V8 engine oil dipstick hard to read ? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Nevadabill · 08-30-2012, 02:46 AM

Mobile 1 syn staying pretty clean/clear (which is a good thing) but it's also harder to get a clear level read than it should be in my book... either smears/travels some up the stick or just plain hard to see a good level indication.. just do it over and over till I get a best guess.. anyone else have this issue... any after market that works better ? Thanks

Kronix · 08-30-2012, 03:30 AM

So you want to change motor oil from one of the best Mobil 1 to something that you can read on the dipstick better? That's a first, either get glasses or buy cheap brown shit oil that should help

Nevadabill · 08-30-2012, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronix

So you want to change motor oil from one of the best Mobil 1 to something that you can read on the dipstick better? That's a first, either get glasses or buy cheap brown shit oil that should help

Learn to comprehend........ It was a question about a dipstick, not for a dipstick. For me, after a little research since I posted the question, seems some folks have the same issue, some don't. I can read it, just more of a PITA than it needs to be......... even with my glasses on.

MMC · 08-30-2012, 06:02 AM

No not at all. This is really a problem?

Higgs Boson · 08-30-2012, 07:16 AM

park the car hot. wait a few minutes. remove dipstick and wipe off completely. reinsert into tube and remove immediately. hold horizontally and look at level. done.

glasses needed? contacts? more light in the garage? less light outdoors? etc.

it's no harder or easier to read than any other dipstick.

NH 2012 SS/RS · 08-30-2012, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevadabill

Mobile 1 syn staying pretty clean/clear (which is a good thing) but it's also harder to get a clear level read than it should be in my book... either smears/travels some up the stick or just plain hard to see a good level indication.. just do it over and over till I get a best guess.. anyone else have this issue... any after market that works better ? Thanks

I'll come to your defense...I find it hard to read as well

But I did not have my glasses on

As far as I can read this, the OP is not talking about the Oil, he's talking the dipstick as aftermarket

ZED SLED · 08-30-2012, 07:38 AM

OP, I saw the exact same thing you did. Read many posts about how these dip sticks suck. Suspected it was probably just a little low so I stopped by the dealer next morning for them to look at it. Didn't want to add oil in case that wasn't the issue. Tech confirmed it was a quart low and that the dip stick on these cars do suck. Added a quart and it was easily read in the hash mark area.

DRKS1D3 · 08-30-2012, 09:08 AM

Funny this came up. My car needed the oil changed for the first time (took it to the dealer). Yes, I took it to the dealer for a change. I've crawled under a lot of cars in my day and for 20 minutes and $70, it's less hastle. When they rung me up at the register, the receipt said 6 quarts of Mobil 1 on it. I questioned them and said these cars take 8.5 quarts. They assured me it was filled. I drove it home (2 miles) and let it sit over night. I pulled the dipstick several times in the sunlight and the thing looked low (way under the required criss-cross hashmark section). The oil was puddled at a quart low on the stick, but there was oil residue the entire way up the damn thing. It was difficult to read! I checked and rechecked and decided it was INDEED a quart low. I had a new quart of Mobil 1 in my garage, so I added it and let it settle. I checked it again and it now appears it's at the correct level. For some help, I took a white rag and set it on my strut tower brace. As soon as I'd pull the dipstick, I'd lay it on the rag and fold the rag over on it. This allowed me to easily see where the oil was staining the rag in reference to the hashmarks on the stick. Agreed, it's tough to read.

Sword5 · 08-30-2012, 09:22 AM

Agreed, have to look at it several times to get a good reading.

Higgs Boson · 08-30-2012, 09:58 AM

also, if you furrow your brow while reading the dipstick its the same as moving your lips while reading to yourself. watch out!

babytiger · 08-30-2012, 10:01 AM

I know what your saying OP, when I pull the dipstick I have to move out from under the hood to the side of the engine compartment. Obtain more direct light, sometimes have to turn the dipstick back and forth to find the level.

motorhead · 08-30-2012, 10:10 AM

Some dipsticks are very hard to read. Most of the ones I've had problems with over the years are one the take hard bend or more than one bend to get to the pan. Try sticking it in 180 degrees from how it was. Most will only let you do two ways depending on the shape of the tube it fits into. I loved your reply to kronix. That was funny.

Kronix · 08-30-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevadabill

Learn to comprehend........ It was a question about a dipstick, not for a dipstick. For me, after a little research since I posted the question, seems some folks have the same issue, some don't. I can read it, just more of a PITA than it needs to be......... even with my glasses on.

Oh now I get it, I'm the dipstick

...Good one, yes I misread your post and now that I've been able to comprehend it (it was late when I answered)...I will agree with you, it was hard to read until I just changed my oil to Royal Purple. But you may not want to do that, but there are plenty of aftermarket dipsticks that are easier to read for these engines. I did that as well.

GMTool · 08-30-2012, 10:41 AM

After I just change my oil in any of my vehicles, seeing the clear oil on the end of the dipstick takes a little more eyeballing then when the oil is dark. But from day one of owning the Camaro I have thought that this dipstick is long, flimsy, and takes a little more effort to gently get it pass the bend. It is not a smooth in and out slide.

