Dipstick the worst to read after oil change

I'll have to send the upcoming video of me visiting my local dealership defying them to read the damn thing

 

I know how to read the dipstick perfectly, but you have to spend about $1 for the fix.

#1 get yourself a sharpie
#2 get yourself plastic tubing about 2 ft in length
#3 measure the length of your dip stick that stick into guide and mark this on the plastic tubing
#4 stick tubing into guide up to sharpie mark, hold finger to end to seal it off, then pull out of guide and compare with original dip stick

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/maintenance-tech/117734-ultimate-fj-oil-level-check-tool.html

 

I'm off to source some 1/4" tubing and see if I can weave it down through that convoluted tube. Thanks for this!

 

Just got back from a 10 day, 2500kM trip, checking the oil daily. As others have mentioned, the only way to use the third gen dipstick reliably is this:

1-Removed dipstick and wipe clean.
2-Set dipstick aside.
3-Wait 15 minutes for the oil residue to drain from the tube.
4- dip oil to read level.

This worked perfectly and accurately for me everytime. It's just a pain in the ass and requires planning ahead in the morning.

 

@Dacon sandblasted his dipstick today. Good idea!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-3rd-gen-today.399305/page-3039#post-15601394

 

@Dacon .... Stopped in one of the local welding shops and had my dipstick sandblasted today. ($5.00)
Makes a big difference!

 

Did it work?

 

Pull it out and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it off , stick it in and you will have a clear reading every time. I do it while I pump gas.

 

Does anyone have a story of checking the oil level on newish vehicle that is not visibly leaking and/or burning oil and found it to be excessively low?

 

Awww cmon y'all. I'm 70+ terrible vision and with reading specs even i can read dipper. Lot more problems in life like seeing remote or read grankids notes.

 

I’ve never thought that any dipstick was easy to read, especially with fresh oil. What could possibly be different about the Tacoma dipstick? Inquiring minds want to know. Has dipstick technology regressed or have oils got clearer and thinner? This dip stick subject comes up enough to make me curious.

 

Oil gets dragged up the tube when you pull it out making it impossible to read. Let it sit for a few after pulling it out, no issue.

 

My knee jerk reaction is that if there is oil on the dipstick, crack a beer and go see your girlfriend. Worry if you see nothing.

 

I like to spray brake clean down the tube to make sure I always get a precise reading.

 

Reading the dipstick isn't the problem.

Getting the bitch back in is a pain in the ass. Unless there's a easy way I don't know about.

 

TW makes something out of nothing for sure!

 

Reading the Tacoma dipstick is easy. After an oil change do this. Or whenever wanting to check the level do this. Remove the dipstick. Wipe it clean. Let it sit on the radiator support cover for five minutes. Insert the dipstick. Remove the dipstick. Read the oil level.

Removing it and allowing it to sit out of the tube for five minutes allows the oil that is been collected on the inside of the tube to drain down. This is what creates the smear on the dipstick. Waiting five minutes will help immensely.

 

What I do is check my oil after sitting for a few hours. Just pull the dang stick out and read it. Don’t wipe and stab it again. The level on the stick is accurate after sitting for a time. All the oil has drained into the pan, the level on the stick reflects that level. If you wipe and stab it again all you did was drag more oil up the dip stick tube.

 

Been doing that for years..as I started getting older the old eyes didn’t seem to work as they used to..my dad told me to sand blast the end of the dip stick.. so simple and I guess my brain wasn’t working properly either

 

Worked like a charm...removing the dip stick and checking it after 20 mins....I was slightly overfilled bu about 1/4 of a quart hope it was unhealthy for my engine