Dipstick Inconsistency - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Jasper · 04-10-2021, 05:32 PM

Does anyone share the issue of having to re-read the dipstick more than 3 times in a row to get the correct measurement?

One side reads low, other side reads high.
Re-measure- low side reads higher, high side reads higher.
Re-measure- low side reads lower, high side reads lower.

I understand it's the way these motors are built but what is a fool-proof way to know you've filled up enough/haven't overfilled?

I know there are aftermarket dipsticks where they provide a button (air suction button to my knowledge) that allows the dipstick to read precisely each time- but I'm not trying to spend $75+ for a dipstick. There must be a way.

Transport3r · 04-10-2021, 05:37 PM

One side of the dipstick always reads wrong (way high), ignore that one. The other side is a bit inconsistent but making the surface a bit rougher by sanding it made a pretty good difference in increasing the repeatability.

tomm.brz · 04-11-2021, 09:54 AM

it s kinda important the ground your car is parked in, must be very flat and no pendency

Jasper · 04-11-2021, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomm.brz

it s kinda important the ground your car is parked in, must be very flat and no pendency

Definitely took that into account with all my dipstick measurements.
Leveled parking still does not allow consistent readings in my case.
Not just on my current 86, but also the same in my old FRS.
Same thing happens in my friend's STI.

Jasper · 04-11-2021, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Transport3r

One side of the dipstick always reads wrong (way high), ignore that one. The other side is a bit inconsistent but making the surface a bit rougher by sanding it made a pretty good difference in increasing the repeatability.

Sanding is a good idea. Do you typically allow it to sit before reading the measurement? Or do you do push in and pull out really quickly? I personally noticed if I bend the dipstick to have a curve (curved in position facing the car, curved out position facing me) it seems to be a little bit more consistent but still not 100% accurate.

JD001 · 04-11-2021, 06:13 PM

What if you over sand? Too much oil will stick to the dipstick giving a false reading..

soundman98 · 04-11-2021, 08:08 PM

there's so much oil that goes so many places and slowly drains back, if at all, i don't ever expect to get a real reading.

close is close.

MuseChaser · 04-11-2021, 10:04 PM

I mistook this for an astute political observation. My bad.

Jasper · 04-12-2021, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD001

What if you over sand? Too much oil will stick to the dipstick giving a false reading..

Well maybe it's f*cking worth it to just get the $80 accurate dipstick. Fml... haha

Wally86 · 04-13-2021, 08:23 AM

I just do what you do. Take multiple measurements and hope for the best lol.

I have noticed the "low side" (what i call the front which actually points to the back of the car) seems to be more reliable when adding oil so I trust that side more.

DarkPira7e · 04-13-2021, 10:39 AM

Worry about it when the dipstick comes out dry

cmiovino · 04-13-2021, 12:17 PM

I never really had an issue. One side will be correct and the other will be way high. Only look at the lower side.

In general, you want enough oil in there that the high hole is filled with oil, which will only happen when the actual oil is at that level. The 'high' reading will just slosh oil up the one side of it and not fill that hole.

As far as consistent reading, I check mine weekly before autocross and it's dead on every time.

04-10-2021, 05:32 PM	#1
Jasper Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Drives: 2023 GR86 Location: NoVA Posts: 51 Thanks: 32 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Dipstick Inconsistency Does anyone share the issue of having to re-read the dipstick more than 3 times in a row to get the correct measurement? One side reads low, other side reads high. Re-measure- low side reads higher, high side reads higher. Re-measure- low side reads lower, high side reads lower. I understand it's the way these motors are built but what is a fool-proof way to know you've filled up enough/haven't overfilled? I know there are aftermarket dipsticks where they provide a button (air suction button to my knowledge) that allows the dipstick to read precisely each time- but I'm not trying to spend $75+ for a dipstick. There must be a way.

04-10-2021, 05:37 PM	#2
Transport3r Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Drives: - Location: US Posts: 288 Thanks: 203 Thanked 294 Times in 147 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Dipstick Inconsistency One side of the dipstick always reads wrong (way high), ignore that one. The other side is a bit inconsistent but making the surface a bit rougher by sanding it made a pretty good difference in increasing the repeatability.

04-11-2021, 08:08 PM	#7
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,675 Times in 6,782 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	there's so much oil that goes so many places and slowly drains back, if at all, i don't ever expect to get a real reading. close is close. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

04-11-2021, 10:04 PM	#8
MuseChaser Feeling like thinking.... Join Date: Oct 2015 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: CNY Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 1,664 Thanked 2,433 Times in 1,064 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I mistook this for an astute political observation. My bad. __________________ Drive like everyone's life around you depends on it...

04-13-2021, 08:23 AM	#10
Wally86 Be Kind Join Date: Apr 2020 Drives: 2020 86 Location: MD Posts: 1,100 Thanks: 5,393 Thanked 1,296 Times in 622 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I just do what you do. Take multiple measurements and hope for the best lol. I have noticed the "low side" (what i call the front which actually points to the back of the car) seems to be more reliable when adding oil so I trust that side more. __________________ [Insert clever signature here] IG \| WhiskyBlog \| Photography

04-11-2021, 09:54 AM	#3
tomm.brz Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Drives: brz 2017 hksv2 Location: italy Posts: 2,235 Thanks: 506 Thanked 1,099 Times in 795 Posts Mentioned: 67 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	it s kinda important the ground your car is parked in, must be very flat and no pendency

04-11-2021, 06:13 PM	#6
JD001 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: UK Posts: 6,121 Thanks: 7,774 Thanked 6,321 Times in 3,547 Posts Mentioned: 26 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	What if you over sand? Too much oil will stick to the dipstick giving a false reading..

04-13-2021, 10:39 AM	#11
DarkPira7e Rust bucket enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: 2013 Turbo Firestorm FRS Location: Vermont Posts: 3,969 Thanks: 3,237 Thanked 4,122 Times in 2,062 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Worry about it when the dipstick comes out dry __________________ Turbo FR-S Build - Build Thread JDL EL Recirc manifold, Boostlab BL58x Turbo w/ T51R, 17x9 ARC-8, IAG block

04-13-2021, 12:17 PM	#12
cmiovino Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Drives: 2017 BRZ PP, 2004 WRX Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 415 Thanks: 35 Thanked 305 Times in 188 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I never really had an issue. One side will be correct and the other will be way high. Only look at the lower side. In general, you want enough oil in there that the high hole is filled with oil, which will only happen when the actual oil is at that level. The 'high' reading will just slosh oil up the one side of it and not fill that hole. As far as consistent reading, I check mine weekly before autocross and it's dead on every time. __________________ 2017 BRZ Limited Performance Pack - Steel Cities Region SCCA / North Hills Sports Car Club

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