08-30-2012, 02:46 AM	#1
Nevadabill Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Dayton, Nevada Posts: 53	V8 engine oil dipstick hard to read ? Mobile 1 syn staying pretty clean/clear (which is a good thing) but it's also harder to get a clear level read than it should be in my book... either smears/travels some up the stick or just plain hard to see a good level indication.. just do it over and over till I get a best guess.. anyone else have this issue... any after market that works better ? Thanks __________________

08-30-2012, 03:30 AM	#2
Kronix NJ/SoCal HT5 COTW 3/25/12 Drives: 2015 Z06/14 C7/08 Z06/07 Tahoe Z71 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: South Jersey & SoCal Posts: 1,961 View My Garage	So you want to change motor oil from one of the best Mobil 1 to something that you can read on the dipstick better? That's a first, either get glasses or buy cheap brown shit oil that should help __________________ Built by Late Model Racecraft Fastest C7 in Tri-State 10.13 @ 134mph 7/26/14 Corvette Challenge Raceway Park, E-Town, NJ

08-30-2012, 06:02 AM	#4
MMC Drives: CGM 2SS/RS, 1987 & 2014 Silverado Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 1,012	No not at all. This is really a problem? __________________

08-30-2012, 07:38 AM	#7
ZED SLED Drives: 2017 Mosaic Bk ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of Raleigh, NC Posts: 9,615 View My Garage	OP, I saw the exact same thing you did. Read many posts about how these dip sticks suck. Suspected it was probably just a little low so I stopped by the dealer next morning for them to look at it. Didn't want to add oil in case that wasn't the issue. Tech confirmed it was a quart low and that the dip stick on these cars do suck. Added a quart and it was easily read in the hash mark area. __________________

08-30-2012, 09:08 AM	#8
DRKS1D3 Drives: '17 Corvette Grand Sport M7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,748	Funny this came up. My car needed the oil changed for the first time (took it to the dealer). Yes, I took it to the dealer for a change. I've crawled under a lot of cars in my day and for 20 minutes and $70, it's less hastle. When they rung me up at the register, the receipt said 6 quarts of Mobil 1 on it. I questioned them and said these cars take 8.5 quarts. They assured me it was filled. I drove it home (2 miles) and let it sit over night. I pulled the dipstick several times in the sunlight and the thing looked low (way under the required criss-cross hashmark section). The oil was puddled at a quart low on the stick, but there was oil residue the entire way up the damn thing. It was difficult to read! I checked and rechecked and decided it was INDEED a quart low. I had a new quart of Mobil 1 in my garage, so I added it and let it settle. I checked it again and it now appears it's at the correct level. For some help, I took a white rag and set it on my strut tower brace. As soon as I'd pull the dipstick, I'd lay it on the rag and fold the rag over on it. This allowed me to easily see where the oil was staining the rag in reference to the hashmarks on the stick. Agreed, it's tough to read. __________________ MY RIDE: 2017 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT--TRIPLE BLACK, 7 SPEED MANUAL, VARARAM TCR-7 INTAKE, BORLA CATLESS X-PIPE, CARBON FIBER STAGE 2 AERO, MGW SHORT-THROW SHIFTER SOLD2011 TRIPLE BLACK SS CONVERTIBLE--6 SPEED MANUAL, MANY MODS, 455 RWHP/435 RWTQ DAD'S RIDE: 2012 ZL1 #1866--BLACK, 6 SPEED MANUAL, EXPOSED CF HOOD, POLISHED WHEELS, SUNROOF, ROTO-FAB INTAKE "Silly Americans, taking from the rich and giving to the poor only works in fairy tales. Success is earned here!".

08-30-2012, 07:16 AM	#5
Higgs Boson Perpetual Order Drives: indeed Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 1,277	park the car hot. wait a few minutes. remove dipstick and wipe off completely. reinsert into tube and remove immediately. hold horizontally and look at level. done. glasses needed? contacts? more light in the garage? less light outdoors? etc. it's no harder or easier to read than any other dipstick.

08-30-2012, 09:22 AM	#9
Sword5 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 1,164 View My Garage	Agreed, have to look at it several times to get a good reading. __________________ Ordered 6/19/09 Black on Black 2 SS Delivery 10/14/09! Added CAI, Heritage Grill, DRL Plug and Play Harness

08-30-2012, 09:58 AM	#10
Higgs Boson Perpetual Order Drives: indeed Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 1,277	also, if you furrow your brow while reading the dipstick its the same as moving your lips while reading to yourself. watch out!

08-30-2012, 10:01 AM	#11
babytiger it's hers... Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: katy, tx Posts: 1,202	I know what your saying OP, when I pull the dipstick I have to move out from under the hood to the side of the engine compartment. Obtain more direct light, sometimes have to turn the dipstick back and forth to find the level.

08-30-2012, 10:10 AM	#12
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,849	Some dipsticks are very hard to read. Most of the ones I've had problems with over the years are one the take hard bend or more than one bend to get to the pan. Try sticking it in 180 degrees from how it was. Most will only let you do two ways depending on the shape of the tube it fits into. I loved your reply to kronix. That was funny.

08-30-2012, 10:41 AM	#14
GMTool MY SS is SOLD Drives: AGM 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 1,838	After I just change my oil in any of my vehicles, seeing the clear oil on the end of the dipstick takes a little more eyeballing then when the oil is dark. But from day one of owning the Camaro I have thought that this dipstick is long, flimsy, and takes a little more effort to gently get it pass the bend. It is not a smooth in and out slide. __________________ CAI, Dynatech Headers, HF Cats, JRE Tuned, Corsa Cat Back, Strut Tower Brace.