Back to the OP’s original question. I just did my first oil change and keep getting dipstick readings all over the place. Am I the only one having trouble reading the dipstick??
Consistent low oil (on dip stick) after change
- Thread starter DasKeyserSoze
- Start date
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HAHA (well not so funny) but that would be the critical step missed.
The oil pressure gauge seems to actually work in my vehicle. If you have a reading in the middle 1/2 of the scale and it blips mildly when you rev the engine, you probably have sufficient oil.
I am not sure if we are talking about the same difficulty in reading the dipstick that I described in an earlier post here, but if you just changed the oil with a light weight synthetic, you will have a hard time seeing it on the dipstick. There is not much color to the oil and when it is so thin on the shiny dipstick you can misread it.
YES! The key to engine oil more than weight is following or exceeding (more often) the recommended change intervals. In my opinion, oil changes are cheap relative to fixing the problems they are done to avoid having. Basically the “w” stands for winter and indicates that the lubricant in question has a different viscosity, or different flow characteristics, based on temperature. For example, a 0w20 oil weight rating means that on cold start-up — even at subzero temperatures — the oil flows like a 0 weight oil. However, once warmed up to 210 degrees F, it functions as a 20 weight oil. Since many folks go a whole year without changing oil and may encounter colder temps somewhere along the way a 0 weight may be best. If you are disciplined enough to change your oil to a heavier weight in April and change it back in October - go for it. Otherwise Toyota is probably not trying to steer your wrong with 0w20.
DasKeyserSoze
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #25
I feel like I must be going crazy - I wiped the dipstick clean and then tapped it with a dry tissue (after reinserting)...bone dry except for the very end/tip. My oil pressure gauge does sit a little below 1/2 but makes it way to half under acceleration. Not sure what the hell is going on.
RET2
SILVER Star
Is there a paint swatch on the top of your dipstick like blue or green? If so what color is it? There are posts that claim readouts vary by color.
Ok. I was wanting to discuss this with yah all for a while now. And feel this thread is it!!
So on cold start up I sometimes check the dip stick out of a pretrip habit from my commercial driving days. It’s often nothing on the stick of just the tip. And I know that there is oil there being that I do all the changes, observer no leaks and very little consumption after normal oil change Intervals. My mechanic even mentioned this one time and I thought of the PCV valve change. But never got around to this.
So the question is why is this happening. Note the stick does show a normal amount after driving around for a few minutes
So on cold start up I sometimes check the dip stick out of a pretrip habit from my commercial driving days. It’s often nothing on the stick of just the tip. And I know that there is oil there being that I do all the changes, observer no leaks and very little consumption after normal oil change Intervals. My mechanic even mentioned this one time and I thought of the PCV valve change. But never got around to this.
So the question is why is this happening. Note the stick does show a normal amount after driving around for a few minutes
DasKeyserSoze
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #28
ramangain
Clarksonian disciple
Some say Lemmiwinks drinks the oil once the engine is cold and then barfs it all back out when the engine warms up.
FYI _ Did my first oil change w/ 0W20 (the first 2 were at the dealer) and it took 8 1/2 quarts to get to the top fill line on the dip stick (following the start/warm-up/shut-off/wait 5 minutes the check Toyota recommendation). I did do a very complete drain (+30 minutes) and oil filter change. Installed the Ez-Plug as well.
Just checked it cold and its right at the top line (~1,000 miles since change). BTW - green dot on dip stick.
Just checked it cold and its right at the top line (~1,000 miles since change). BTW - green dot on dip stick.
bloc
SILVER Star
More details on the dipstick issue here:
forum.ih8mud.com
DIY Oil change question
Quick question for the DIY oil changers in the group. Just did my first oil change on my new to me 08 Land Cruiser. When I wrenched on the drain plug the whole housing loosened and I just did it that way. After everything was out I had use a pipe wrench to hold the housing and crank down...
forum.ih8mud.com
OP - you're not putting enough oil. I think it takes more than 8 quarts to get to the top mark on the dipstick if I remember correctly.
There isn't really magic to it. If the truck is not loosing or burning oil, you must be not putting enough.
There isn't really magic to it. If the truck is not loosing or burning oil, you must be not putting enough.
Both my 200s take around 7.5 quarts for full indication with oil and OEM filter change.
