Trouble reading oil levels on dipstick

[Ron_Mexico]

Anyone else have this issue? I did some spring cleanup on my 2006 4Runner and decided to check fluid levels and here is what I see for my oil levels on the dipstick. Is this too much oil? Too little? I can’t tell. I took 2 pictures, each photo is one side of the dipstick. What are your thoughts?

 

[AuSeeker]

Anyone else have this issue? I did some spring cleanup on my 2006 4Runner and decided to check fluid levels and here is what I see for my oil levels on the dipstick. Is this too much oil? Too little? I can’t tell. I took 2 pictures, each photo is one side of the dipstick. What are your thoughts?

Did you wipe the oil off and reinsert the dip stick and pull it out again, or just pull it out only once?

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Did you wipe the oil off and reinsert the dip stick and pull it out again, or just pull it out only once?

This is from pulling out the dip stick, wiping, reinserting and then pulling out to get a reading on it. This is what I see after standard dip stick checking procedures!! I never seen anything like this. I’ve owned many vehicles and I’m not sure what’s going on here!!

 

[CarlosV]

Pull it out after few hours engine off and you will get clear cut oil level mark

 

[Drcoffee]

Let the oil drain back for ten minutes and recheck. If the oil is new and hard to see on the dipstick, scuff the end of it with a file or dremmel to get rid of the mirror finish

 

[MikeinNH67]

On some cars the angle of the tube will wipe one side of the dipstick off when pulled out. Can't zoom in on the pics but seems it would be too high if you let the truck sit for 10 mins and wiped off before checking.

 

[Urbanite]

Good luck if you've just changed oil, you won't see anything. I usually have to wait for at least a thousand miles before I could see the high and low, bad design!~

 

[rdruss]

This is pretty basic, but check it after it sits overnight on level ground and you'll have no trouble reading it. Wipe the stick clean after you park it and check it in the morning.

 

[Old Tanker]

If the oil is too new or the light isn't right, carefully lay the dipstick against a napkin or paper towel, and draw the dipstick sideways across the surface. You'll see the trail and match it against the marks.

 

[maxdef]

I had previously scuffed the dipstick to get a better reading as I was plagued with the same issues for the past 2 years. I was leaving the stick off overnight and checking in the morning for the best reading.

Last month I bought a new one from a local dealership for ~$17 and it was a complete fix. I was able to get accurate readings moments apart in multiple scenarios.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

I had previously scuffed the dipstick to get a better reading as I was plagued with the same issues for the past 2 years. I was leaving the stick off overnight and checking in the morning for the best reading.

Last month I bought a new one from a local dealership for ~$17 and it was a complete fix. I was able to get accurate readings moments apart in multiple scenarios.

Do you have a part number handy??

 

[MikeinNH67]

Depends which motor you have.

This one seems to be the V8.
1530150120

This one for the V6.
1530131060

Verify it fits of course.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I had previously scuffed the dipstick to get a better reading as I was plagued with the same issues for the past 2 years. I was leaving the stick off overnight and checking in the morning for the best reading.

Last month I bought a new one from a local dealership for ~$17 and it was a complete fix. I was able to get accurate readings moments apart in multiple scenarios.

Curious, how was the new part different from the original one?

 

[maxdef]

Curious, how was the new part different from the original one?

That's the strangest thing, I examined them side by side and there was nothing that stood out. It was well worth the additional 15.60 on an existing order though.

 

[Bluesky 07]

That's the strangest thing, I examined them side by side and there was nothing that stood out. It was well worth the additional 15.60 on an existing order though.

Weird.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

That's the strangest thing, I examined them side by side and there was nothing that stood out. It was well worth the additional 15.60 on an existing order though.

Can you post a picture of what the new part looks like?

 

[maxdef]

Sorry if I confused anyone, I just meant I got a new dipstick altogether. Looks identical though