The DipStick. Dafuqizwrongwidit?

Am I the only one who encounters this problem?

Whenever I go to check the oil on my 2006 4.0 V6 engine, the oil on the dipstick is smeared all over it. There is no definite "line" of where the oil level really is. It happens with the motor cold (sitting overnight, or for days of no driving), when the engine is warm from driving, etc.
I pull the stick out, wipe it off, put it back in, pull it back out. And its smeared all up and down.

I've had the truck since 2008 and put over 400,000 miles on it. So I've dealt with this for awhile. It just now really annoys me.

Would roughing up the metal settle it down, or is this just another one of the Tacoma quirks?

 

My oil level line line usually appears smeared also, I suspect it's because that side of the dipstick rubs the tube on it's way out. I have to rotate the dipstick to see the level (on the back side) and it takes a second to accurately assess where it's at, a quick glance typically won't do it.

 

Some people have hit the dipstick with some fine grit sandpaper as you mentioned.

 

The smearing is normal, but you have to learn to look for the "peak" to know your level. It's hard to explain.

 

Mine is the same smeary hard to read WTF. I used a file to scratch up the stick below the overfill mark. Maybe that helped. Don't know why Toyota can't get it right.

 

Instead of putting it back in right away leave it out for 5 minutes and let the oil that got dragged up the tube when you pulled the stick out drain back down. Roughing up between the marks and a good pair of reading glasses helps too.

 

Next time you have a question like this, consider a Google search first. For example, “Tacoma World dipstick”. There must be a at least fifty threads on this topic. Well, now there are 51.

 

Ha, at least it didn't include the typical butt scratcher question like "wut tires should I run"? Or 'looky at my cat".

 

This looks to be a Toyota problem. While waiting around somewhere between 5 minutes and 24 hours seems to be a workaround, sometimes , this isn't a common problem with other manufacturers.

 

i dont have that problem. every time i see it all confusing and smeared, i just look at the other side and find a clear demarcation.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMKeFspGKbk

 

I have only been driving for 63 years and have never been required to read a dip stick with anything other than the line on the stick.

 

This. Pull dipstick out wipe off set on top of motor, come back in 5 to 10min later and you will get an accurate easy to read reading.