Inconsistent Dipstick levels lol

RugopsOP

RugopsOP

Joined
Apr 10, 2022
Messages
95
I've owned this car for almost 10 years now and it consumes some oil.

Well the past couple weeks I've had some inconsistent readings. When the level should've been Full it read almost "Low" I checked again and it was okay.

Last week I checked it and the dipstick was at 1/2 so today when I check it reads over the Full line. Car is on a flat surface, engine is cold, no oil added. 😂 I keep checking it and it keeps saying "Full" when I know it shouldn't. Odd. 🤷
 
demarpaint said:
I don't know what you're driving, but check the dipstick tube and make sure it isn't moving up and down on occasion. I had that happen in an old Ford I owned many years ago.
Click to expand...
Never heard of that on this make/model but I guess I will check the base for any movement.
 
Perhaps one of these previous threads will help:

Oil dipstick giving different readings

I was wondering why oil levels are different when checking your oil with the dipstick. Of course I'm checking the vehicle on level ground and after its been off for a couple of hours. If I insert the dipstick with the hash marks facing the engine, ill get a reading half way between empty and...
bobistheoilguy.com

How to Properly Read a Dipstick

I am in my 6th decade and I thought I knew how to read a dipstick. You pull it out and wipe it off. You then stick it and all the way and then pull it out and read where the fluid levels are. Simple as pie, easy peasy normally. I was listening to a podcast and the man was giving instructions on...
bobistheoilguy.com

Fluctuating Oil Level

Over the past week or so, I've noticed that the oil level varies a bit when I check it first thing in the morning, after sitting all night. I'm not concerned about it, just curious. For example, yesterday the level was just below the top dot on the dipstick, this morning it was just above the...
bobistheoilguy.com

No Accurate Dipstick Reading

For the last few days I have been trying to get an accurate reading on a new used car I just bought. It is a 2002 Honda Accord 4 cyl. The guy said he changed the oil not long ago and it looks clean. When I check the oil level the dipstick has smears a few inches above the high mark. Even after...
bobistheoilguy.com

Dipstick reading different

Installed new oil filter and 2 quarts of synthetic oil . When checking oil level after running the engine the oil level sometimes reads a bit beneath LOW and next check after running engine it'll read FULL or slightly beneath mark . What can be the cause ? Bad oil filter ? Engine is the Briggs &...
bobistheoilguy.com

Dip stick shows no oil level on first removal, reinsert it and level is fine. What’s up with that?

So every time I first check the oil level in my wife’s Mercedes, when I pull the dip stick it shows zero oil. Absolutely dry dip stick like it is a few quarts low. I reinsert it and count to ten and pull it and it now shows oil, actually sometimes too much oil but it is serviced at the MB dealer...
bobistheoilguy.com

Weirdness when checking oil on dipstick, but all better now.

I traded in my 2013 Maxima on a ex-daily rental 2019 Infiniti QX60 last July. The selling dealer did a pre-delivery oil change with semi-synthetic 0W20 of unknown brand, and a Fram PH6607 - no matter because I changed out the oil and filter within 150km to my choice of Penn Plat 0W20 and a Wix...
bobistheoilguy.com

Subaru Motor: Dipstick Reading Inconsistent Oil Levels

How can this be? Read on a flat surface, pre-cold start.
bobistheoilguy.com

Oil level lower in the morning

Hey guys. I've been having oil consumption issues with my '09 Pontiac Vibe 2az fe engine. I know the piston rings are the main culprit, but I was wondering if I could be losing oil some other way as well. I've started checking the oil level before bed, about 2 hours after the car is off. I check...
bobistheoilguy.com
 
RugopsOP said:
I've owned this car for almost 10 years now and it consumes some oil.

Well the past couple weeks I've had some inconsistent readings. When the level should've been Full it read almost "Low" I checked again and it was okay.

Last week I checked it and the dipstick was at 1/2 so today when I check it reads over the Full line. Car is on a flat surface, engine is cold, no oil added. 😂 I keep checking it and it keeps saying "Full" when I know it shouldn't. Odd. 🤷
Click to expand...
Are you at the same spot every time? You should be consistent and repetitious.

