GRRR...Why can't I get a simple oil level reading?!

[CZroe]

My sister has two cars. I checked the oil in one of them because the oil light kept coming on when taking hard turns or when braking. I know that dar oil is bad, but at least it's easy to read. Anyway, there was dark oil well over the "full" level, but only on one side (the meter) and it was all pooled along one edge of that side. I saw the same thing with repeated wipe, insertion, removal, inspect attempts. I could only determine that it was reading over-full, so I didn't dare add more oil. My sister drove it for a couple weeks and the next time I rode it the oil light issue seemed notably worse and it seemed to be accelerating a little poorly. I checked the oil and now it was barely registering. I added oil and it perked right up and the dip stick was not only readable from one side (and only half-covered at that).

I thought it was just that car, but my sister and I checked the oil in her other car last night and it was showing the same thing: seemingly over-filled but dark oil only visible on one-half of one side of the dipstick. This time though, a second dip didn't show ANY of this prompting my sister to freak out as if there was no oil in the car. We did it a few more times and it seemed dry. After about the fourth dip, I got another reading of "over-full" but we did not trust it. My sister wiped it off before seeing it both times (she only looked at the back where it appeared dry), so she added some synthetic blend (the sticker on the window indicated that the last owner used a blend less than 1K miles earlier). FWIW, the oil light does not come on but the dash lamp works.

If we can't get a RELIABLE reading on either car, how can we tell if we are adding too much oil or if we are killing the cars by running on low oil?

 

[Jugernot]

How long are you letting it sit before checking the dipstick? Let it sit for 30 minutes, take it out, wipe it off and restick. Also, try not to let the dipstick hit the side of the filler hole or it can smear the oil on the stick, making it hard to read.

Jugs

 

[CZroe]

Thanks. Whatever happened to checking at gas stations? FWIW, it's not hitting the side at the opening, which is the only place where I have any control over it.

I'll suggest that she check it often before leaving anywhere. Thanks again.

 

[Zenmervolt]

The cars are on a level surface when you're checking the oil, right? If they are on any sort of incline or tilt, you cannot get an accurate reading. If the incline or tilt is severe enough, it can throw the reading off significantly; even to the point of reading low or dry when the oil level is full.

Remember that the dipstick does not go anywhere near the bottom of the oil pan, it just goes a tiny bit below the "full" point so even if the dipstick is dry, there can still be oil in the oil pan.

ZV

 

[Vetterin]

And those two cars would be a....................................???????????????????????

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The cars are on a level surface when you're checking the oil, right? If they are on any sort of incline or tilt, you cannot get an accurate reading. If the incline or tilt is severe enough, it can throw the reading off significantly; even to the point of reading low or dry when the oil level is full.

Remember that the dipstick does not go anywhere near the bottom of the oil pan, it just goes a tiny bit below the "full" point so even if the dipstick is dry, there can still be oil in the oil pan.

ZV

Yeah, it was level. I think the "pooled along the edge of one side" phenomenon was just the oil it scrapes off the side during insertion, but if it affects my ability to read the dipstick, there should be some intuitive way to rule it in or out. We did not let it sit for 30mins because, like everyone else, we checked during fill-ups. Anyway, to be on the safe side we mixed in a quart of some other brand of synthetic blend oil and then got an oil change (non synthetic), so now we will just check it daily until we know what's up.

Originally posted by: Vetterin
And those two cars would be a....................................???????????????????????

Not sure why it matters (dipsticks ar dipsticks), but:
1993 Ford Escort
1996 Ford Taurus LX

 

[yhelothar]

I have the same issue.
I have a 91 miata and one side of the dipstick is always dry, and the other side is past full. I could have no oil pressure with the lifters making clicking noises and it's still show full on one side.

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: CZroe
[??????

Not sure why it matters (dipsticks ar dipsticks), but:
1993 Ford Escort
1996 Ford Taurus LX[/quote]

It would matter to me because by knowing the cars I could check with Alldata (as I'm a member) for possible TSB's and solutions concerning your problems. However, you are right in the fact that "(dipsticks ar dipsticks)".

 

[Apex]

Just be thankful you don't have a BMW. Worst oil-reading idea EVAR.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: CZroe
-snip-

We did not let it sit for 30mins because, like everyone else, we checked during fill-ups.

Bad move IMO.

I believe you need let the car sit for about 20-30 minutes after shutting off the engine to get a good read.

Otherwise the oil is all-over in different places up in and through-out the engine. Letting it sit will allow the to pool back down into the sump pan so you can get an accurate reading. Taking a read with the dipstick soon after shutting off the engine will give a false 'low oil' level

That's probably why you're getting the wierd 'one side only' reading on the dipstick too. When the motor is running oil may be splashing around (from the crankshaft etc), and one side of the dipstick tube may have oil splashed up into it.


Fern