Oil dipstick

Can anyone actually read the oil on the dipstick...its pretty useless

 

Idk mine works just fine

 

Never pull out.

 

Mine works too. This is how I do it.
Pull the dipstick and wipe it off.
Allow the tube to drain for a few minutes.
Then reinsert the dipstick and pull it out to check.

 

Don’t have issues here

 

Sometimes it's easier to read the back without the crosshatch. but do as the other guys say, wipe it off, then check it. I just look at both sides to eyeball the level.

 

Should be easy to do. With clean oil — and making sure the oil has flowed back to the pan and the dipstick is wiped clear, as noted sbove — it can sometimes help to tilt it to catch the reflection of the oil in the light.

 

The oil is always smeared up the stick. I can see it has oil on it but can never get an exact reading. Clean oil or dirty doesn't matter. I will try pulling it out and letting it settle in the tube. I usually just wipe and put it back in and that has worked on every vehicle I've owned except this one. Thanks for tip

 

wipe it on a dry paper towel or cloth after pulling the stick up. Where it’s wet is your level.

 

When I start filling my gas tank, I pop the hood and pull the dipstick, wipe it and let the whole mess sit. When the tank is filled, I put the stick back in, pull it out and check. I think the trick is to have the dip stick tube drain, having the dipstick out while the gas fills gives the oil time to drain from the engine and tube.
But... I know what you mean with relatively fresh oil the stick is not easy to read especially with eyes that have served well for seventy-seven years.

 

You obviously need help. Have your mommy do it for you

 

Don't be concerned with the oil track on the edge of the stick, this is from tube wall.

ONLY read the line of the oil across the entire stick.

I assume you can operate a cell phone. Yes? A dipstick is a more simple device to operate.

 

Pull wipe stick her back in pull it out again read the wet line.

Its not too hard.

 

To those of you with easy-to-read dipsticks - congratulations, you apparently don't have the issue that the OP's Taco - and mine - do have. The problem isn't because clean oil is hard to see, it's because oil gets pulled into the tube on the first pull and every subsequent insertion/removal of the dipstick makes it worse. Seriously, it's just a smeary mess. The technique described by @Jimmyh is the only reliable way to get a decent reading - leaving the dipstick out while the tube drains being the important part. Alternately, you can check the level reliably on the first pull before starting the truck after it's been sitting for quite a few hours. Annoying when changing the oil to be sure.

In fact I did an oil change last weekend and I came inside and did a search for this very issue when I couldn't get a decent reading. I found a lot of posts about it, and it seems clear to me that some people's trucks don't have the issue at all. I find that quite odd but I don't have any decent theories as to why.

 

Mine is pretty hard to read too. On my truck, it's because the dipstick dredges up oil into the dip stick tube, so on every subsequent reading after the first, it's hard to tell if it's the oil level line you're looking at or if what's on the tube is from the oil sloshed up into the dip stick tube.

My solution is just to make sure the truck is on level ground and wait like 15 mins before taking a reading--usually on the first pull like @Leomania mentioned.

 

The dipstick on my 2015 is the most useless thing on the entire truck. About the only thing you can reliably tell from the reading is whether there's oil in the engine or not. Beyond that, the fluid level is anyone's guess.

 

Probably won't help the TW "I know everything", self proclaimed experts......
Take a file and rough up the area between fill marks, create a "satin" finish on the stick between the fill marks, take the shine off, makes the oil level easier to see.

 

Pull the dipstick and leave it out for 10 minutes. Wipe it well, insert fully and get your reading quick. It can be a little hard with clean oil... use good lighting and you'll be OK. No need to call in the mommy militia. Some with smooth dipsticks (lol) have scuffed the reading area with sandpaper to create a sort of crosshatch, I've done this and it does help a bit.

 

If your changing every 5k really no need to check it. If your burning up enough oil or it’s getting in coolant to cause an issue you’ll know.

 

With all the oil dipstick issues that stress folks out it's no wonder they gave up on transmission dipsticks.

Cut the complaints in half most likely.

#savethedipsticks #dipsticks matter