Here's one for the experts.....inconsistent oil readings?

Oldskoolrob

Active Member
Hi Gurus! Always appreciate the knowledge, advice and all-round good humor of you all on here.
So while I'm figuring out my breathing issue on the 3.5 I came across something strange. The car hasn't been started for a few days, and in that time I've been checking the oil level as I'm wondering if my breathing issue is due to an overfill. The strange part is on the initial pull of the dipstick the level is high. On the next pull it's low. I clean the dipstick and leave it in the car overnight and initial reading is high again the next day, and low on the second pull - even though I wait a good 20 seconds between pulls. Anyone ever had this happen?
 
if the engine is very dirty internally a considerable amount of oil could be trapped in the heads and valley area which eventually finds its way back to the sump
 
A suggestion may be to get a rifle barrel cleaner brush and rod the dipstick tube in case there is sludge in there.
 
20 secs between stopping the engine and taking a reading is much too short a time, especially if the oil is cold. Leave a least 5 to 10 mins. or even longer. It takes a time for all the oil to drain back into the sump.
 
Oil is clean, engine is clean and only has 30K on it - no signs of sludge on the dipstick...?. @roverp480 It's 20sec between dips - the car hasn't been run for days :)
 
Hi Rob,

Now that is something that I have never experienced nor heard of before. The only suggestion that I have is you drain the engine, pour a known volume of oil in, and then take measurements with the dip stick, noting what you see.

Do you recall how long the current oil has been in the engine?

Ron.
 
What happens on the 3rd dip?
Is your car parked level?
What grade of oil and how warm is it where you are at the moment, is there a big night/day difference in temp?
Perhaps you’re dislodging something after the first dip and it drains down, gasket sealant even..

It feels like it’s related to your breather issue, too much positive crankcase pressure can blow oil up dipstick...but you haven’t been running the car..

Just bite the bullet, drain the oil and get the sump off to put an end to this speculation :)
 
sadly just because an engine has only done 30K doesn't mean its not dirty internally
True, but when I inspected it to buy it less than 5000K ago you could eat off the bottom end. I would be surprised if I've actually done 1000k's since because well, issues (car was laid up for two decades). But they are slowly getting sorted.
 
So only the first reading is high....2nd, 3rd, 4th are not. So it must just be something going on as it sits, and there's not actually too much oil in it, would you agree?
 
As already stated there is one way to be sure, drain all the oil and refill with the correct amount and see where it sits on the dipstick
 
have had and still find oil level issues when dipping on some cars. oil can get dragged up dipstick tube and when dipping stick to dipstick giving false readings . ( kuga for example) especially when just stopped . my service mechanic never dips oil just puts amount in as per service book so knows it must be correct fill. ( kuga that is) on my rover ..it leaks a wee bit fo old here and there but short of an engine out and major. gasket and seal change I will live things. I do check on dipstick but cold only. I also check 3 times tending to ignore first reading anyway. so far not run out of oil !
 
I used to have a Nissan Bluebird that had a groovy function: When the oil got low you could hear the timing chain rattle while you drive!
 
With a mower that I have the only way to get a sensible reading is to take the dipstick out the night before and leave it out, next morning do one pull with a clean stick. Any oil dragged up the tube goes back down over night.
 
Don't think this is as unusual as others have indicated.
At times one face of the dipstick can indicate a different level than is found on the other face.
Suspect it may be a function of how straight the dipstick is, or whether there is a kink in the tube, and how freely it runs when inserted and removed Have certainly had similar issues after completing an oil change and checking levels the next day.

The best dipsticks are those with holes at the high and low points, but I've never been tempted to drill holes into the Rover one.
 
MikeMelb, what do the holes at the high and low points do!? Do they ensure the oil draining back down the tube passes through the hole and thereby reads the same on both sides of the stick?
 
Don't think this is as unusual as others have indicated.
At times one face of the dipstick can indicate a different level than is found on the other face.
Suspect it may be a function of how straight the dipstick is, or whether there is a kink in the tube, and how freely it runs when inserted and removed Have certainly had similar issues after completing an oil change and checking levels the next day.

The best dipsticks are those with holes at the high and low points, but I've never been tempted to drill holes into the Rover one.

Hi Mike,

That is certainly the case with the V8 engine dip stick as it does not enter the oil perpendicular to the surface. Running at an angle as it passes through the windage tray before entering the sump, the oil level will always be different when viewing each side of the dip stick. Only the side with the markings should be used for oil level guidance, not the alternative face.

Ron.
 
correct in that with most dipsticks one face should be used but few are orientated to fit just 'one-way . also have a modern Ford car and local service mechanic never uses dipstick for oil changes as too unreliable! simply measures oil in! having tried for self I can attest it too drags oil and is not best way to check ! so suggestion given to remove dipstick over night and dip once next day is quite a decent idea.
 
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