Reading a dipstick

Hi All, is it me or do others find it difficult to read the oil level, drained and refilled changed filter poured 5 Qts in spec calls for 6+, start the engine and recheck and oil level always appears high.

 

V6 requires 5.5 quarts with the filter change.
You need to let the oil settle in the engine and dipstick tube to get an accurate reading.

 

It's a 4 cylinder and requires 6 Qts with filter, I have let it sit, seem like oil migrates up the stick even after I wipe it down.

 

It seems like that, but the tube is splashed with oil.... it has to settle. Oil won't wick up onto the stick.

 

I just changed the oil on my 4 cylinder and had the same exact problem...it read high even after letting it sit for a while. I came across another post that suggested pulling the dip stick out and leaving it out while you let it sit for a while. Then reinsert the stick and read it. When I did this, there was a clear mark right on the upper dimple. And I used almost exactly 5.5 quarts for my oil change FYI. I think the problem is oil doesn't drain out of the dip stick tube very well with the dip stick in place.

 

Oh boy.
Our dipsticks suck...
According to my fill gun.
The 4 cyl takes about 5 1/4.
The same for the v6.
All depends on drain time etc.
6 quarts is way to much . Don't care what it says online.
Then after start up. Let it sit for a couple of min and start checking.
Usually after about 7 tries you'll get a good read. The longer you wait the higher the stick will read.
You need to decide your std oil change procedure. Some wait 2 min. Some wait 10.
You will get a ton of replies.

 

I had one heck of a time reading the dip stick on my last Tacoma, a 2012 I4. The dipstick on my current Tacoma, a 2015 V6, is much easier to read.

 

I've heard of some people bead or sand blasting the end of the dip stick to make it easier to read.

 

This is a commonly discussed problem here. The 4 cylinders are especially notorious for this. Manual calls for 6.1, but if you put 6.1 in it will always be past the full mark on the dipstick. The conclusion that I and many others (but not all) have reached is that 6.1 is for a dry engine. When you drain your oil some is still in there sticking to stuff in the engine. I did 5.75 on mine and it brought me right to the full mark. I will have to pull my manual out to confirm this, but I believe it says to go by the dipstick. Nobody seems to have engine problems whether they use 5.5 or 6.1 though.

 

I am probably going to do this or scratch lines into it. They are really a bugger to read with fresh

$54 0w20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0w20 oil. Your only indications really is oil sticking in the dimples.

 

Add far as oil level, whenever I change my 4 cyl I usually end up only adding around 4.5 quarts before the dip stick reads full.

 

I think it depends heavily on how long you drain it. I had to make 2 trips around town trying to find an oil filter wrench that would get the damn factory one off, so mine drained for about 2 hours.

 

True. Mine will drip a steady very thin stream for a while. Usually by the time the filter is off and replaced I seal it back up.

 

That is funny, I ended up with about 4 or 5 different kinds including what I already had, and this is exactly the one that did the trick.

 

This problem reading dipsticks pops up once in awhile. Someone suggested lightly filing one side, worked for me.

 

5.5 + .5 that is left in motor = 6. Don't bother with dip stick unless U R checking between OC. Mine doesn't use oil so I don't check - some of the newer one use oil because they are using weaker piston rings to get better MPG for the EPA. I think there is a recall on some because of this.

 

A little sand paper does the same thing.

 

^^^^
This

I've owned a number of Toyota's and all but one of them reads over the full mark after draining and refilling with the amt. called for in the owners manual. Oil is always drained with engine hot and I allow it to drain for a good long while, therefore there is little or no residual oil left over.

 

At my next oil change, I plan on doing a little experiment and go quart by quart and see what the dip stick reads, or what it looks like. After so many oil changes and looking at the dip stick, I am starting to see how some could get 6 qts. Last time, just for kicks, I dipped the dip stick in a 5 qt jug of oil just to see how it would look. The pattern left behind was a clear film of oil where it was obvious where the oil level was. Granted, the dipstick didnt have to hit any bends or curves like it does when it is in its tube. What throws me off is that theres no distinct cut off line like in 99% of all the other cars I have ever checked. It just leaves this inconsistent film of oil, which I think is the trick to reading it accurately. At the last oil change, i put in the 6 qts and yes, it went over, but the amount that went over the full mark didn't completely cover the dipstick. The area below that had a solid film. I inspected this under all kinds of lighting just to make sure and it seems consistent. Or maybe I am just being a bit OCD over this. Can you guys confirm?

 

I think the bottom line here is that a half quart either way seems to be immaterial since people who do it either way don't have engine problems.

That is actually one of the reasons I landed on 5.75. Either seems to work fine so splitting the difference should do well. Personally I'd rather run shy of full than over full to avoid blown seals and it will still be in the operating range.