Any observations and or suggestions as to how to read this Toyota 4runner dipstick ?

'Brought my 4runner in for the 1st oil change and I provided the wrong info to the mechanic. Namely I erred in assigning the oil quantity of the V8 to the V6. So I just drained some oil , myself, after driving 2 days - to bring it back from a quart over full.

My question is regarding the dip stick. I have been driving almost 40 years and have driven many different cars. However I do not recall a dipstick that was as baffling as this one is. The past dipsticks have always been quite clear and obvious.

There are two dots on each side of this dipstick. One side has protruding dots and the other has indented dots.

When checking the oil level, one side of the dipstick shows oil way up the stick. The other, which would have to be the valid side, shows oil with thinner gradients up between and perhaps a touch beyond the upper dot.

I say perhaps because the oil level is just hard to determine where it ends off. When it came from the factory I obviously just left it where it was. As it became dirtier it seems that I could read it better. Now I am using synthetic.

All in all, I know how to read a dipstick ( keep it between the two dots, basically) but this one has oil all over the dipstick. I don't want to drive with insufficient oil.

Any observations and or suggestions as to how to read this Toyota

4runner dipstick ?
Reply to
Barry
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Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and try to re-insert it so that the edges are vertical. It sounds like the flat part of the dipstick is dragging on the tube.

Reply to
Ray O

Thanks Ray O

That rings true to me. Presently there seems to be a spring in the tube, or a guide of some kind which leads the dipstick to go in a certain way. That factor of dragging is quite what it seems to me. After I posted the post I felt a touch foolish for having a subject title regarding dipsticks. But then again it would not have been the first time I heard someone called a "dipstick" - humor

Nevertheless, low and over full oil amounts are serious matters in engine terms.

I just went out and with flashlight in mouth tried to get some horizontal or vertical insertions. (far too risky to make a joke on that line) and the dipstick will only go in one way, and that way does drag one side of the dipstick on the tube.

There is some lighter saturation of the non dragged side. Which complicates and causes some concen.

I will keep working on it and hopefully some light will shine on the aspect of how to read the non dragged side. Hopefully a pattern will emerge.

Reply to
Barry

If it is impossible to pull out the dipstick without it dragging on the tube, try to determine if there is any part of the stick that is not dragging and read only that side.

good luck!

Reply to
Ray O

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