Dipstick Phenomenon

[cangreylegend]

When I look at my dipstick I see some dark honey colored type varnish? up to 1/2" above the oil line. Below the oil line it is perfectly clean.
Any indicators?

 

[Schmoe]

I think it's common. Mine does it do, I think it's varnish, especially if your using dino oil. Won't hurt a thing.

 

[pscholte]

Aargh!!!! Varnish belongs on your hardwood floor, NOT on your dipstick!!!!

 

[dickwells]

On some sticks the tube goes down next to the exhaust manifold. In those cases the stick gets overheated up higher and can build up a caked on layer of burnt oil. No problem.

 

[cangreylegend]

Burnt oil! That means that my oil is burning off and depositing on the dipstick. The dipstick is nowhere close to the exhaust manifold. That can't be good as the dipstick is immersed in the oil reservoir which should be cool. Don't you think so? That means it's much worse elsewhere.

 

[williar]

I've never seen this happen; do you wipe your dipstick off when you check the oil? Sounds like your oil is leaving varnish deposits.

 

[94 saturn sl1 2000 saturn sc2]

come on the suspense is killing me. Name the brand you use !!

 

[badnews]

This happened to me when I drove a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 360 engine to Fl. from Ohio It was hot 100 degree days with 10-30 Penzoil, the dip stick above the add oil line was very covered with what appeared to be brownish burnt oil, while the oil on the level marks was pristine in color.

 

[MarkC]

I've always run Castrol GTX 10W30 in my 96 Cherokee, and my dipstick is as clean as a whistle after 87K.