Problem checking oil using dipstick

herman2811

Hope someone can help...

Just bought a 12-year old ford fiesta - am trying to check the engine oil level using the dipstick, and am finding it very hard to read! There seems to be oil all along the stick, so I can't tell where the level is.

Have done it according to the manual - ie, when engine is hot, then wait few mins to let the oil drop down.

Have also done it first thing in the morning when the engine is cold and all the oil has settled - seeing the same problem.

Any ideas what I can do???

Thanks in advance

Sssssss

when you first pull out the dipstick there will be oil along the stick, have you wiped it clean with a paper towel then put back in and pull out again, now you should be able to tell the level.

maninthestreet

Take the dipstick out, clean it off with a rag, replace the dipstick, wait a few seconds, then withdraw dipstick again and check oil level.

Rolandtheroadie

Do what the manual says, pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean. Put it back in, pull it out again and check. If it's still hard to tell, clean and and try again.
It might be hard to distinguish, but the oil should be all the way round it at some point near the bottom (if you get what I mean).

LandyAndy

If there is no oil on it when you've done that you may need a longer dipstick.;)

mikey72

Quite often you'll find when you pull out the dipstick it will smear down one side as the tubes the dipstick go in are now no longer straight. you will have to try to see if there is a line partly visible on any part or edge of the dipstick.

marlot

As Mikey72 says, some cars do seem to smear the dipstick. They're not as easy to read as they once were!

artbaron

And if there appears to be only smearing of oil, rather than oil "clinging" to the bottom of the stick, then you're simply very low on oil.

herman2811

Yes I have cleaned the dipstick and then re-inserted, but it is still hard to read.

As mentioned, the oil gets smeared all the way up the stick...

vansboy

herman2811 wrote: »

Yes I have cleaned the dipstick and then re-inserted, but it is still hard to read.

As mentioned, the oil gets smeared all the way up the stick...

Are you on a level surface, cos even a slight slope can make the level 'wrong'?

Has it been topped up with TOO MUCH oil recently, as that will make it show all along the dipstick.

VB

anewman

And as pointed out above, it could well be off the bottom of the dipstick needing a good litre or so to get it to show up properly. I too find newer dipsticks more difficult to read than the old ones.