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Can't read my engine oil dipstick

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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 11:01 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by sanford
You get the car up to temp then shut it off for ten mins like it says in the manual.
Like i said in the first post, I cooled down before i checked the dip stick
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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 11:05 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Z1 Performance
the oil cap is only as hard to remove if you overtightened it the last time...it's not like it self seals

the dipstick is a bit of a PIA to remove on a DE (not impossible, just takes some finesse) but it's certainly not hard to read. If you can't read it properly, you probably shouldn't be taking it out in the first place
After i noticed that the oil cap is impossible to screw off by hands, I began to tighten it not as hard. BUt still IMPOSSSIIBLE lol
I can read properly if it shows properly One of the reasons why it's so hard to read might be because the new oil is so clean I've tried many different angles of lights to reflect the light on the oil but still hard to justify where it begins and ends
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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 11:58 AM
  #23  
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I was eluding to the fact that you should do a quick search on the dipstick topic. That's what the was for.. But you seem to be taking your lumps in stride..

Wait longer after cool down to check your oil. Like hours. Or even overnight. You will have much greater success. (plus the new/clean oil is very difficult to see on the stick)

Good luck with the drip location. I had a faulty rubber gasket in my catch can that caused a leak.. but it was more than a drop or two.
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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 12:06 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by thekinn
I was eluding to the fact that you should do a quick search on the dipstick topic. That's what the was for.. But you seem to be taking your lumps in stride..

Wait longer after cool down to check your oil. Like hours. Or even overnight. You will have much greater success. (plus the new/clean oil is very difficult to see on the stick)

Good luck with the drip location. I had a faulty rubber gasket in my catch can that caused a leak.. but it was more than a drop or two.
I lost the rubber ring in the catch can hahahahahah. So i cut a bigger ring to get the right size, then used silicon to glue that on. After i removed the catch can after oil change, it won't screw back in all the way because of silicon on the thread i might have to consider getting a Husky catch can
If air or oil leaks from the catch can, does it affect how the car runs?

Last edited by JDMStanced; Sep 23, 2010 at 12:10 PM.
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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 01:27 PM
  #25  
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It's a pain, but both of your issues can be overcome with practice (and a gym membership haha)
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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 05:21 PM
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Welcome to 2003.
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Old Apr 30, 2016 | 02:14 AM
  #27  
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Is there another way to read the oil level besides checking the dipstick because every time I check my oil (after letting it sit for 10 min after warming up and wiping it down the first time of course) the whole entire stick is filled with oil still and I can't get an accurate reading. Am I doing something wrong?
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Old May 1, 2016 | 07:03 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by 350z_Lam
Is there another way to read the oil level besides checking the dipstick because every time I check my oil (after letting it sit for 10 min after warming up and wiping it down the first time of course) the whole entire stick is filled with oil still and I can't get an accurate reading. Am I doing something wrong?
Wipe it, check again. You may have to pull it and wipe it 3-5 times to get an accurate reading
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Old May 1, 2016 | 07:57 AM
  #29  
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Best way to check oil in a VQ35 is after it's been sitting over night. Before you start the car, pull out the dipstick. It should be easy to read then.
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Old May 1, 2016 | 10:56 AM
  #30  
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Should be no need to wipe it after it's been sitting that long as it all should have settled I would think. Even if it's not perfectly clean, you should get a clear point where the oil level was.
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Old May 1, 2016 | 06:52 PM
  #31  
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Here's a DIY thread from last year on this very topic:

https://my350z.com/forum/engine-driv...il-levels.html
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