Checking oil - dumb?

[COSEng]

When I check my oil, there always seem to be residual oil in the

dipstick tube that makes it hard to determine the level on the

stick. I usually appears to be 2"-3" too full. If i recheck it a

couple of times, Then I can start to get a correct level reading.

It make me paranoid that I have leaky injectors etc... . causing

my pan to fill with diesel. Anyone else have this problem?



Thanks,

Carl

 

[rbattelle]

When I first pull out the stick it's all covered in oil. After wiping it and checking again, it's fine. You must wait at least 5 minutes after shutdown to get even close to a reasonable reading, though.



-Ryan

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I never check mine unless it's sat overnight. Then it's easy, and makes the reading more consistent. Have a level place you can park overnight or for several hours, and make that your spot you check the oil.



Vaughn

 

[DSpencer]

What Vaughn said

 

[rbattelle]

Yeah, Vaughn's right... overnight (or several hours at least) is best. But I check mine at every fillup after about 5 minutes. I've learned that if the dipstick indicates 1-quart low at that time, the crankcase is properly filled.

 

[RustyJC]

Yep, the difference between a "hot" check and letting the truck sit overnight on mine is about 1 quart on the dipstick. Frankly, I'm probably not as "religious" about checking oil as I should be as my truck has never used any between oil changes.



Rusty

 

[wsteffes]

This thread reminded me of the good old days before self-service.

Worked at local filling station after school. You started filling tank, then washed all windows, when fuel was done being pumped then you ask, check your oil madam. Boss always said give the oil a chance to drain down.

The hotties with min-skirts always got the cleanest front windshields!

Bill

 

[Tony T.]

Mine will go 3K miles from oil change on full "mark" then after 3K it will drop off full maybe if I was to guess a pint if that much up to 5K change interval. It's been that way since truck was new. I've checked it overnight setting "cold" an "hot" after it set about ten minutes still a hair below full mark both way's. I know this was explained to me once before on the TDR, but I was too lazy to search the fourms for the answer. Nothing to worry about at least it's not gaining. I never had to add any oil between oil changes.



I wonder if changing oil brands would make a difference. I use Delo 15w/40 now an though I might try Rotella T 15w/40 just for the heck of it to see if it remained on full mark the entire 5K. Maybe the additive package might be a little different, might use more you think :-laf .



Tony

 

[nickleinonen]

Frankly, I'm probably not as "religious" about checking oil as I should be as my truck has never used any between oil changes.

diddo... i'll check mine about monthly [every other fuel fill... ] . . my truck maybe looses 1/4" off the dipstick between oil changes, but it may be less than that as i don't let the truck sit very long before checking after shutdown... checking the lube oil level with engine shut down is silly to me, but that's what the oem wants to do... checking with the engine running is a better method i think [but that needs to be designed into the placment of the dip stick as it needs a baffle tube in the sump to prevent splashing on the stick]

 

[diesel DOG]

I have 65,000 on mine and it uses very little. I never have to add any. Easier when cold as oil is thicker and all drained down.