checking oil when stone cold- after sitting for days/overnight VS the 5 minutes indicated in manual

So i have a question regarding checking the oil in the V6.

i know, there are other threads but this is more specific.

i know that you can't pull the stick, then re-insert then check that way as per the manual, due to capillary action skewing the reading. I have tried and it's frustratingly difficult to get a good reading. That is how i have always done my other cars and it's always worked. I have done hundred of oil changes in my life on many different brands- except toyota.

i checked it the past couple times in the morning before i start it after it's sat a couple days and it seems to be a clean read. I am right below the high dimple on the stick and the stick above is perfectly clean of any oil. If i re-insert, then there are oil strands all over the stick.

I recently did the 1st oil change, adding 6 quarts after draining all the old out and changing filter. I did not add oil to the filter before re-installing like i normally do on my other cars.

SO how accurate is the check after it's sat all night and also if you check it after the first pull? I have seen some say to pull the stick after the 5 minutes, and set it someplace for an hour, then come back and check then. That seems really overly complicated. why not just check it 1st thing in the morning?


thoughts?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hard-time-reading-oil-dipstick.518170/

helps but want more.

 

My thought is you're way over-thinking this.


Pull it, wipe it, stick it back in, pull it, and read it. Make sure you're between the dots and you're good!


The only reason you need to crank up the engine after a change is to make sure oil's flowed into the filter. You would otherwise have a slightly higher than actual read.

 

i will have to disagree. every time i pull it, wipe it, put back in, pull it back out and check, the oil is all over the place. on both sides. it may be that the true level is more filled in but it's hard to see. i have gotten into the habit now of just checking when stone cold by just pulling and checking it then. I checked this morning and perfect. Last time ic hecked, i did the same stone cold one pull check. I did re-insert and check again for giggles, and there was oil about 2x the length of the "safe" zone. that's from oil getting on the inside of the tube when you re-insert and hitching a ride back up on the next check i believe.

in all my years, i have NEVER had this problem. I will chalk it up to a tacoma characteristic.

LOL.

 

you will think I am nuts (& I will likely get a bunch of off the wall responses to this), but here goes-
I have never checked my dipstick once in 6.5 years/321k miles

why?- I change my oil every month as I drive 5k miles per month (& perform oil changes every 5k miles, along with oil filter/lube 5 zerks)
I put exactly 5.5qts in & 5-5.25qts comes out (I measure it)
I never check the dipstick, just put the 5.5qts in & drive the snot out of my taco
crazy, huh?
lol

 

wow, that's ALOT of miles. KUDOS!

 

Yes sir...me too!!

 

Im attempting to go to 500k....179k to go

 

tacoma's are the best
built to last
gotta love our trucks
gen1, gen2, gen3....we love em all

 

I have had this problem on other cars. If there is oil up the sides, I discount that and just consider the level where it is completely across the dipstick. In then end, we have a generous safe zone between the marks. About one quart. I personally like it near the top mark, but we are good to go if the stick is wet.

Like you, I generally check oil levels cold. Just quicker and easier. If the motor is cold and it is at the bottom mark, definitely add some.

 

I usually let my truck sit overnight before checking too.

 

***
WRONG!!!
After you pulled the stick out and set it aside, did you take two steps to the right, one step back, spin around four times, one step to the left and jump up twice? If not, the oil reading will be wrong. I do this every time and oil level is perfect.
---
start car for 2-3 min to warm up the oil and move it around.
drain oil, replace filter.
add oil per manual indications (6.3qt)
start car for 2-3 min
stop car and check the oil level (between dots is a qt of oil. If in the middle of the dots add 1/2 qt of oil)
clean around and look for drips.
drive it.