I check cold engine that sat overnight. I pull the dipstick once and that gives me the oil level. The more you pull the dipstick, the more haywire the oil level is.

I've been using this one time dipstick pull approach for about 30 years now. It works on our vehicles and the relatives that have me check their oil levels. I won't lift their hoods, unless their vehicle has sat on level ground for at least 15-20 minutes.
 
I remember years ago a buddy of mine convincing me and other people his dipstick "didn't work right" he eventually spun a bearing on one car and wrecked the engine in his truck and both times due to low oil and both times he mentioned his dipstick not ever reading correctly, or that it's "always been a little funny."

The only conceivable explanation is that he didn't know how to read a dipstick.

On some cars, very very few, the dipstick tube might be too long and might actually protrude down into the normal oil level where it might be possible of pushing oil out of the tube when the oring on the dipstick starts making contact with the dipstick tube which could result in varying oil levels according to the dipstick.

maybe try removing that oring on the dipstick and see what happens
 
The only variables that are different is that 1) it's hotter today than usual. 103-107°F but it's been 90-96° a lot recently. 2) I have new, larger, tires that I put on this week. But they're not massive. Going from 215/45 to 215/50 and the car still sits level. 3) I did have a shop look over the car in preparation for a trip, so perhaps they topped off the oil, but I just called and they said it was Full & clean when they got it.

Couple weeks ago it was below the halfway mark. Now Full.
 
Reminds me of a prank I read about years ago. Some teens knew their neighbor was meticulous about his car and it's mpg, and started adding a gallon of gas every week to it. Then after a month started siphoning a gallon or two out. He could not figure out what was wrong...
 
rekit said:
Reminds me of a prank I read about years ago. Some teens knew their neighbor was meticulous about his car and it's mpg, and started adding a gallon of gas every week to it. Then after a month started siphoning a gallon or two out. He could not figure out what was wrong...
Click to expand...
My hood is locked shut. However, a couple days ago, my exterior door handle broke off. I've had to leave the window open so I can access the interior door handle instead of crawling over the passenger seat..

So maybe you're right. Perhaps someone got access inside and topped off my oil. 💀👹
 
RugopsOP said:
My hood is locked shut. However, a couple days ago, my exterior door handle broke off. I've had to leave the window open so I can access the interior door handle instead of crawling over the passenger seat..

So maybe you're right. Perhaps someone got access inside and topped off my oil. 💀👹
Click to expand...
Given the description and circumstances it’s a reasonable conclusion.
 
kschachn said:
Given the description and circumstances it’s a reasonable conclusion.
Click to expand...
Luckily the new door handles are coming This afternoon. 🙌

But all things considered, I really do think that the shop that I had look over the car the other day did in fact top off the oil. They have plenty of customers so perhaps they just forgot (?)

Literally no other explanation.
 
RugopsOP said:
Luckily the new door handles are coming This afternoon. 🙌

But all things considered, I really do think that the shop that I had look over the car the other day did in fact top off the oil. They have plenty of customers so perhaps they just forgot (?)

Literally no other explanation.
Click to expand...
Best explanation by far.
Many mechanics would top up a half quart, and think nothing more of it.
 
Turbo chargers can hold oil until they drain fully. Checking it immediately after engine shutdown can show as low oil level because of that…
 
Op has had the cars for 10 years so we should assume he is familiar with his dipstick. 🤣

What was the conclusion from all those previous threads?

Can coolant and/or fuel dilution cause that much variance?
 
This calls for the obligatory...


(part 2)

My 2 cents. You dropped a turd here.. with no information about the car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Check your dipstick O-rings!
2
Replies
37
Views
3K
hrv
wavinwayne
2016 BMW 535d - DEF Usage
Replies
14
Views
750
OneLonelyBurrito
A
MK7 VW GTI Camshaft Scoring?
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
asus389
H
Burnt oil smell since I overfilled my car
Replies
16
Views
3K
Faawrenchbndr
zmelli
Oil Burning Mystery
Replies
18
Views
2K
brages
Back
Top