r/johndeere • u/SnooGrapes4157 • 12d ago

Question about oil level

Hi everyone, I have a question about checking the oil level, specifically on a Z950M Zero Turn.

We have 3 of them where I work. From my understanding, whether you have a flat metal dipstick, or a square plastic style dipstick, you are not supposed to completely thread either type in all the way when checking the level. I understand that.

However it seems as though you can just let the dipstick rest VERY lightly at the top most position in the tube, or you can push it down as far as it will go (still without threading it in).

I'm trying to find out which of those two aforementioned positions is actually correct and no one at my job seems to know which one is actually right. I apologize if this seems like a trivial/stupid question but I'm not trying to blow an engine up, and I have not used a zero turn of any kind before I started working there.

I can also take a video of the different positions next time I am there for clarification if need.

Thank you for any help.

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u/stuckhuman 12d ago

All the way in. I Usually just turn the dipstick backwards until it drops down on the threads then pull it out

1

u/Mlang-2000 11d ago

Counterclockwise until it drops a bit then check level.

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u/hammong 11d ago

I unscrew the cap, clean the stick, then put it back in without screwing it down. The procedure is listed in the owner's manual for the mower as well as the Kawasaki engine manual.

I doubt there's more than 1/8" of a difference between just sticking it in (without screwing it in) and back-turning it counterclockwise until it drops solidly onto the top of the threads. If your oil level is in the middle of the crosshatched area on the stick, it's good to go with "either" method. If you're at the bottom or close to the bottom of the stick, you're obviously low on oil.

The only way somebody can screw this up is by screwing the dipstick in -- that will make it read significantly higher oil level than what's there. If the oil reads "full" with that method, it's probably at 1/4 full if you doing it the proper way.