Interpreting oil levels on the dipstick
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Posts: 3
Car Info: 2006 wrx wagon
Interpreting oil levels on the dipstick
Hi All,
Just got a 06 wagon and had a question reading the oil level on the dipstick. I have to wipe and put the dipstick in about 3 times before I get a consistent reading. On the 3rd time I notice that one side of the dipstick the oil level is about half way between the Low and High mark, but on the other side of the dipstick the oil level is right under the High mark. So my question is which side is the actual reading of my oil level?
Thanks in advance for the help
Note: I do make sure the dipstick is all the way in before I take it out and check the oil. I have about 2K miles on the car and using mobil 1 5w-30. I change the oil to full synthetic when I hit 1,200 miles.
Just got a 06 wagon and had a question reading the oil level on the dipstick. I have to wipe and put the dipstick in about 3 times before I get a consistent reading. On the 3rd time I notice that one side of the dipstick the oil level is about half way between the Low and High mark, but on the other side of the dipstick the oil level is right under the High mark. So my question is which side is the actual reading of my oil level?
Thanks in advance for the help
Note: I do make sure the dipstick is all the way in before I take it out and check the oil. I have about 2K miles on the car and using mobil 1 5w-30. I change the oil to full synthetic when I hit 1,200 miles.
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Posts: 3
Car Info: 2006 wrx wagon
Originally Posted by ThomasW
Hi All,
Just got a 06 wagon and had a question reading the oil level on the dipstick. I have to wipe and put the dipstick in about 3 times before I get a consistent reading. On the 3rd time I notice that one side of the dipstick the oil level is about half way between the Low and High mark, but on the other side of the dipstick the oil level is right under the High mark. So my question is which side is the actual reading of my oil level?
Thanks in advance for the help
Note: I do make sure the dipstick is all the way in before I take it out and check the oil. I have about 2K miles on the car and using mobil 1 5w-30. I change the oil to full synthetic when I hit 1,200 miles.
Just got a 06 wagon and had a question reading the oil level on the dipstick. I have to wipe and put the dipstick in about 3 times before I get a consistent reading. On the 3rd time I notice that one side of the dipstick the oil level is about half way between the Low and High mark, but on the other side of the dipstick the oil level is right under the High mark. So my question is which side is the actual reading of my oil level?
Thanks in advance for the help
Note: I do make sure the dipstick is all the way in before I take it out and check the oil. I have about 2K miles on the car and using mobil 1 5w-30. I change the oil to full synthetic when I hit 1,200 miles.
So no matter how many times I wipe the dipstick I will get the same results. So would my oil level be:
A:half full
or
B:full???
#4
Originally Posted by ThomasW
I just want to clarify that the top side of the dipstick shows the oil level between the L and H mark while the bottom side shows the oil level as full.
So no matter how many times I wipe the dipstick I will get the same results. So would my oil level be:
A:half full
or
B:full???
So no matter how many times I wipe the dipstick I will get the same results. So would my oil level be:
A:half full
or
B:full???
IIRC, the topside L and H is to be looked at when the oil is warm...not 100% sure though.
#5
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Car Info: '05 Crystal Grey Metallic WRX Sport Wagon
Either way (if you're at 'half' or 'full' on the dipstick, you're fine). There's one quart between the empty and full marks, and any place your oil is in between is fine. I usually go by the lower-reading-side, to make sure I have enough. That's when reading it cold. However it IS important to know that overfilling is just as bad as underfilling. There'a a mark higher on the dipstick above the 'full' mark that is the 'full when hot' mark. If the higher-reading-side is above that mark when you've just driven it a while, then you probably have too much oil. Also check out your owners manual because it has a picture with labels about what I said regarding the 'full when hot' mark.
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Posts: 3
Car Info: 2006 wrx wagon
Originally Posted by ThomasW
I just want to clarify that the top side of the dipstick shows the oil level between the L and H mark while the bottom side shows the oil level as full.
So no matter how many times I wipe the dipstick I will get the same results. So would my oil level be:
A:half full
or
B:full???
So no matter how many times I wipe the dipstick I will get the same results. So would my oil level be:
A:half full
or
B:full???
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,402
Car Info: 02 WRX wagon=dead; rollin' in a Craptastic Camry!
Any reading between the dots is fine. Based on what you described, I'd guess you are between the dots, and that adding an extra third of a quart would not overfill the oil. The important thing to notice is if the level starts going down quickly from where it was previously.
#9
i think for you to properly read the oil level, you would need to warm up the engine.
I can't say about subaru but that is what it say in my car manual for my toyota.
Subie might be different so i suggest take a look at the manual because there could be a Hot side and a cold side for dip stick.
I can't say about subaru but that is what it say in my car manual for my toyota.
Subie might be different so i suggest take a look at the manual because there could be a Hot side and a cold side for dip stick.
#10
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Same comment as MVWRX above which is the amount of oil difference b/w the low mark and the full mark on the dipstick is less than one quart. Given that our cars burn oil, I'd recommend checking it every couple of weeks (depending on how much you drive) and adding oil as needed. I changed my oil about 1.5K miles ago and less than a quart.
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