Confusing readings on my dipstick....

Apples2

Iceweasel wrote: »

It's a BMW 320d with the N47 engine.

I'm glad to read it is a BMW.

My 5 Series is the same, I twist it around a few times but mine too, shows oil on only one side of the dipstick. It makes no sense at all and is the only car I have seen this on (amonst a long list of cars I have owned).

I know how much oil is in there, I measure it out and I measure it in.

There is witchcraft going on inside that sump.

reeac

I've always (and I'm talking nearly 58 years of car ownership) read the dipstick when the engine's cold. That means that the oil in the dipstick tube has had time to run back down to the general level in the engine, so avoiding being transferred to the dipstick as you withdraw it. It also means that all the oil around the engine (valve gear etc) has had time to drain back into the sump.

oldagetraveller

I just mostly follow my vehicle manufacturer's instructions. (Toyota)

"With the engine at operating temperature and turned off, check the oil
level on the dipstick.
 Checking the engine oil
Except hybrid vehicle
Gasoline engine: Park the vehicle on level ground. After
warming up the engine and turning it off, wait more than 5
minutes for the oil to drain back into the bottom of the engine.
Diesel engine: Park the vehicle on level ground. After warming
up the engine and turning it off, wait more than 5 minutes
for the oil to drain back into the bottom of the engine.
Hybrid vehicle
Park the vehicle on level ground. After warming up the engine
and turning off the hybrid system, wait more than 5 minutes
for the oil to drain back into the bottom of the engine.
Holding a rag under the end, pull the dipstick out."