Checking the Oil

[jri4]

So I get home, shut the car off, wait a few minutes, then pop the hood and check the oil. When I first pull out the dipstick it is bone dry or with only a little oil on the tip. After I re-insert it fully and pull it back out, it shows my oil level is fine, at the max...

Can anyone explain, or does this happen to you?
I believe I have a smoking turbo, and am worried about losing oil over time, so it is really hard to guage if I am actually losing oil or not...

Thanks,
~James

 

[MikeHTally]

Sounds weird to me, like the old "short-sticking" trick, but in reverse. I'm not sure how that could happen. Air bubble somewhere (that reads even more ridiculous than it sounds)? How many times has this happened?

 

[eg6motion]

It's a little odd that it's bone dry, normally they just have thin layers of oil but as you are supposed to check it after it sits for a bit anyway, don't worry about it. Also, you will never be able to diagnose a smoking turbo by checking your oil. It takes such a small amount of oil to create a smoke screen that you would have to have liquid oil coming out your exhaust for it to be measurable on your dipstick.

 

[jri4]

It takes such a small amount of oil to create a smoke screen that you would have to have liquid oil coming out your exhaust for it to be measurable on your dipstick.

Does a small splattering on the garage floor right behind the exhaust count? I figured, though, that I wouldn't be able to tell I was losing oil... I bought an extra quart to keep in the car just in case though!

But yeah, everytime, the first time the dipstick comes out, it has only a little oil on it, if any...

Car runs fine, I might have a smoking turbo, too few and far between to tell yet, but this is just weird.... I'll keep checking it and let you know!

Thanks!

 

[oaklandopen]

the car needs to sit for about 5 minutes after shutting off (and after it's been running long enough to send oil everywhere it needs to go in the first place). only then can you get a proper reading of the oil level via dipstick

if you're pulling the dipstick out as soon as you shut off chances are the level was low because the oil was all over the place other than in the bottom of your oil pan. galleys, cylinder walls, block walls, crankshaft, cams, etc. that 5 minutes allows the oil to drain back down towards the pan.

there shouldn't be any air "bubbles" as one of the ingredients in oil is an anti-foaming agent.

so i'd just let the car sit for 5 minutes after shutting the engine off before you go checking it. and the proper way to check is to pull the dipstick out, wipe clean, then insert and pull out to check the level. you can't just pull it right out and check it on the first removal, it's not accurate that way

 

[matsuda]

So I get home, shut the car off, wait a few minutes, then pop the hood and check the oil. When I first pull out the dipstick it is bone dry or with only a little oil on the tip. After I re-insert it fully and pull it back out, it shows my oil level is fine, at the max...

Can anyone explain, or does this happen to you?

Thanks,
~James

It's normal (simple physics are involved). The dipstick has an o-ring that seals the tube (somehow this seems to be a great secret).

1) Let the engine sit for awhile after turning it off (to allow the oil to drain back into the oil pan).

2) Pull the dipstick up a couple of inches and wait a few seconds (allowing the oil level in the tube to rise to the same level as the crankcase).

3) Reinsert the dipstick fully, pull it out, and read the oil level.

 

[meicalnissyen]

So I get home, shut the car off, wait a few minutes, then pop the hood and check the oil. When I first pull out the dipstick it is bone dry or with only a little oil on the tip. After I re-insert it fully and pull it back out, it shows my oil level is fine, at the max...

Can anyone explain, or does this happen to you?
I believe I have a smoking turbo, and am worried about losing oil over time, so it is really hard to guage if I am actually losing oil or not...

Thanks,
~James

been discussed before, but yeah, thats what happens.

the bottom of the dip tube must be under the oil level in the sump, and the seal on the stick is very good.
then the air pressure in the tube holds the oil level in the tube lower than the level in the sump.

Pull it wipe and reinsrt for an accurate read

 

[MikeHTally]

I've NEVER seen a dipstick "bone dry" after shutdown, whether it's immediately after or a delay was involved. The crank case would have to be over a quart shy at that point to show NO oil on it.

 

[eg6motion]

Does a small splattering on the garage floor right behind the exhaust count? I figured, though, that I wouldn't be able to tell I was losing oil... I bought an extra quart to keep in the car just in case though!

But yeah, everytime, the first time the dipstick comes out, it has only a little oil on it, if any...

Car runs fine, I might have a smoking turbo, too few and far between to tell yet, but this is just weird.... I'll keep checking it and let you know!

Thanks!

It's probably not oil, it's carbon buildup...

 

[jri4]

Thanks for all the help! It makes sense that the tube is sealed and air pressure does its thing. So you must break th seal to allow air in, the reinsert tube and check it...

Hey, and I didn't get flamed or shot for asking a simple question! Other cars I've had didn't seem to do this: Once the car was cool you pull out the dipstick, it would have a lot of oil on it, you'd wipe it off and recheck for an accurate reading... I guess tis car is kind of the opposite.

Thanks again,
James

 

[oaklandopen]

checking any fluids can be different from one vehicle to the next. some dont have dipsticks for any fluid AT ALL, which means "idiot lights" for everything. and some others require you to take all sorts of s*** off to check something...those are the ones that have plastic everything when you open the hood

im glad this is one of those cars that uses no "pretty" plastic covers in the engine bay, save maybe the intercooler cover and batery cover (both functional). there are plenty of other cars that have gigantic engine covers that do nothing but make you assume everytihng is shiny and clean and working after you wipe it with some armorall gloss s***.

rant over

 

[jri4]

^
Agree

Except I am not fond of the battery cover, only because i have taken it on and off so many times now and it is just a PITA... I like how it conceals the battery though!

 

[Porfeo]

Sorry for the noobish question, but are you supposed to check the oil level on this car when it is warmed up? I have always checked it alongside my tire pressure in the morning when it is bone cold.

 

[matsuda]

Sorry for the noobish question, but are you supposed to check the oil level on this car when it is warmed up? I have always checked it alongside my tire pressure in the morning when it is bone cold.

Checking when cold is good.

 

[oaklandopen]

owners manual: it's more than just paper

 

[jri4]

owners manual: it's more than just paper

owners manual: it can be used as fire kindle as well

(lol)

*Did I just threadjack my own thread?*