Un accurate oil readings....

[Lead Shoes]

When I go to read the oil level on my Honda when it is up to full temp, the oil does not stick to the dipstick, like it slides off so I can't see the proper level, almost looking like it is contaminated with something.

I have owned the car for a year and a half and this has never happened before, any explanations?

 

[abycat]

Inaccurate is the word you want. I guess this would be a good time to get a used oil analysis done on it. If this just happened out of the blue i might think about changing it. Seems kinda funny. get a used oil analysis done for sure.

Oh i didnt see that it was out of the blue and first time. Get that [censored] out and send a sample out to make sure its not fuel or something. Use anything different this time? Or do anything different recently?

 

[Warstud]

Check it cold...hold the dipstick horizontal.

 

[Klutch9]

I think that getting a reading when the oil is at operating temp is actually quite hard to do, unless the oil is really black. The hotter oil gets, the thinner it gets, so it doesn't 'stick' to the dipstick as much (or slides off it easier). The layer of oil on the dipstick therefore becomes very thin and hard to decipher. Although maybe slightly less accurate, I always check the oil level when the oil is warm, not hot. This may be less accurate, but then again, motor oil experiences thermal expansion far less than say, transmission fluid, which MUST be checked at operating temp or else your reading will in fact be way off.

 

[Errtt]

If the engine/oil is hot and I check the oil - I'll remove the stick, wipe it off, and wave it around a minute to cool the metal of the stick. Shove it in, pull it out, get it horizontal, then read.
Cooling the stick seems to help.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Huh, so it is normal for their only to be a tiny film just visible with some sun reflection when the engine is at full temp?

The only thing I did differently this OCI was flush a neglected cooling system and replace it with G-05, maybe the engine was not getting up to full temp before, which I had suspected because of not really hot air coming out of the vents on heat.

 

[ltslimjim]

^Hmm, could be a reason for the change.

Full temp, oil will read this way on the dipstick and is normal, AFAIK.

Full the dipstick again before you start it of a day, it'll be darker and thicker, more viscous. Full temp readings are nice, too. I usually let the car sit for about 5 minutes, pull/wipe/re-insert and then check it with the stick horizontal and move my head relative to light to see the mark instead of the stick.