Hard time reading oil dipstick

What you're doing worked for me. Just make sure you take your reading carefully..

 

Are you sure there's even oil in it?

 

There is definitely some oil in it for sure. I did not release 5.5 qts worth. But maybe 2-2.5 at the most if I had to guess. Just a weird issue I wasn't expecting to have to think about.

 

I just pull it and wrap paper towel around it then I can lay dipstick beside it and know the reading. Usually do it cold or warm not hot.

 

New tacos do eat oil. GDI + PCV leakage on inclines can add up.

 

I’ve read a few TacomaWorld threads in full on this topic and now I have “THE ANSWER!” For an accurate reading, run your truck for a bit to get it to operating temperature (when temps increase stuff expands so nice always been told to check oil on a warm engine.) Pull the dip stick, wipe it off, and let it sit for 5 minutes or so to let the oil drain down to the pan and out of the dip stick tube. Grab your stick, get it started in the tube, then before you get too deep, thrust it all the way in until it’s fully inserted, and pull it out immediately. With the end pointed down, quickly set it down on a blue shop rag paper-towel, and rotate it once so you can see the wet oil mark on the rag compared to the oil level markings of the stick right next to each other.

If anyone is interested, I’m willing to take some pictures or something to assist with this. It can be frustrating. I also made cross hatched etching on the tip of my stick which wasn’t totally necessary after using the method above.

 

Seems like a lot of work when all you have to do is sand the bottom 4-5" of the dipstick with coarse sandpaper. Then you can read oil level even with new oil.

 

Well this was a timely thread for me. Two days ago I taught my 17yo to change his oil for the first time. We put what I thought was 6.2Q in and was astonished to see that it look like I significantly overfilled it when I checked the oil. This morning, I drained about 3/4 quart out the pan checked the oil a while later and it still read overfull! Time to google. This thread was very helpful. I wound up sanding the dipstick and doing the 'quick thrust paper towel' method (well that sounds interesting) outlined by Bosshoag. Those methods combined let me fill/check/fill/check until I was comfortable. Turns out I had to put in about as much as I took out. Hope this helps someone - it's crazy that the dipstick is so hard to read.

 

FYI to anyone, and I don't know if this has been discussed, but my 2GR-FKS does not like 6.1 quarts. Putting that much in exceeds the top mark of the dipstick. Therefore, 5.5 qts works just fine for me.

 

I can’t take credit. My post was just a compilation of great ideas from other members across various threads about difficulties reading the dipstick that worked out for me, which is why I reposted over a few threads to answer the question on all of them in case someone clicked the wrong thread… Glad it worked for you!!! Great feeling to have confidence in your oil level.

 

Take the dipstick out first before you drain the oil that way the tube has time to drain out after you fill it. Sanding helps too. 6 QTs total including pre filling the filter was spot on for my first change. I check it after the needle starts to move off cold.

 

Totally worked for me. Sanded it so there would be a horizontal scratch pattern, and left it to sit for several hours without the dipstick in. Worked like a charm.

 

Totally worked for me. Sanded it so there would be a horizontal scratch pattern, and left it to sit for several hours without the dipstick in. Worked like a charm.

 

over60 is correct.
I haven't read the manual of my wife's Tacoma, but I am fully aware that the manual shows a certain amount of oil with filter replacement, and a different amount of oil without filter replacement. So if I am replacing the oil and filter I just add the proper amount of oil, run the engine until it warms to normal operating temperature, shut it down, then lift the dipstick about an inch or two and leave both the stick and the hood like that. The next step is to wait about 5-10 minutes to let the oil drain into the filter and pan, then wipe the oil from the stick and check the oil level. The truck has to be on a level surface, of course. Just don't close the hood and forget the dipstick lifted
I always doublecheck every component I touch when I change oil and filter (oil filler cap, oil filter cap or housing for tightness, oil drain bolt, dipstick, and so on), all before I drive the vehicle.

By the way, my wife and I have four Toyota vehicles: Tundra 5.7L, Tacoma TRD Off Road, RAV4 V6, and Corolla. All are difficult to tell the exact oil level unless I do it as mentioned above. I have owned a 2009 Forester, and it was exactly the same. Check the oil level on the road or uneven ground, and you will never figure the correct oil level

 

Happy to learn this- I usually change my oil around 4ish-k miles. My truck burns about 1/2 a quart over about 4k miles, and until I did the sanding and removing dipstick, I never once got a reading I was confident in. I have never changed my oil without changing the filter, but I have thought about changing the filter at 2.5k just because it is so easy to do on my 2013 Tacoma.

 

They all do it. Dunno about the other generations, but my 2014 does this. I check the oil after a change before I even start it. Even with a new (dry) oil filter and with 5 qts in it, reads high/above the top dot. Same after starting and running it FWIW.

I gave up worrying about it 30,000 miles ago.

 

I was a bit alarmed when I'd drain it and get 5Q out, after putting 5.5Q in. Today, with the new "vodoo" at 2k since the last change, shows a bit high, above the top dot. Not sure if a 1/2Q low would even register... Have to get a real reading at my next change. More a matter of curiosity and happy to get a reading that isn't a foot long smear.

 

I have my oil changed at the dealer. It costs me about $25 more but I don't have a good area to do it myself. I changed dealerships because the one I was using never filled it up and I had to add 1/2 quart every time. The new dealership fills it to the full mark.
I guess 1/2 quart every oil change adds up for the dealership.

 

Mine has this annoying feature as well. I had just assumed that I had unknowingly developed an LSD addiction and was seeing things

 

A vehicle does not need to have oil all the way to the top of the dipstick. The dealership that filled it that way did nothing wrong. It's actually better than overfilled. 1/2 quart shy of totally full is just fine unless you're too picky.