1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Weird Oil Dipstick Reading

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by DarkMint, Jul 21, 2021.

  1. Jul 21, 2021 at 12:41 PM
    #1
    DarkMint

    DarkMint [OP] just gettin by

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2021
    Member:
    #61680
    Messages:
    406
    First Name:
    Ben
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra DC SR5 4WD
    Hi all. Did an oil change and my dipstick is reading low on one side and on the other side, it's slathered with oil. The truck is parked level, and not on any lifts or anything. What is going on here? I tried wiping and checking the dipstick again, getting the same results.

    IMG_20210721_123945.jpg
    IMG_20210721_123915.jpg
    IMG_20210721_123928.jpg
     
  2. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:13 PM
    #2
    DarkMint

    DarkMint [OP] just gettin by

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2021
    Member:
    #61680
    Messages:
    406
    First Name:
    Ben
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra DC SR5 4WD
    Gotcha, problem is how do I verify if I've filled the oil to the proper level? If one side shows low and on the other side the oil is super high.
     
  3. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:17 PM
    #3
    Winning8

    Winning8 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Member:
    #32819
    Messages:
    1,986
    Gender:
    Male
    Da Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2019 MGM DC 4x4 SR5
    Mumba 18x9 ET 12, BFG KO2, FOX suspension, diamond back HD cover w/ rack, LED head & fog light bulb, TRD rear sway bar, timbren enhancement, RAS helper spring, avs auto shade, Carhartt front seat cover, bench seat cover
    wait a little comeback and check it again, oil not settle
     
    TTund16 likes this.
  4. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:28 PM
    #4
    WILLINH

    WILLINH New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2019
    Member:
    #33280
    Messages:
    3,035
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    BILL
    NEW HAMPTON, NH
    2019 TUNDRA
    Let it sit overnight and then re-check it.
     
    Tundra2 likes this.
  5. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:30 PM
    #5
    SouthPaw

    SouthPaw The headlight guy

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2019
    Member:
    #35992
    Messages:
    1,284
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2000 Limited 4x4 AC
    How long are you waiting to check it after it has been running?
     
  6. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:32 PM
    #6
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2018
    Member:
    #17315
    Messages:
    9,976
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luis
    All over SoCal
    Vehicle:
    The darkest
    It's really dark
    Mine does this too. The tube for the district has an aggressive bend near the bottom. Oil seems to smear on the bottom side of the dip stick (the side thats toward the tire).

    I have always poured 7 qts in mine for hit the mark. I believe 6.5 qts is when using the original filter which is a bit smaller than the one I use
     
  7. Jul 21, 2021 at 1:36 PM
    #7
    a_double

    a_double New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2019
    Member:
    #32625
    Messages:
    504
    Gender:
    Male
    Start and stop the engine. Let it sit for an hour. Pull dipstick, wipe, re-insert, check level.
     
  8. Jul 21, 2021 at 2:22 PM
    #8
    DarkMint

    DarkMint [OP] just gettin by

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2021
    Member:
    #61680
    Messages:
    406
    First Name:
    Ben
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra DC SR5 4WD
    I get the exact same result regardless of how long I leave it after running, or checking it cold, or whatever speed I insert and pull the dipstick. I've let it sit overnight, I've let it sit for an hour, etc. I filled about 6.7 qt in there and I'm using a Mobil 1 M301A filter. But regardless, I should still be able to check oil levels.
     
  9. Jul 21, 2021 at 2:29 PM
    #9
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2018
    Member:
    #17315
    Messages:
    9,976
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luis
    All over SoCal
    Vehicle:
    The darkest
    It's really dark
    It isn't anything to do with letting oil settle. Its from the dip stick tube. I think that oil settles in the bend at the bottom. There might be a ridge where the tube meets the motor or something. As long as I have owned my truck the dip stick can only be read on the side that faces the motor, the other side looks like I am way over full.
     
    DarkMint[OP] likes this.
  10. Jul 21, 2021 at 2:57 PM
    #10
    Sirfive

    Sirfive Master Procrastinator

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2021
    Member:
    #58078
    Messages:
    3,493
    Gender:
    Male
    SATX
    Vehicle:
    ‘02 AC TRD
    Bassani cat-back
    The bottom of the dipstick drags the inside of the tube. And when you pull it, hold it flat-flat with the side closest to the engine up. I prefer dipsticks with crosshatching, but the dimples are fine.
     
    Darkness and DarkMint[OP] like this.
  11. Jul 21, 2021 at 3:18 PM
    #11
    NetGnome

    NetGnome New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2019
    Member:
    #39322
    Messages:
    89
    Gender:
    Male
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2003 RC V8 4wd, 2007 Sequoia V8 4wd
    Removed lots of rust.
    Well I think if you wiped the dipstick clean before re-inserting then pulling the dipstick out would not wipe the oil to some lower level, but you can smear oil on the dipstick.
    The lower level would be correct.
    Also the holes in the dipstick are hard to fill with a wipe..
     
