Weird Oil Dipstick Reading

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.

 

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.

 

wait a little comeback and check it again, oil not settle

 

Let it sit overnight and then re-check it.

 

How long are you waiting to check it after it has been running?

 

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

 

Start and stop the engine. Let it sit for an hour. Pull dipstick, wipe, re-insert, check level.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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..

 

I think Darkness got it. I'll go off the side facing the engine. Makes sense, thank you!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

uhhhhhhh

 

It is easier to read after a few thousand miles, but not by much.

 

Just use royal purple, easiest to read.

 

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.

 

I'm defeated .. . can't even read my own dipstick . . . . I am the true 'Enos' the "Dipsitick" from Dukes of Hazard.