Oil Dipstick Readings

Shiver mi timbers!

 

So has anybody sanded their dipstick yet?

 

Sounds painful.

 

Hahahaha

 

^^^ this. You need to remove the slick surface on the dip stick to see the oil on it. The oem surface is so slick and reflective it makes seeing the oil film on it nearly impossible. Emmery cloth, sandpaper or equal to remove the oem surface - then you will be able to see the oil level even with fresh 0W20. Had the same issue with my Gen3 Taco and this fixed it.

 

Appreciate your observation. The 3rd Gen Tundra gets a solid D- for the oil dipstick, sure hope the guy that signed off on that design moved on to another line of work.

 

Could someone post before and after photos after the dipstick was sanded and how it looks?

Or at least an after sanding photo?

 

Has anyone use royal purple to make reading easier?

 

Indeed, the other thing I hate about this dipstick of a dipstick is that it is almost impossible to avoid it flinging a couple of drops onto the plastic cover when you extract it.

 

I don't have pics but I sanded the dipstick with 400 grit. Went up about 1cm past the top dot. I sanded perpendicular to stick so it would hold the oil. Makes it easier to read but still a crappy dip stick and in a horrible location!

 

Scuffing the dipstick is a solution I’ve never considered. The dipstick on the 5.7 is also tough to get a reading on with brand new oil especially if it’s a lighter hue. Recent batches of Mobil 1 that I’ve bought are darker and than they used to be so it’s easier.

As far as getting a perfect reading that is meaningful every time you check, that’s not something I worry about too much anymore. If there’s oil on the dipstick between the low mark and full mark, it’s good to go. I check oil every time I put in fuel.

 

Tacoma does the same

 

Just did my 1st oil change. The dip stick is ridiculously hard to read. Filled with correct amount of oil according to the manual looks ok but I'm not 100 percent sure. I would buy a good aftermarket product if it's out there.

 

They are getting you used to not being able to check it. It will be eliminated in the next model, just like the transmission dipstick, and any gauges that help discern the engines health by reasoning.

 

the next Gen's readings will be taken from the Tail Pipe - same as the engineer that designed the Gen3's!

 

I've noticed that a lot of new cars have dipsticks that are difficult to read. What I do is just pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, and leave it out for a few minutes while you do something else (like change the oil, fill the washer fluid, etc.). Put it across the front of the grill if you're worried about forgetting to put it back in before you close the hood. After a few minutes, re-insert the dipstick and you'll get a clear reading. I guess the residual oil inside the tube that messes up the readings drips down into the pan, so it can't smear the reading.

 

I'm glad to hear I am not the only person seeing this. I have only checked oil 2-3 times, but each time I could not get a good reading and was just left with a "string of oil half way up the dipstick".

 

Anyone tried drilling a few small holes between the high and low marks? Same issue here, new oil is next to impossible to read. I know how much I put in, but I like to double check & keep an eye on it too.

 

Wipe the dip stick with brake cleaner after an oil change helps with reading, also the paper towel trick, and finally is check it first thing in the morning before startup for the best reading.

 

No, but on our First gen Tacoma I scuffed up the area with a file and it seemed to work pretty good.

 

Get the best reading by checking dipstick in the morning before starting. Takes about 7.5 qts with oil & filter change.