Dipstick covered in oil-help!

[DaveG]

Hey sorry I havent posted back in a while. At 11000 miles the dipstick is still unreadable no matter how long I let the car sit. Instead of oil right up to where the level is, there is a thin film way past the two indicators. I did wipe it down before reinserting and reading. I'm worried that the dealer messed something up when they did the 5000 mi oil change, or that the engine doesn't have enough oil, and is going to destroy itself. Is the engine supposed to hiss slightly when I step on the gas?

[nemelek]

Originally Posted by DaveG

Hey sorry I havent posted back in a while. At 11000 miles the dipstick is still unreadable no matter how long I let the car sit. Instead of oil right up to where the level is, there is a thin film way past the two indicators. I did wipe it down before reinserting and reading. I'm worried that the dealer messed something up when they did the 5000 mi oil change, or that the engine doesn't have enough oil, and is going to destroy itself. Is the engine supposed to hiss slightly when I step on the gas?

If the engine didn't have enough oil a check engine light should appear. The dip stick is hard to read after a oil change. It is easier to read when the oil is dirtier.

For piece of mind have the oil changed again. I always do my own oil changes. That way I know it is done right.

[jambo101]

Its a 2010 just take it to the dealer and say whats up with the dipstick reading, if it truly was full halfway up the dipstick you would have oil gushing out somewhere when the car is running, maybe somewhere along the line some one put in the wrong dipstick..

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by jambo101

maybe somewhere along the line some one put in the wrong dipstick..

It's a known condition called Caveatipse's Revenge.

[auxmike]

I check my oil level after the car has sat OVERNIGHT.
Works like a charm.....

[DaveG]

Originally Posted by auxmike

I check my oil level after the car has sat OVERNIGHT.
Works like a charm.....

Thank you!! This works great. Finally somebody doesn't think I'm crazy. Letting the car sit for hours on a level surface (if you can find one) seems like a bit inconvenient, but whatever works...