Can't read oil dipstick (vehicles, Chevy, Toyota, difference)

[robertpasa]

I can never read the oil disptick because there's oil smeared along most of the dipstick so I can't tell what is really the oil level. Of course I wipe it and put it back again. Also I try to wait till the car is cold. It's also harder if the oil is almost clear. It also touches the tube on the inside so that smears it.

Any tips how to read it?

[Woody01]

I have the same problem with one of my vehicles, a Chevy Truck.....The only solution is really bright light. Maybe try checking it early in the am or at twilight and use a flashlight...?

[tickyul]

The dipstick can get some discoloration from the old, gummy, baked-on oil and grime.

Scrub dipstick clean with a green scouring-pad or similar, this should help you see better where the oil is at on the scale.

[ukrkoz]

Score it with rough sand paper. works for me.

[rstevens62]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

Score it with rough sand paper. works for me.

Thats what Ive done for most of my vehicles, I usually dip and clean the stick 2 or 3 times when I check the oil, just to make sure Im getting an accurate level.


Also ensure that the car is parked on a fairly level surface, parking on hills can impact what the dipstick shows.

[don1945]

A few of my cars have chrome dipsticks, and they are easier to read than plain steel versions. The oil shows up better on them for some reason.

[cebuan]

Drill a few tiny holes in the dipstick. I think Toyota already does. It's easy to tell if the oil is up to the holes.

[Electrician4you]

Flip it and read the smooth side. Sometimes the L cross hatch F side tends to be a little harder to read

[burdell]

One trick I've read about is to clean and roughen the dipstick end and coat it with White-Out typewriter correction fluid. I know that stuff is tenacious and likely such a small amount wouldn't cause any problems if it did flake off.

[Coldjensens]

Look at it instantly when you pull it out. If you inspect it before the oil has a chance to run off and drip, you can usually tell the difference between the oil level and a smear. A friend claims drawing the dipstick out quickly reduces smearing. I do not see how that could work, but that is his claim.