Reading the Forester's Dip Stick

[W. Watson]

I always have trouble reading the car's dip stick. It's clear that there are
three markers: 2 holes and a notch. Nevertheless, after wiping the dip stick
with either a cloth or paper towel, I still find it hard to rip. Any tips on
this? Food dye in the oil? >-) A special flash light? It always seems like
the oil zig zags from somewhere between the two holes upwards. Never seem to
find any nice level of oil where it is clean above it.

Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet
--

"I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail,
not to scorn human actions, but to understand them."
-—Baruch Spinoza
Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

 

[Jim Stewart]

I always have trouble reading the car's dip stick. It's clear that there
are three markers: 2 holes and a notch. Nevertheless, after wiping the
dip stick with either a cloth or paper towel, I still find it hard to
rip. Any tips on this? Food dye in the oil? >-) A special flash light?
It always seems like the oil zig zags from somewhere between the two
holes upwards. Never seem to find any nice level of oil where it is
clean above it.

Subaru dipsticks are the worst I've seen.
I make sure I have my reading glasses on,
pull it out, clean it and stick it back
in at least twice before I try to read it
then I hold it to the light or in the sun
and turn it, looking for the glint of the
oil Sort of like the old mercury fever
thermometers.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I always have trouble reading the car's dip stick. It's clear that

Hi,

This isn't a perfect way, but has helped w/ some cars I've had that were
hard to read, especially when the oil was still pretty clean:

Let the car sit overnight. Pull the dipstick out in the morning and
DON'T wipe it. Read it. Then wipe, stick it back in and read again to
see if you get a reading that's pretty close. I find the first reading
is usually just a tiny bit higher than the second, but not enough to
worry about. You'll notice the oil's often a bit darker before the
engine's been started, making it easier to see.

Now if someone can tell me why some dipsticks read higher on one side
than the other...

Rick C

 

[hpydrft]

Hi,

This isn't a perfect way, but has helped w/ some cars I've had that were
hard to read, especially when the oil was still pretty clean:

Let the car sit overnight. Pull the dipstick out in the morning and
DON'T wipe it. Read it. Then wipe, stick it back in and read again to
see if you get a reading that's pretty close. I find the first reading
is usually just a tiny bit higher than the second, but not enough to
worry about. You'll notice the oil's often a bit darker before the
engine's been started, making it easier to see.

Now if someone can tell me why some dipsticks read higher on one side
than the other...

Rick C

About the reading being higher one one side, take the lower reading.
The lower reading is correct. When you go to read a dipstick, dip and
check a few times to get a constant reading. It may look like the level
is all over the place but where there is a dry spot in the middle of
surrounding oil, the lower reading is correct. (hard to understand but
if you've seen it, you'd understand)

And about Subaru's dipsticks being the hardest to read, don't even
bother trying to check the oil on the new infinitis. Pain in the
ass...way worse than Subarus.

 

[CompUser]

Now if someone can tell me why some dipsticks read higher on one side
than the other...

I don't have a Forester, but I did check the oil
on one at a car show. :-/

The WRX shows higher on one side, and it's due to
the dipstick tube curving as it enters the sump.

The manual addresses the issue by instructing you
to keep the oil can icon on the plastic handle,
with the oil can's base toward the front of the
car, as it's fully inserted.

With the WRX, I've found the best way to take a
reading is moving the stick slow. Take 3-4
seconds to insert and retract it, and readings
become much more consistent. Still gotta wipe in
between, tho.

 

[Pentti]

I always have trouble reading the car's dip stick. It's clear that there are
three markers: 2 holes and a notch. Nevertheless, after wiping the dip stick
with either a cloth or paper towel, I still find it hard to rip. Any tipson
this? Food dye in the oil? >-) A special flash light? It always seems like
the oil zig zags from somewhere between the two holes upwards. Never seemto
find any nice level of oil where it is clean above it.

Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet
--

"I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail,
not to scorn human actions, but to understand them."
--Baruch Spinoza
Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

I have owned a Forester 2.0XT for some 3 years now, and agree with you.
I used to check the level after leaving the car overnight, with
similar problems. I now always check it when the engine is hot with
much more success - I wait for about 15 minutes after stopping the
engine before checking the level.

When the oil level is near the lower level notch, I top up with 100ml
of oil and when I check the level again it is at the top notch - I
don't understand this, because I was told that there is a 1 litre
difference between the 2 notches.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I found that if I remove the stick and wait several minutes and push
it in slowly and remove it slowly I have no problems. I think because
of the angle, oil is pulled up in the tube and you must wait several
minutes to let the oil drain back into the sump. I also think that the
stick enters the crankcase at an angle and that is why the level can
be different, side to side. Ed