PhD in Subaru Forester Dipstick Reading

[HowAboutThis]

2005 Forester. I follow the manual EXACTLY to check the oil. Just checked it after it sat for 1.5 days. Pull dipstick and it's about 3 inches above the full line. This always happens. Wipe off, insert fully, pull straight out. Front side about 3/4 between bottom and top hole. Turn dipstick around and it's 3 inches above top hole. Do it 4 more times and same result.

Even after a fresh oil change with the proper oil the front reading seems to be on, but why are they like this? If I Google it, it's a widely known annoyance.

I know swearing is banned on this forum, but why does it take a PhD to read a Subaru dipstick? I only have swear words for it. Honda... Same height both sides. Toyota... Same height both sides. Nissan... Same height both sides. Chevy... Same height both sides. Subaru... Just let it go dry, or overfill it, because nobody knows. Then buy a car that's not a Subaru so you don't have to deal with this annoyance after your engine blows up.

#rantover #thanks

 

[webfors]

3 inches? Or like, half an inch? My 2008 Forester was notorious for different readings front and back, but not 3 inches! Maybe half an inch.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My focus was the opposite. Would always read below the add line on the first pull. Even if it was a quart or three over.

 

[HowAboutThis]

Originally Posted by webfors
3 inches? Or like, half an inch? My 2008 Forester was notorious for different readings front and back, but not 3 inches! Maybe half an inch.


3 of the distances between the two holes, approximately. Well past the curvy part on both sides of dipstick on first pull. Subsequent pulls only the back side is that far up. The ridiculous part is that it uses oil so I go by the front and add...but is it really correct? Make a dipstick that works, Subaru!

 

[HowAboutThis]

Originally Posted by Miller88
My focus was the opposite. Would always read below the add line on the first pull. Even if it was a quart or three over.

Maybe I should put a Focus dipstick in my wife's Subaru LOL

 

[Gebo]

Does the Subaru dealer have any words of wisdom?

 

[fdcg27]

Subaru dipstick readings are a little difficult but not as bad as you describe and I write this having had four of them.
As with most things, there is a learning curve.
Nothing to get your undies all wadded up over.
The head gaskets on a 2.5 are.

 

[SnowDrifter]

Your reading comes from the lowest side. Think about it for a minute and you'll understand why

That being said, I can't really fathom why you're having issues checking oil. I had an '03 for a couple years and never encountered this problem

 

[Gebo]

Originally Posted by SnowDrifter
Your reading comes from the lowest side. Think about it for a minute and you'll understand why

That being said, I can't really fathom why you're having issues checking oil. I had an '03 for a couple years and never encountered this problem


You just opened my eyes. I thought about it. I understand. Thank you!

 

[HowAboutThis]

I'll take a picture some time. I don't know either. It's a horrible dipstick setup.

 

[CR94]

Originally Posted by SnowDrifter
Your reading comes from the lowest side. Think about it for a minute and you'll understand why ...
In other words, the side on which the level appears nearer the bottom end of the dipstick. That will be the upper side, or front side in HowAboutThis's lingo---I think.

 

[meep]

New honda seems impossible. it's not just subaru. New honda has a plastic tip that has the cross section of a capital "I." Like with a classic font that shows the foot and head. and to make it more confusing, the "I" might show 50% but then the metal whip has oil 1/2" above it. what do you trust?

or the newer ecoboosts where the dipstick remains 15-20 minutes behind what's actually happening in the sump. Refill the oil? better measure what you put in.... best I can say is just to learn your car and it's traits.

 

[Eddie]

I've discovered that I get my most reliable reading if I wait at least 10 minutes after engine shutdown, Car must be a level ground. Put the dipstick in SLOWLY and full seat it, then remove slowly. Ed

 

[Patman]

My Corvette's dipstick gives two different readings on either side of it also. It will show full on one side and in the middle of the safe zone on the other. It's because it goes into the pan on an angle, but that seems like a silly design and there is nowhere in the manual that explains which reading I'm supposed to trust. (for now I use the highest reading as the correct one so that I don't overfill since I'm not sure if the LT1 engine can handle overfilling like my LS1 and LS2 Corvettes easily could)

My Corvette has the wet sump, but it's even trickier for the Corvettes that use the dry sump. For them, they have to first make sure the oil reaches at least 175F and then shut the engine off and wait between 5 minutes and 10 minutes. If they check too early the level will show too high and if they check too late it will show too low. These engines do not tolerate over filling otherwise the excess oil gets into the air filter and makes a huge mess.

I much prefer the electronic dipstick in my wife's BMW! I wish every one of my cars had one (my Honda also has a dipstick that's hard to read)