T180 Oil Check?

May 12, 2009

Checking the oil on my t180 has annoyed me since owning it from new in 07

I can't reminder the first time i checked the oil but i check regularly. Evey time i check the oil it always seems to over read.

On the dipstick, from the bottom i have.... space, then cross hatch for a few cm's, then space, then a twist in the metal for a few cm's then the full length of the rest of the dipstick up till the handle.

Now, every time i check the oil, fully inserted it always goes up to the start of the twist, i.e. above the cross hatch design where it suppose to be between. This is obviously on flat ground, i've tried taking it, as suggested 5 mins after shutting off the engine but the oil is so thin its hard to tell. So if i leave it a while to cool down i get the above scenario.

I've taken this up with the service manager; car has just had its 20k service and he said that they put in 10w/30 and the follow the toyota guidelines and put in the amount specified by toyota. He also said, try the dipstick at different angles as they can give different readings. Tried that, still the same. Only thing i can think is, yes, the garage put in the specified amount but they are using 10w/30 where-as the t180 should be taking 5w/30 and possibly the thicker oil is overfilling it?

Does any other t/sr180 owner find this problem measuring oil?

May 13, 2009

Did you try to wipe dipstick clean and check the level again?

May 13, 2009

Did you try to wipe dipstick clean and check the level again?

Yes, i do that for each check

May 13, 2009

Did you try to wipe dipstick clean and check the level again?
Yes, i do that for each check

During my first service they overfilled it. (The guy told me, that it is not problem, they always overfill) Second time I asked them not to do that, because I check the level quite usual.

To check the level is not easy, you are right. It is quite annoying. But I have a trick ;) Just turn the dipstick and check the level not on the cross hatched side ;)