Hard time reading oil dipstick

Thread started in 2017. Almost 5 model years later and the wine is aging well!

 

Unfortunately yes. I thought I was the only one also… the oil “sticks” to it funny making the reading a bit odd. Hard to tell if the oil just got smeared on the way up as you’re pulling it or it is a proper reading.

Anyone have the issue of the dipstick not going in smoothly ? I have to turn it a few times … sometimes that thing feels like it’s going to break off if I force it straight in. A really odd and annoying thing. Never had it on another car

 

That was easy.

 

That's exactly where I was at when I needed this thread. Seems funny now how much of a noob I was. Anyways the way I do it now is either keep it out for a few minutes and then dip it or just try at it a couple times and read the opposite side of the smear. Good news is that if its smearing on the stick it means theres a good amount of oil in the engine. Really the stick only reads the top quart maybe quart and a half of oil. Oil is supposed to be at the top dot tho of course.

 

1.) Sand portion of the dipstick where it measures the oil like mentioned
2.) Pull the dipstick and leave it out for 5-10 minutes. Put it back in to measure. Reading will be accurate and visible.

 

It's not the length, it's the width and texture.

 

Yep. It catches and grinds a little when you get to the bend in the dip stick tube. You'll find posts on TW where some modified the tip of their stick to make it slide in easier (insert innuendo here). I've found that gripping the dipstick a few inches above the top of the tube with a shop towel as you insert helps keep it from bending/bowing like it's gonna break. Rotating it as you insert to find the orientation that best navigates that bend also helps.

Like the fuel door, the dipstick must have been designed by an intern.

 

I took a Dremel and added horizontal lines on one side and cross hatch on the other. At the end of the day, when u change oil enough you'll know what it takes and never check it again.

 

Yeah the 3.5 consumes zero oil. Toyota must have put the big dogs on the piston and oil control ring team.

 

I hope so! I’m keeping my taco till wheels fall off pretty much.

Although my buddies 2013 Sport 4.0L consumed no oil till 100k miles either, then he totaled it... He used Mobil 1.

 

I don't, because I'm smart enough to figure out where the little button the door presses when it closes is.

 

Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the oil, it will help it adhere to the dip stick.

 

On mine, the new oil was too transparent, I couldn't see it on the stick at all.
It wasn't till 500 miles later that it had started to turn yellowish and visible.

 

I've been lightly spritzing the engine oil dipsticks on all my vehicles with FLAT BLACK spray paint.

It's been going on for over 30 years, and I've got no issues seeing the difference between shiny and not shiny. Even in poor light.

Clean the end with brake cleaner. Dust just the business part with rust-o-leum flat black. Let the stick dry in the hot sun for a few hours.

I never see any paint flaking off. and really don't worry if it did. DUSTINGS don't cause issues. But the contrast enhancement is Profound.

 

I let my truck sit for over two weeks, then checked the oil. Didn't work. I used a clean paper towel in the morning. Over 30 times in a row. Didn't work. I will pull the dipstick out for 15 mins. maybe 30 mins. to see if that works. I will sand the dipstick, like several have suggested. I'm at my wits end with this problem, Hope what I've read on this forum helps. I even ran a pipe cleaner down the tube to try to clean it out. Didn't work. My loyalty to Toyota is starting to wear a little thin, I had a 4runner before this Tacoma and loved it. Gave it to my son and bought this 2005 Taco with 160K on it. Please, Please, Please, I need help.

 

What condition are your eyes in? Lol

 

If there is oil on the dipstick you are good to go! Enjoy the ride!

 

Hello folks... jumping back in this thread hoping to get some advice.

So I've read through this forum; however, that was not before I decided to drain some oil. I have a 2013 Taco, and this was the first oil change I have done myself—the first one I took it to a shop. I usually do my own, but just hadn't. Anywho, I drained the oil and then replaced the filter. So for my model with the oil filter change it should take 5.5 USQts.

So I put that much in, then checked the dipstick and saw it was waaaaaayyyyy over the line. I checked a couple of times, and then decided to drain some oil. I drained a decent amount then checked again, and yet again, the dipstick was waaay over the line. So I drained so more—but was also thinking that something must be wrong... like maybe all the old oil didn't actually drain out?

After checking that second time and seeing no change I decided to look into it on the forums. Alas I found that this is an issue and that many folks have experienced the same thing. I wish I had checked prior to draining oil, as now I actually have no idea how much oil is in my truck, and it's likely extremely low now.

I now have my dipstick sitting out of the tube and will be waiting for the morning in hopes to get a much more accurate reading. My concern is if I can't and the dipstick continues to read incorrectly—is there any way to know how much oil is actually in my truck or do I need to essentially just redo the oil change entirely and put the full amount in and just leave it be?

Any advice helps. Thanks!