Hello everyone. Has anyone had trouble checking the engine oil level? The engine oil is so light in color that it's hard for me and professional mechanics to judge where the level is on the dipstick, especially after an oil change. The service department at the dealership has also had the same problem and accidentally put too much oil in which casued my 3 to belch and smoke. (I had to have the dealership tow the car back to fix the problem!) Incidentally, The dipstick on our Nissan has a crosshatch pattern that holds the oil in place when the stick is removed. I wish our Mazda's dipstick had the same feature.

 

Yep, I hate the dipstick. I note that it is a FORD MADE dipstick, which explains why its a piece of $h&t.

When changing the oil. the key is, they have to know exactly how much to put in - they then have to put that precise amount in, and ignore the dipstick.For my 2.0, its 4.2 quarts (with filter change, of course).

The dipstick gives a false low reading unless you let the car sit (without the engine running) for at least 30 minutes. And even then, you have to look at the dipstick in exactly the correct light to see the reading.

Also, if you check the oil multiple times in a very short period of time(as in repeatedly pulling it out, putting it back in, pulling it out, putting it back in, etc), the tube that the dipstick lives in seems to get wet with oil, meaning it can read as if you've got too MUCH oil, when in fact you do not.

The good news is, the rest of the car is really terrific.

 

I've had no luck in finding an aftermarket blade type dipstick. Check out "The dipstick: Fixing what ain't broke," on this forum for videos of how to modify the original.

 

No No No No this is a bad idea....^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

All you need to "LEARN" the proper way to read your dipstick!!!


Good luck with that. If you read what I posed you would not waste your money which will I am sure the end result. Information often posted on the internet is not accurate and tends to be more "MacGyver" then factual. LOL

I deal with dip sticks every workday and not just the oil dip stick. Nevertheless, you are not the first that just can't understand how to use and read a "DIP STICK"! lol

The second video is CLEARY the incorrect way to install a dip stick and read it even with the hacking up of the end?? LOL

The first one actually made be ROLMAO, I mean this guy installs the dip stick and twist it around. Complains about the proper seal that must be made in that type of engine and then the comment about oil falling off the dip stick.. ROLAMO!!!!!