I roughed mine up with some sand paper to get the oil to stick a but better to it, this 0w-20 just runs like water

 

The 0w8 oil for new Toyotas is even harder to read on the dipstick. I had to sand the bottom 2 inches (across the stick) to get a reading that I trusted. This is good advice. Thanks!

 

Thanks: I forgot the mention the reading is made even more difficult due to the fact that the oil sort of leaves a long "tail" up the dipstick.

 

Changed my oil last night and even with the roughed up surface it still leaves that tail.

 

same problem here. I make sure I add exactly 4 quarts and im good. First time I added 4.5 quarts and my car was sluggish. Ill try the sand paper method

 

This is almost ridiculous, not to be able to accurately determine the oil level. I have tried many times. Sometimes it looks like it's over full, sometimes it looks like it's under full. It leaves streaks up the dipstick. One side will look full and the other will look low. I can't believe Toyota would have such a bad way to tell if your oil is full or not.

I always follow the manual. I do it the exact way it tells us to do it. I have let it sit for anywhere from 15 minutes to 5 days since it ran to check. It's always something different. Just now it looked over full, but the other side looked good. It scares me that we have to depend on this terrible system to check oil level. The same system has been in place for years, I would be surprised if this system has NOT led to breakdowns. It's SO hard to see where your oil level is.

Frustration......Glad I got mine new. I will leave to to the dealer for oil changes and when it gets older I will try the sanding. At least I know others are having the same problem as me.

 

Oh thank god this isn't just me. I just cannot get a true reading. One side looks fine, the other is over but not to the level where it would cause a problem.


How many liters is it with the filter change?

 

Toyota dipsticks are a pain.
The problem is when you withdraw the dipstick, it drags oil into the tube with it.

Helpful: Remove dipstick, wipe clean, and wait several minutes (5 or so) for the oil to drain back out of the tube.

You should get a clean reading. Always worked for my Tacoma and wife's Rav4.

 

I'm glad I found this. I used to do my own oil changes before I got the Rav4. Now the dealer does my oil changes. So I haven't checked my oil levels in a long time.

I'm about to go on a long road trip. Someone was telling me that ALL cars use up to a quart of oil between oil changes which I didn't believe because though my Dodges always did my Chevys didn't.

 

Hi try this.

 

Wanted to see if a year later anyone had any other suggestions? I'm running into the same issue. I'm trying to check between oil changes and am having trouble getting a read on it. It looks like it MAY be half a qt low, but like everyone else says, it seems to fluctuate between a full qt and none at all....

 

Just after oil changes level is prety hard to read!!!
But, after dumping old oli Toyota have specs about the quantity of oil to put back with and with out changing filter.

With filter 4.4 qt. (4.2 L, 3.7 Imp. qt.)
Without filter 4.1 qt. (3.9 L, 3.4 Imp. qt.)

Theoretically, if you respect the quantity ask you do not have to verify the level!!!

Toyota synthetic 0W20 have a very light color and is hard to read level wend it is new!!!
They should make it darker, it will be easier to read oil level!!!

After about 1 000KM or 600 miles, oil color and vicosity change and it will be easier to read oil level!!!

Sincerly yours

 

I took a drill to the dip stick. You dont even have to drill all the way through it. Take a drill bit that is just slightly larger than the marks at "full" and "add", and on the side of the stick that has the depression on it make the depression bigger. The oil will sit in there nicely. I also added one in the middle. I'll try to get some pictures up this week to show how easy it is to read.

 

Very nice, i wouldn't have thought have thought of it!!!

I hope to see some photos.

 

Robby10s, like cb91710 said earlier, here is a fool proof method of checking your oil level. First off, REMOVE the dipstick and wipe it clean. Put it aside for about 5-10 minutes. Insert the dipstick, dimples upward fully in the tube. Pull it out immediately and look on the dimpled side for your reading. The trick is to allow the drawn oil to flow back down the tube before you insert the dipstick again. This trick always works, but requires some time (5-10 minutes is more than enough). Try it out, you’ll see it works. Been doing that in Toyotas for a long time and it’s never failed.

 

Thanks so much! That method did look the most promising to me! I'll give it a shot today!

 

pictures

 

Do not look like you drill all the way through it!?!?

Seem like you make biger mark than original punch old!?!?

Any way it seem to work and make it easier to read oil level.
Great idea!!!

 

I just check it in the morning before first start and I can see the level perfectly.

 

I've tried that and I still get the same result. The winding road design of the dipstick tunnel just battles me the whole way, trolling me with bits of oil everywhere! LoL

 

Yes, it is annoying, but you have to remember even filling 0.5 - 1 qt over is not bad, and it will not harm your engine, just roughly measure out as accurately you can and you should be fine. remind you that most shops or even the dealers just go by a rough estimate, they will never underfill, but will often overfill a lil.

and YES, 0.5 - 1 qt over is NOT damaging, most track cars and "real" sport drivers fill 0.5 - 1.25 qt over, the listed amount.

 

Not worth the risk. Overfilling can result in the crankshaft causing foaming of the oil which is small air bubbles in the oil and that doesn't lubricate well. I would just make sure that it's filled to between the low and high marks on the dipstick.

 

I have the same problem with the dipstick reading extremely high on my 2013 Avalon V6. Took it to the dealer for a 0w-20 oil change & when I got home to check it, it looked like 2 qts. high. Went back to the dealer who checked with the mechanic & they verified the amount filled by the 6.5 empty quart bottles in their trash can. This must be a Toyota design flaw.

 

I ran over to the dealer that did the oil change just to be safe. They agreed it was difficult to read but that it was a little over. But not by a lot. And definitely not enough to affect anything. Said it looked like they may have added 4.7 instead of 4.6 quarts.