Dipstick

[Roy124]

Suspicious Seb😅

Years ago I took my car to the local chain, BMC, as their SAAB dealership was 100 miles away. It was for a full service and brake fluid change. I picked it up Friday afternoon and Saturday went to pick up a caravan we had hired.  Braking was spongy to say the least. 

There was no fluid in the tank and no sign of a leak.  I checked the oil and it was neither to the mark nor clean.  A few more checks confirmed nothing had been done except draining the brakes fluid. 

I was lucky that a real garage was happy to fix everything on the Saturday evening.  The other was a garage I would never use again. 

[Paul Gailey]

That video offers some guidance.

I've suffered the same headscratch today. Really wish I had fastidiously measured how much oil I added to the filter then via the engine cap. Or perhaps measured how much I really drained out. But no matter what, it is a filthy endeavour. I might even try dipstick syringe extraction because I still fear I've topped it too much.

Or should I wait till the oil blackens up a little and not stress it?

 

 

[Paul Gailey]

I did the dipstick extraction with a syringe and tubing. Still can't get a good reading. There's two sides of the dipstick. Dimples as in indents and on the other side I call them pimples as they protrude. Do you insert the dipstick with the pimples facing towards the engine or dimples facing the engine? Because the oil levels are unequal on each side!

[avensis_2018]

the reading its hard yes, cant tell right a way, first time i took my avensis to the garage they change oil, after 1000km i change it my self, with a pump i took out 6.5L out, end up filling it 4.2L in.if its with the oil filter change also then it will be adding 4.5L, since then i change it alone every 3000km\5000km, taking out 4L put new fresh 4L in, filter change every 10000-15000km, the system always running clean, car runs like new all the time, don't trust anyone.

[Paul Gailey]

After much faffing I've concluded like others here the most accurate reading is on the first dipstick withdrawal the morning after the car has been rested overnight on a level surface. Don't bother wiping and reinserting, you will go mad.