So the dipstick seems pretty useless. For weeks now I've been reading the dipstick under different conditions and it always gets smeared. I think as the stick goes into (or when coming out) of the engine, the oil is getting smudged. The stick always has oil all over the stick. I wipe it and try again, same thing. You cant get an accurate read off the tip.

I've tried it in mornings at cold conditions, as well as after drives in hot conditions. No difference, the oil keeps getting smudged.

Anyone else have this problem??

 

flip it over and read it off the back and transpose that reading to the side with markings on it

 

you also can't read it after the engine has been running.. you have to let it sit for a little on a flat surface

 

Who ever designed the oil dip stick must be the same idiot that designed the push buttons on the cubbies

 

who ever designed it is a dipstick

 

or the passenger cup holder......

what a dbag!

 

Now that's thinking with your dipstick!!

 

 

hm.. not sure what you are saying there. This might be a better explaination of whats going on:

A poor representation of the dipstick:

normal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oil marked here
----- | -------------------- meter --->
me: . . . . oil marked here and down

Everytime you put the dipstick in the engine, it gets marked with oil from the top down. And no my whole engine is not flooded with oil. I just did the oil change last week with 4.5q.

I take the reading in the morning when the engine is completely cooled and it still marks up the whole stick. And its not a light streak, its heavy, as if the whole stick just took a dunk in the reservoir...

Any ideas? Anyone experience this too?


Does the Z have the poorest dipstick design or the poorest intake design, since that is what keeps getting in my way...

 

Actually, 07-08 they fixed the dipstick.
Also, doesn't the Z take 5 quarts or 4.9... something like that??

 

You're right, but usually I dont top it off until I run the engine after the oil change. Once the new oil settles, I take a reading and then top off the oil to the right level. Except for in this case, I cant read the oil level!!!

 

by the time i slide out the dipstick, the oil has been smeared...

 

I normally check it first thing in the morning before i start it up. No problem at all.

 

that's right you do

 

 

ya, maybe its an art in taking the dipstick out. I'll try again tonight, slowly, see if i can get a clean reading. i'm guessing i'm rubbing the dipstick all over the tube, thereby causing the smearing.

 

A month and a half ago I got a new Tacoma 4X4 and it's worse to read than the damn Z's. Same lame streak crap, gotta have it just so. One guy said try roughing up the surface with one of those Scotch Brite pads. It helps. The oil hangs onto the rougher surface long enough that it doesn't drip off and or look the the reast of the 2 foot long streak, when you remove it.

I tried to not make this sound like I wasn't talking about a *****.

 

This is what the smart money tells us to do. ThiS topic has been discussed many times before.

 

QFT. I hate the dipstick too.

To make it easier to read, get a Sharpie permanent marker and make marks at the bottom and top markers. It'll make it easier to read when you pull it out. Do it on both sides of the stick too...

 

Wow, didnt know we had so many mentally challenged members here.

I agree its in a wierd spot but the way you guys are making it sound... lol. come on.