    Darkness likes this.
  12. Jul 21, 2021 at 4:03 PM
    #12
    DarkMint

    DarkMint [OP] just gettin by

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2021
    Member:
    #61680
    Messages:
    406
    First Name:
    Ben
    Vehicle:
    2004 Tundra DC SR5 4WD
    I think Darkness got it. I'll go off the side facing the engine. Makes sense, thank you!
     
    Darkness likes this.
  13. Jul 21, 2021 at 4:10 PM
    #13
    the red

    the red the threat is real

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2019
    Member:
    #24630
    Messages:
    365
    Gender:
    Male
    New Brunswick, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2014 1794
    Some dipsticks are frustrating to read. I’d just ignore a high reading on one side, as others point out. Take the low reading. After all, any part that’s submerged in oil will cover both sides up to that point.
     
    DarkMint[OP] likes this.
  14. Jul 21, 2021 at 5:01 PM
    #14
    HBTundra

    HBTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Member:
    #38908
    Messages:
    658
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 2wd
    Shoots . . . I thought it was just me . . . EXACT same thing here.

    Last time I did an oil change i was puling and inserting the stick trying to get a good reading . . . my eyes suck, but not THAT bad. I even tried turning/ inserting the stick from 12 oclock to 3:00, to 6:00, to 9:00 LOL . . . .

    Thanks everyone for the replies, much appreciated.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
    DarkMint[OP] likes this.
  15. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:22 PM
    #15
    seth419

    seth419 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2018
    Member:
    #21461
    Messages:
    283
    Gender:
    Male
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Tundra DC 4x4
    I always only use the side of the dip stick with the raised bumps to check oil level. Pull out, wipe, reinsert, pull out again and check level.
     
  16. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:28 PM
    #16
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Member:
    #25441
    Messages:
    10,024
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Indiana, Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    05 rollover special
    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    this happens on recently ran engines. general rule of thumb is to go off the lowest side. or let it sit for a half hour and check again
     
    Desert Dog likes this.
  17. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:32 PM
    #17
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2018
    Member:
    #18880
    Messages:
    7,273
    Gender:
    Male
    TX
    Vehicle:
    02 AC sr5 4wd v8
    I had a problem with mine never reading the oil. I ended up having to buy a longer dip stick so it would read right.
     
  18. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:33 PM
    #18
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2019
    Member:
    #25441
    Messages:
    10,024
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Indiana, Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    05 rollover special
    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    uhhhhhhh
     
    Hi06silver and bmf4069[QUOTED] like this.
  19. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:35 PM
    #19
    Winning8

    Winning8 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Member:
    #32819
    Messages:
    1,986
    Gender:
    Male
    Da Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2019 MGM DC 4x4 SR5
    Mumba 18x9 ET 12, BFG KO2, FOX suspension, diamond back HD cover w/ rack, LED head & fog light bulb, TRD rear sway bar, timbren enhancement, RAS helper spring, avs auto shade, Carhartt front seat cover, bench seat cover
  20. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:35 PM
    #20
    Sirfive

    Sirfive Master Procrastinator

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2021
    Member:
    #58078
    Messages:
    3,493
    Gender:
    Male
    SATX
    Vehicle:
    ‘02 AC TRD
    Bassani cat-back
    It is easier to read after a few thousand miles, but not by much.
     
  21. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:42 PM
    #21
    Winning8

    Winning8 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Member:
    #32819
    Messages:
    1,986
    Gender:
    Male
    Da Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2019 MGM DC 4x4 SR5
    Mumba 18x9 ET 12, BFG KO2, FOX suspension, diamond back HD cover w/ rack, LED head & fog light bulb, TRD rear sway bar, timbren enhancement, RAS helper spring, avs auto shade, Carhartt front seat cover, bench seat cover
    Just use royal purple, easiest to read.
     
    Sirfive likes this.
  22. Jul 21, 2021 at 9:47 PM
    #22
    Desert Dog

    Desert Dog Nobody rides for free

    Joined:
    May 29, 2021
    Member:
    #63643
    Messages:
    690
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2001 SR5 AC 2WD 4.7l
    Bilstein 5100's, SPC UCA's, ATS HD leaves
    Try not to torture yourself over this. As empty lord stated above, as a general rule of thumb, go with the low side. So long as you're checking it on level ground, the low side will be the accurate and correct reading.
     
  23. Jul 21, 2021 at 11:45 PM
    #23
    HBTundra

    HBTundra New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2019
    Member:
    #38908
    Messages:
    658
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 DC 2wd
    I'm defeated .. . can't even read my own dipstick . . . . I am the true 'Enos' the "Dipsitick" from Dukes of Hazard.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top