual oil after running. pull the dip stick, wipe it clean. set it on top of the motor, let residual oil that you just pulled up the tube drain down the tube for 5 min or so then do the normal dipstick routine to check level. Hot (after its been sitting for a proper amount of time to let oil drain back to the pan) or cold readings shouldnt differ but maybe 1/4 inch or so.

If you want to make it easier on you. pull the dipstick and sand the dipstick to rough it up (making sure to clean it off well before putting it back in) This will make oil stick better to that area and make for easier reading.

 

That's how I always learned. Pull it, let it settle (preferably warm ambient temp) and then take your measurement

 

I got banned, and then when I got back I asked for one of those banned lines through my username like all the cool kids have. Turns out that was a thin blue line reference, so I just got the rainbow instead lmao

 

I was temp banned, then perma-banned, and then came back. It's...it's a long story

 

We protested @kairo ban in the Stonks (stock market) thread. Don’t try to find it he changes the thread title a lot, it’s one he started. Now he’s back giving us more bad stonk advice so I’m trying to get him banned again. That rainbow in his title means he likes unicorns.

 

All of this is accurate