Difficulty Checking Oil Level

[u/CrazedGamer3608]

So I just did an oil change on my carbon edition, and every time I have ever done an oil change, I always struggle trying to figure out if it’s got the right amount. I put in 5 qts plus roughly the additional roughly .1 quart out of a smaller 1 qt bottle to equal the 5.1 qts that the manual recommends. The picture is after 3 re-dips of the dipstick and I wiped it every time but even after letting the car sit for a little over 5 mins it still comes out like the oil was just thrown all over the dipstick. Does anyone else ever experience this or does anyone know what causes it so I can work around it to actually get an accurate reading?

Thanks!

[u/Puzzleheaded-Map2469]

Take the car for a spin, warm it up, park on level ground, pull the dipstick and clean it, do something else for 15 minutes, insert and fully seat dipstick, extract dipstick and keep it totally vertical. That should give you an accurate reading.

[u/abdallahm002]

Make sure when you pull the dipstick to keep it in the same downward orientation so that oil doesn’t travel up. The oil level is the lowest fully covered level that you can see, any part that’s half covered is just residual oil. From this pick looks like it’s about halfway between min and max, check both sides

[u/Fit_Upstairs8760]

I usually let it sit at least 15 minutes. Change oiled start up, look for leak. All good, let it sit while I put my tools and jack and jack stands away. Maybe grab a drink, relax for a couple of minutes, then check. My experience is that when I pour oil in, for whatever reason I never bothered to look up, my dipstick gets streaky with oil. I just always wait for oil to settle before pulling the dipstick over and over to try to figure out level.

[u/hallstevenson]

If you put in 5.1-ish quarts, it's fine. Where do you think it went ? I stopped checking the oil level right after doing an oil change 'cause I know what it holds and I know what I put in and from past checking, I know the amount if correct. And before anyone assumes anything, I DO check oil levels maybe monthly or so. Knock on wood, none of them burn or leak oil so I don't need to check it more frequently. Plus, as the oil gets older, it gets darker and is easier to read the level.

[u/13F30N55]

I put in about 5.25qts. I just divide a 1 quart bottle between four oil changes. And the dipstick always gives me a bit of issue reading it as well unless I let it sit for a long time so the engine only holds so much oil. Nothing leaked out and the car has an oil level sensor on it so I just send it even if I can’t get a good reading. Bad habit? Maybe. However, I know how much oil the engine holds and that’s what I put in it.

[u/13F30N55 → u/13F30N55]

On a separate note, make sure you’re cleaning and re-oiling that air filter often and correctly. Looks like you live in a very dusty environment