[chaudh2s]

I have noticed that in 2 of my current cars, the engine oil dipstick is pretty much useless. Hyundai Grand i10 1.1 Diesel and Ford Endeavour 2.2 are the cars that are affected, and in both cars no matter how many times i clean the dipstick, re-insert, re-check, engine off for hours and days, the oil level cutoff is not clearly marked. The oil inevitably get smeared above the maximum oil level, making it impossible to read the exact level.
This problem i never faced in any of my previous cars, over more than 30 years of multiple car ownership.

Is this a problem which is isolated to just 2 of my cars, or a generic one faced by other forum members too? In case others too are facing this problem, it points out to a bad design of the dipstick or the channel in which it slides.
Being the car enthusiast that i am, it makes my life very stressful, thinking of the harm that the engine might be taking, due to too less or too much engine oil.

[a4anurag]

Sort of agree with you on it. Have a Creta 1.6L CRDi. Here are the images from my cars dipstick:

Dipstick cleaned, clear markings


Here's after putting it back and pulling it out


Can you share your cars dipstick images?

I'll say it is the dipstick channel that'll be creating the smear.

[chaudh2s]

Thanks Anurag for the pictures!
This is exactly what am talking about. Same problem with my cars too. Now, how do we find out what is the actual level? I will share pictures later today.

[R2D2]

The oil should always be between the L and F mark on the dipstick. If the dipstick shows higher (or lower) oil levels than those marks they correspond to too much or too less oil present in the sump. Some service centres overfill unless they use automated oil dispensers OR they haven't let the old oil drain out completely. The old oil should stop dribbling and only then should the drain plug be reinstalled

I first check my engine's oil level when it is cold. This is a precautionary step since I do not want to start driving with less oil in the sump. Remove and clean the dipstick with a tissue or CLEAN cloth. Reinsert it back into the tube wait for a few seconds and remove again. At this point it is always at Max or about 1-2 mm over it. I do this step 2 or 3 times to minimise erroneous readings.

Upon returning home I switch off the engine wait for the oil to settle back in the sump which takes about 2-3 minutes and follow the above process all over again. The oil is between the L and F marks.

Check your OM for the exact procedure.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Some service centres overfill unless they use automated oil dispensers OR they haven't let the old oil drain out completely. The old oil should stop dribbling and only then should the drain plug be reinstalled.

Since the 30K service was done with me beside the car, I specifically followed the above process as highlighted in Bold. I had 5.7L of the AMSOIL with me and as per the manual, the 1.6L CRDi takes in 5.3L oil. I am now left with 400ml oil in the bottle.

Originally Posted by R2D2

Check your OM for the exact procedure.

This is the process said by the manual:

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Since the 30K service was done with me beside the car, I specifically followed the above process as highlighted in Bold. I had 5.7L of the AMSOIL with me and as per the manual, the 1.6L CRDi takes in 5.3L oil. I am now left with 400ml oil in the bottle.

That's a good procedure to follow. Or, if it's not possible to monitor the tech give him the exact volume or slightly less oil in a can. You can always top off at home. For e.g. my cars take 4.2 and 3.8 litres respectively. I give the Toyota tech 4 litres and Fiat FNG chap 3.5 litres and top off 200 and 300 ml at home. Always ensuring I check oil levels before I leave the workshop.

I check under the hood every time I start the car in the morning since cats and kittens are known to take refuge there. One more silly practice I have is checking the floor for any fluids (oil, brake fluid, coolant) after I back out from the garage. It's a habit from the old days of the family owning poorly manufactured Premier Padminis and Ambassador cars that leaked fluids regularly. Many of my generation in this country (those who came of driving age in the 1980s) would commiserate with me.

This is the process said by the manual:

That notice in the lower right hand corner of the page. I believe that applies to not only diesels but petrol motors too. Do not overfill. Slightly less is better than slightly more.

[Lalvaz]

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

Thanks Anurag for the pictures!
This is exactly what am talking about. Same problem with my cars too. Now, how do we find out what is the actual level? I will share pictures later today.

The pictures shared show a higher level of oil than the recommendation. Hence you should drain out some oil so that the level comes below the Full mark.

Its not recommended to overfill the oil, especially in turbo engines.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Do not overfill. Slightly less is better than slightly more.

Originally Posted by a4anurag

I am now left with 400ml oil in the bottle.

Overfilling by a couple of hundred ml is a very common practice. I am saying common and not recommended. (and certainly not harmless!)

Actually, this is a perennial problem in K10 series engines of Maruti. The recommended quantity is 2.9l and 99 out of 100 times, the mechanics empty the complete 3l bottle into the engine.

Also, over the years I have seen that while we can exactly monitor the amount of oil that goes in, the same can't be said of the quantity coming out. Unless careful, the drain nut goes back on even before the last of the oil comes out fully.

[condor]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Here's after putting it back and pulling it out

Anurag, how sure are you that the A.S.S has put in only the recommended quantity of oil ? I have often seen them add extra oil. I have even gone back to get some of the oil removed.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by condor

Anurag, how sure are you that the A.S.S has put in only the recommended quantity of oil?

I was beside the car during the service as mentioned in my earlier post. I gave him 5.3L oil to be poured in. May be I should have added 5.0-5.1L oil and then topped up later on if required like R2D2 sir's method.

[condor]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

May be I should have added 5.0-5.1L oil and then topped up later on if required like R2D2 sir's method.

Yes, pls. Next time - add even half lit less. Check the level and then add to come to correct level. Do check the dip-stick after that.

I take it that you took 5.3 lit based on what was mentioned in the manual ?

[chaudh2s]

Showing the situation with my 2.2 Endeavour. Gi10 is similar to what Anurag showed on his Creta. This is the situation when the oil filled was 8.2L as against 8.6L required, and changed in front of my eyes.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Here's after putting it back and pulling it out

Nothing wrong with the dipstick, as explained by other members it’s over filled!

Originally Posted by chaudh2s

Showing the situation with my 2.2 Endeavour. Gi10 is similar to what Anurag showed on his Creta. This is the situation when the oil filled was 8.2L as against 8.6L required, and changed in front of my eyes.

Again, nothing wrong with the dipstick. It still shows whatever the level of oil is. Looks like you were low on oil to start with and now about 1/3 between F and L

Don’t go by how much oil is supposed to go in the engine. You simple don’t know how much gets left behind. It depends on the temperature, how old the oll was to start with so it could easily vary by several 100 ml. That is why you should use the dipstick to check and carefully fill to close to the full mark.

Jeroen

[sudev]

You can also end up with more oil than recommended if your do not change oil filter. The oil inside the canister will always enter the oil flow in sump and you will end up with higher levels.

That Endy needs more oil. ASAP.

[DRIV3R]

It’s simple and easy to read a dipstick. First things first, there are two types of dipsticks.

1 - the one with a flat form factor, mostly with two holes for low and full levels and a twist at the bottom end of it (as in the Creta dipstick shared by a4anurag in this thread)

2 - the one with a circular form factor, with no holes, and usually with a knurled bottom portion, with no twist at the bottom end of it (as in the Endeavour diptstick shared by the OP on this thread)

With 1, we are good with oil level anywhere between the two holes or L and F levels.

With 2, we are good as long as level is at the top end of the knurled portion. Nothing more, nothing less.

Oil levels are best checked in the mornings, after car has been parked overnight. Engine should be cold, and not started before checking.

Most service centres/FNGs overfill because they check levels when engine is hot and they do not give enough time for oil to trickle down fully (could take minimum an hour or more) and obviously due to the fact that sometimes they just overfill.