I know this is n old thread but you have to pull pretty hard. When I first saw the dipstick I thought some tech bent it.

This design is not only cheap but idiotic as I can't get an accurate reading

 

It's much different from your average Civic or Eclipse dipstick. Just DO NOT force it. Twisting it slightly and shimmying it usually does the trick.

 

Rock it back and forth and pull out at an angle.

And you have to pull it out, wipe it off, restick it, then when you go to read it flip it over and look at the non checkered side. Then flip it back and see where it would be on the checkers since they got wiped off by pulling it out.

There is a trick to it, but the dipstick works just fine...

 

There's so much win in this thread

 

tnx for all the help. doing my oil change later.

 

Let the car sit for a while if it is warm then go out and clean the dipstick off and let the dipstick sit on top of the engine for about an hour then come back and put it in the dipstick tube and check. I am assuming this allows the oil inside the dipstick tube to go down and give an accurate reading. I would love to see the results. Let me know if it worked.

 

He asked that 14 years ago bud...

And someone told him that 4 years ago lol

Also that's wrong. With these cars you want to take the oil check when the car is cold.

 

What you talking about John C aka wilson

 

A buddy of mine, in order to get an accurate reading, drilled three small holes. One at the minimum level, one at halfway and the other at the maximum level. He claimed after getting so pissed off trying to get an accurate reading, that when (using a torch to find the entry hole) he checked the oil, it would fill the bottom hole meaning he was low and needed to top up. Two holes filled with oil would mean he was OK and when at maximum level all three holes would fill with oil. It works so well, is foolproof and accurate that I'm going to drill mine in the next couple of weeks.

 

There are commandments to follow when it comes to reading the Oil Level in the 350z, maybe for all early VQ35de? I do not think the problem is with the stick itself, and more of how the stick is angled. I believe the newer Z's and G's do not have this problem.

1. You must wait for at least 8 hours or until the car is completely cold before reading the oil.

2. If you are topping off the oil, make sure to run the car for a few miles and then follow step 1. If you do not run the car the new oil will not mix with the oil and you will not be able to read the stick.

3. Most of the time I need to take the stick out, clean it first, then dip it in and check the level even after waiting over 8 hours.

4. Drilling a whole will work, but I didn't have a drill to do it properly so I took some rough sandpaper and scuffed up the stick and while this helps, the commandments above still holds true.

 

I think we all know just how painful that can be...

<rimshot>

 

Wait... VQ's need oil? Thought it ran on hopes and dreams.