|
12-11-2009, 11:54 AM | #1 |
Go Duke!
Drives: '09 Sedan AT Join Date: May 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 33
|
Synthetic oil and dipstick?
Anyone else find it somewhat difficult to get a good reading off a fresh synthetic oil change? I did my first oil change at around 5K mark, drained all the old oil out and put in 5W30 Pennzoil Platinum (~3.3-3.4 qts) and a TRD filter. At first I was surprised to see oil splatter all over the dipstick - but have since measured twice after parking overnight in the garage. ~50F in garage, 5F outside...
Seems to read about 3/4 in the good zone (thicker, fresh oil) with thin splatters all along the dipstick. <|L|===========|====|F|============== Is this normal behavior with synthetic oils? It's unlikely I put in too much oil... |
12-11-2009, 01:09 PM | #2 |
Crazy Oil Sniffer
Drives: MM 09 Yaris 5 Dr LB "Click" Join Date: May 2009
Location: ME
Posts: 498
|
Not unusual-I've experienced the same. It will get easier to read when you get a few miles on it.
The level you indicated seems about right for the amount of oil you added. |
12-11-2009, 01:21 PM | #3 |
I love momentum.
|
I find it nearly impossible to get a good reading on a fresh oil change. Which reminds me, I should go check my oil level :)
|
12-11-2009, 01:49 PM | #4 |
Drives: Yaris Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 355
|
My neighbor has a Yaris and after my first oil change, I must've looked at the dipstick about 12 times and couldn't get a good reading. He walked over and smiled and said "I had the same problem...it's hard to get a reading." For a while I thought I was losing it. I have never had this problem on any other car of mine except the Yaris.
|
12-11-2009, 02:31 PM | #5 |
Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: northeast
Posts: 2,897
|
same here . Best to check it following morning after sitting overnight . May take up to 3 times to get a good reading .
|
12-11-2009, 06:02 PM | #6 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
It's the same with any fresh oil. Let it sit for a few minutes after shutoff, wipe the stick off really well, reinsert it, and look at it in a good light. Outside in the sun is best.
|
12-11-2009, 06:05 PM | #7 |
^+1
|
|
12-11-2009, 06:23 PM | #8 |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canoga Park, CA
Posts: 14,859
|
Best thing is to pour red food coloring in right after the oil change.
... just kidding
__________________
Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific. |
12-11-2009, 07:18 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
|
Yet another reason not to use synthetic oil! Conventional oil is number one for dipstick reading!
|
12-11-2009, 08:42 PM | #10 |
12-11-2009, 10:12 PM | #11 | |
Go Duke!
Drives: '09 Sedan AT Join Date: May 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 33
|
Quote:
Glad to hear it's not just me having a hard time reading the dipstick after a fresh oil change with the Yaris. I'll upload the picture of how I got the factory filter off at some point, should make some good laughing material... |
|
12-14-2009, 12:28 PM | #12 |
Drives: Yaris Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 355
|
my issue/concern isn't so much the ability to see the oil as much as it is the oil smudging above the actual level making it hard to read. It's almost as if the combination of tube angle and flimsiness of the stick wich makes the level appear skewed once pulled out. Kind of hard to explain though my wife's Scion suffers from the same thing.
|
12-14-2009, 12:53 PM | #13 |
Half a Bubble Off Plumb
Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 1,593
|
I think some of it's from oil splashing up the dipstick tube and then dripping or smudging off on the dipstick.
That's one reason to wait a while after engine shutoff, another of course being to let oil drain down from the head to the pan. |
12-15-2009, 12:25 AM | #14 |
Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: northeast
Posts: 2,897
|
seems like the fresh oil doesn't want to adhere to the stick . Is frustrating . Gets better over time . Then top off if needed .
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Yaris Oil Change DIY | rningonfumes | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 91 | 01-11-2019 07:18 PM |
Oil spray from dipstick | xkejjer | General Yaris / Vitz Discussion | 2 | 07-25-2009 03:02 AM |
When should I start using synthetic oil?? | trwxxa | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 68 | 06-29-2009 06:16 PM |
Which mark on engine oil dipstick? | The Shape | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 12 | 05-18-2009 10:19 AM |
why is one side of oil dipstick different from otherside? | Yawesh | General Yaris / Vitz Discussion | 7 | 01-19-2009 12:41 PM |