Must wipe dipstick when checking oil?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jdm5jdm5, May 30, 2020.

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  1. Jdm5jdm5

    Jdm5jdm5 Light Load Member

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    When checking the oil, I usually wipe the dipstick and put it back in for about 5 seconds and read the dipstick

    I saw the guy i drive for pull the dipstick out, read it, then dip it back in, and read it again, without wiping it.

    Does wiping the dipstick matter? Is it more accurate one way or the other?
     
    Jdm5jdm5, May 30, 2020
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  2. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

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    This is one of these "from left field" questions I find funny. You really should have a clean dipstick clear of oil to get a good reading. The best time to check the oil is when the engine is off and cold. Still, I just always gave the dipstick a brief wipe.
     
    Moose1958, May 30, 2020
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  3. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    I seen a guy or two in my time pull a stick on the fuel island with the engine still running. Lol!
    If you got some on the stick when idleing you now it’s got plenty of oil in it,
    but not the correct way to do it.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2020
    SmallPackage, May 30, 2020
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  4. HoneyBadger67

    HoneyBadger67 Road Train Member

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    If the truck has been sitting for a couple hours, you're probably safe with whatever reading you get just pulling and looking, but how difficult is it to wipe and check again? I sometimes wipe two pulls.
     
    HoneyBadger67, May 30, 2020
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  5. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    If you dont wipe the stick it will give you a false reading as the rotation of the crankshaft will splash oil onto the dipstick.
     
    lovesthedrive, May 30, 2020
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  6. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    If you cant find a rag. Presuming your wearing long pants (blue jeans) you can use your pants leg end to wipe the stick. It isnt that noticeable.
     
    lovesthedrive, May 30, 2020
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  7. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    I wipe the dipstick on the cuff of my pants all the time, thats why they put them there.
     
    Rubber duck kw, May 30, 2020
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  8. Qbf594

    Qbf594 Road Train Member

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    Answer my silly girl question. My international 2020 dipstick is the kind that has a 1/4 turn to lock it. If I give it that turn the oil is smeared. If I don't turn it it's not exactly all the way down.
    So I look in the morning when it's cold, wipe it off, put it back in without the twist and look again. This truck is only a baby at 92k so I only look maybe 1x a week and it never shows leakage so I'm not worried. I did top off 1 time with 1/2 a jug way back when I'd had it a month or so.
    So what's the proper procedure for my truck??
     
    Qbf594, May 30, 2020
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  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Wipe and put it back in. More than once I've had the stick show more oil on the initial pull than any subsequent ones for some reason.
     
    AModelCat, May 30, 2020
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  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    My old Kitty has 2 seperate sets of markings. Engine off and engine low idle. Its quite common on equipment to have markings like that.
     
    AModelCat, May 30, 2020
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