Checked my oil and…..

[22rubi1202]

So I checked my oil at the gas station today and the dipstick read full on one side and half full on the other. What gives?

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[Hootbro]

Mine does the same thing. The crosshatch side is the one that matters.

 

[22rubi1202]

Now that I think about it that was the side that read full. I was thinking I turned it around and it was on the other side but maybe not. If that’s even possible.

 

[Dummy SALAPA]

It depends, are you an optimist or a pessimist

 

[Chapol]

One side is probably hot check and the other is cold check... I haven't looked at mine yet, to know for certain.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

One side is probably hot check and the other is cold check... I haven't looked at mine yet, to know for certain.

hot check and cold check on opposite sides of the same stick that go in the same depth??

Now that I think about it that was the side that read full. I was thinking I turned it around and it was on the other side but maybe not. If that’s even possible.

There is a recessed part with crosshatching made into it. They do that because as you pull the stick up, the larger part may be wiped clear by coming up the side of the curved tube. There are actually two recessed areas - the other side, opposite the crosshatching, appears to be a part number or whatever (alien code, coordinates to pirate treasure?)

Mine usually reads where that red line is, unless it's been 5,000 miles or more.

 

[PBCounty]

Man these modern engines don't even need oil

 

[Camaroboi13]

You were reading the metric side. Turn it over for SAE

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You were reading the metric side. Turn it over for SAE

Congratulations - you just won the whole internet for a WEEK!

 

[Reddog]

They hatch one side for a reason. Read that side. To be more accurate, get your engine warm, pull out the stick, run cold water over it, wipe it off, and put it back in, wait three seconds, then pull it out and read the hatched side. Cooling it off will make the oil appear more distinctly on the stick.

 

[22rubi1202]

It was warmed up when I checked it. There also was a little bit of a slope with the passenger side a bit higher. Didn’t think it was that much of a slope but maybe enough to make it read the way it did.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

They hatch one side for a reason. Read that side. To be more accurate, get your engine warm, pull out the stick, run cold water over it, wipe it off, and put it back in, wait three seconds, then pull it out and read the hatched side. Cooling it off will make the oil appear more distinctly on the stick.

Good idea. Oddly, I guess I sort of do that in a way, in the way I check oil with these silly modern dipsticks. The time I take to clean it well cools it off a bit.
I've observed that often the older dipsticks, the flat strips in my classics, have a twist in them to help prevent oil from being wiped off on the way out of the tube. And sometimes the oil literally doesn't adhere to parts of the stick - it's up on part of it and not on others. For some reason, the metal used on those the oil almost beads on the stick, making parts of it look dry while other parts are oiled. I clean then thoroughly and they read fine.

 

[Reddog]

Good idea. Oddly, I guess I sort of do that in a way, in the way I check oil with these silly modern dipsticks. The time I take to clean it well cools it off a bit.
I've observed that often the older dipsticks, the flat strips in my classics, have a twist in them to help prevent oil from being wiped off on the way out of the tube. And sometimes the oil literally doesn't adhere to parts of the stick - it's up on part of it and not on others. For some reason, the metal used on those the oil almost beads on the stick, making parts of it look dry while other parts are oiled. I clean then thoroughly and they read fine.

Yes, I agree on the old style sticks. A parts guy at the Chev dealer told me years ago that the flat style dip sticks were coated with a material to reduce corrosion and the material tended to make checking the oil a bit harder to determine the level. He was one who told me to cool the dispick before checking the oil so it appeared more clearly. Can't remember what he called the coating but if you recall, in the old days a stick could get a bit of rust on the part up out of the oil over time. The older engines didn't run hot like todays engines though. The older oils could absorb some moisture over time I believe. I think my son told me that the newer MB cars did away with the dipsticks entirely and rely on sensors to track oil level. I suspect the problem with the JL/JT dipsticks is partly due to the coatings they put on them for corrosion prevention and partly because only one side of the indicator portion is cross hatched. When you pull the stick out it wipes or disturbs the side that is smooth and makes it impossible to read. I had a 32 Ford sedan with Corvette engine one time and a guy at the service station asked me why I was checking the oil. He asked, does it burn oil? I said no it doesn't and he said so why are you checking it? Ha! Had me there. Guess old habits like gauge watching and oil checking are hard to break.

 

[bgott]

The way I was taught is to pull the stick and check the oil first thing in the morning when the engine was dead cold and the oil had all night to run back down.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, I agree on the old style sticks. A parts guy at the Chev dealer told me years ago that the flat style dip sticks were coated with a material to reduce corrosion and the material tended to make checking the oil a bit harder to determine the level. He was one who told me to cool the dispick before checking the oil so it appeared more clearly. Can't remember what he called the coating but if you recall, in the old days a stick could get a bit of rust on the part up out of the oil over time. The older engines didn't run hot like todays engines though. The older oils could absorb some moisture over time I believe. I think my son told me that the newer MB cars did away with the dipsticks entirely and rely on sensors to track oil level. I suspect the problem with the JL/JT dipsticks is partly due to the coatings they put on them for corrosion prevention and partly because only one side of the indicator portion is cross hatched. When you pull the stick out it wipes or disturbs the side that is smooth and makes it impossible to read. I had a 32 Ford sedan with Corvette engine one time and a guy at the service station asked me why I was checking the oil. He asked, does it burn oil? I said no it doesn't and he said so why are you checking it? Ha! Had me there. Guess old habits like gauge watching and oil checking are hard to break.

Both of my JTs, and in fact, all of the Grand Cherokees we had with the 3.6 - none of them ever needed oil to be added. It is habit - and living where we do, it's a good idea to check for critters.

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