Club 80-90 Forums

Why when checking my oil when its been left standing the oil level on the dipstick is all over the dipstick to the markers, but when checking again a few mins after there never seems to be the same amount of oil on the dipstick ? Its always been like this ! Guess Im used to modern cars where its always the same. Its on flat ground.

Anyone else suffer this ?

Think about the path the dipstick takes - long and fairly horizontal - lots of places for oiliness to gather when the engine's running.

Pull the dipstick out, and that'll wipe a fair few corners onto the stick, together with the oily spray inside the running engine. Which is why you should always pull it, wipe it, stick it back in, then pull it to read.

Why when checking my oil when its been left standing the oil level on the dipstick is all over the dipstick to the markers, but when checking again a few mins after there never seems to be the same amount of oil on the dipstick ? Its always been like this ! Guess Im used to modern cars where its always the same. Its on flat ground.

Yes I get that but that's not what I asked, after wiping then putting back in it will give a different reading say 2 nd time wiped and dipped

Is dipstick al the way in? The top on mine is a proper pig to get fully in the tube, it feels like its all the way in but with a wiggle it goes in more.

just adding I know how to check oil I'm not that stupid !

will try wiggling the dipstick that makes total sense

pulled the dip stick out of the car recently and it had no oil on it, horrified I dipped again a couple of times and it was correct level, how on earth does that happen?