Oil Dipstick Level Reading...

[Msfitoy]

Anyone else here find the dipstick next to useless? My Ranger has been 100% reliable so I only check the oil level after change. However, no matter how many times I wipe, insert, and try to read the level, the entire stick is covered in oil so determining the actual fill mark is very had to read...and no I'm not doing this when the engine is running...?

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[Matsterious]

Yes. This drives me bonkers when changing the oil.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Agreed, the dipstick is as useless as a tail gate damper.

 

[AdamHarris]

Often I find one side of the dipstick is completely covered and the other side is readable. Makes no sense but it happens sometimes.

 

[Msfitoy]

Agreed, the dipstick is as useless as a tail gate damper.

I wonder if DeeZee @AzScorpion has a better design... ? ?

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

After I was confident there was enough oil to fill the filter and run safely I ran it 10 minutes, shut it down and pulled the stick, cleaned it and left it out for 10 minutes. I rotated my tires, then went back to the oil stick and did a slow install and removal, which was reasonably defined after settling. Topped up 1/4 liter and the stick was useless again, so that's where I left it.

 

[Msfitoy]

Too bad Boomba didn't redesign the rest of the stick...

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I wonder if DeeZee @AzScorpion has a better design... ? ?

I can see it now DEE ZEE oil dipstick tube squeegie, use this to push the oil back down the tube, before using the dipstick to check fill level.

Oh yeah!

 

[Wytchdctr]

I noticed the same if I pull it right after I shut it down. Like mentioned above; waiting a bit (10 minutes at least) before trying stopped some of the... "why is there oil all over the damn thing.." problem.

 

[Msfitoy]

I noticed the same if I pull it right after I shut it down. Like mentioned above; waiting a bit (10 minutes at least) before trying stopped some of the... "why is there oil all over the damn thing.." problem.

My truck's been sitting all night...it should be good to check level now lol...

 

[Blue Streak]

Sid I know you do not let your truck sit long enough, but if I check mine after it has been sitting a day or two it does not seem to be a problem. Seems to be that way only after running, letting it sit a short spell & then checking it. Must have something to do with oil circulation.

 

[Wytchdctr]

My truck's been sitting all night...it should be good to check level now lol...

ehhh.. maybe say nice things to it before trying to check the level next time?

No idea on overnight sit and it still doing that. I have only checked mine a few times after all the talk about fuel in oil, etc. Not ready for its first change and not burning any off yet - or adding to the level via fuel mixing.

 

[Vitis805]

This is one of the quirks of the truck. Luckily this is an actual definable "quirk" where some of the others are up for debate (vibrations, transmission behavior, etc.).

I have found that the initial pull reading is useless, so I wipe the dipstick clean, and then fully re-insert for around 10-15 seconds or so and pull back out. I know the oil remnants in the tube are now on the dipstick and trying to confuse me, so I try to ignore all the oil on the stick except for the congregation right at the marks. Usually, one side will be unreadable while the other is how you'd expect, an actual flat line reading. As long as the oil is near that hole, and not over, I'm good. Hope this helps.

 

[Ranger_Pawl]

The only way I found to get a reading without oil all over the stick was to let it sit with the dipstick out for 10 or 15 minutes, then gently insert all the way, and gently pull straight out. I've gotten pretty good readings this way.

 

[AzScorpion]

I can see it now DEE ZEE oil dipstick tube squeegie, use this to push the oil back down the tube, before using the dipstick to check fill level.

Oh yeah!

Well you always say the damper is to slow so now you can add one and while it's lowering go and check your oil. ?

Now I'm off to do some R&D on a dipstick squeegee. ?‍?

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