Worst dipstick ever 02-03 (VQ)
05-29-2012, 06:24 PM
#1
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Worst dipstick ever 02-03 (VQ)
I can never seem to tell if the oil is low or high, it always comes out fully coated in oil. Like literally no reading at all. It's stupid and annoying.
Does anyone else have this problem? I'm not sure if it's just my dipstick or a problem with these motors in general. Sorry if it's a noob question.....
I shouldn't have to wait for a ticking from the top end to know whether or not I should add oil. Lamee..
Does anyone else have this problem? I'm not sure if it's just my dipstick or a problem with these motors in general. Sorry if it's a noob question.....
I shouldn't have to wait for a ticking from the top end to know whether or not I should add oil. Lamee..
05-29-2012, 07:12 PM
#7
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C'mon guys, I'm not stupid. I don't have downs. Sorry if I came off that way with my post, I actually have plenty experience with vehicles (check my post in intro thread). I know how to check my oil, haha.
This even happens when the car is cold. No matter what I do, the whole dipstick is coated in oil. It's really frustrating. The dipstick is fine, not bent at all and locks right in..... It would be nice to know if I'm burning any since these VQ's are notorious for burning oil at higher mileages.
This even happens when the car is cold. No matter what I do, the whole dipstick is coated in oil. It's really frustrating. The dipstick is fine, not bent at all and locks right in..... It would be nice to know if I'm burning any since these VQ's are notorious for burning oil at higher mileages.
05-29-2012, 07:44 PM
#8
did you recently buy the car? If it's fully coated and you don't hear any weird noises when starting your car or see the oil light on, then just keep driving. It is possible your car doesn't burn oil and the last person filled it up a bit too much.
You should be able to tell once you do an oil change anyway, so if it doesn't look low then keep checking up on it once a week until you get that oil change.
You should be able to tell once you do an oil change anyway, so if it doesn't look low then keep checking up on it once a week until you get that oil change.
05-29-2012, 07:46 PM
#9
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The car is fairly new (to me).
Funny thing is, I just changed the oil. I knew the dipstick sucked, so I put in 4 quarts (holds 4.25 I think). But yeah, still comes up coated. Lamesauce.
Funny thing is, I just changed the oil. I knew the dipstick sucked, so I put in 4 quarts (holds 4.25 I think). But yeah, still comes up coated. Lamesauce.
05-29-2012, 07:47 PM
#10
This even happens when the car is cold. No matter what I do, the whole dipstick is coated in oil. It's really frustrating. The dipstick is fine, not bent at all and locks right in. It would be nice to know if I'm burning any since these VQ's are notorious for burning oil at higher mileages.
05-30-2012, 04:45 AM
#14
OP Car needs to be level. Check in the morning or after car has been sitting like everybody says for a while. Pull out wipe insert- wait a second-pull out again.
05-30-2012, 06:10 AM
#17
The OP is right that it's hard to read on the Maxima, because the dipstick doesn't go in straight, causing the oil to run down the stick. It was a beautiful thing when I realized how perfectly normal the dipstick design is on the G.
Cold engine. Level Ground. Wipe the stick very dry, insert all the way until seated firmly at the base, remove and read right away. You'll figure it out.
OMG, you guys
Cold engine. Level Ground. Wipe the stick very dry, insert all the way until seated firmly at the base, remove and read right away. You'll figure it out.
OMG, you guys
05-30-2012, 07:11 AM
#18
It's well-documented that the dipstick on the VQ is horrendous about accurate readings. You just have to keep trying, and eventually, you'll get a decent reading.
But if you think the dipstick on a transverse-mounted VQ is bad, you've obviously never messed with a dipstick from the RWD-variant. Talk about a PITA.
But if you think the dipstick on a transverse-mounted VQ is bad, you've obviously never messed with a dipstick from the RWD-variant. Talk about a PITA.
05-30-2012, 05:56 PM
#21
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It's well-documented that the dipstick on the VQ is horrendous about accurate readings. You just have to keep trying, and eventually, you'll get a decent reading.
But if you think the dipstick on a transverse-mounted VQ is bad, you've obviously never messed with a dipstick from the RWD-variant. Talk about a PITA.
But if you think the dipstick on a transverse-mounted VQ is bad, you've obviously never messed with a dipstick from the RWD-variant. Talk about a PITA.
05-30-2012, 09:19 PM
#23
I like to check it when it just barely warm. Drive somewhere and do your thing and then come out and check it. Still might take 5 or 6 times to get a good reading and even then who knows if it really is? Mine always reads low even though I know its not. Same with the tranny dipstick. They are both turrible
05-30-2012, 09:35 PM
#24
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5 or 6 times to read a dipstick? On my 3.5 i wait till the car is completely cold and while its on level ground i pull the dipstick, clean it well, and put it back in and when i take it out it gives me the actual reading every time. IT IS CRUCIAL to have the car on level ground, i don't even put it on a semi hill when trying to check it the ground has to be completely level.
05-30-2012, 09:37 PM
#25
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I just drain all of the oil out into a 6 quart measuring bowl.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
05-30-2012, 09:39 PM
#27
I just drain all of the oil out into a 6 quart measuring bowl.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
05-30-2012, 11:56 PM
#28
I just drain all of the oil out into a 6 quart measuring bowl.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
05-31-2012, 12:42 AM
#29
I gave up trying to get an accurate reading on the dipstick. Once I get that slight engine rattle noise from the top, I'll add a quart of oil. I think I'm around two weeks after an oil change. It dont help I park uphill either.
05-31-2012, 05:45 PM
#30
06-10-2012, 06:22 PM
#31
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 55
I noticed the same issue with the VQ dipstick. Here's what I have been doing for an accurate read:
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Shut it down and let it sit for a minute.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe clean.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way to the seated position.
5. Remove the dipstick and read the BACK of the dipstick and see where it corresponds on the labeled side.
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Shut it down and let it sit for a minute.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe clean.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way to the seated position.
5. Remove the dipstick and read the BACK of the dipstick and see where it corresponds on the labeled side.
06-10-2012, 07:25 PM
#32
my friends got a '73 911 with an '85 3.2 F-6 and you have to run the car till its pretty warm and them you can get a reading. i thought in '85 they would make a safer system to see if you're low on oil. what if you're low and you in the middle of warming up and something happens as the oil does the cooling and lubing
crazy fun car though... ~250hp in a 2500 lb car
06-10-2012, 09:07 PM
#33
I just drain all of the oil out into a 6 quart measuring bowl.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
If the volume of oil appears to be four and one quarter of the bowl's total volume, the oil level is fine and I can pour it back in. If the bowl is only half full, I am a quart low and I can add it in when I add the three quarts I just removed.
Of course, using this method you have to be mindful about the oil's viscosity, how much clings to the inside of the oil pan, the oil temp at time of draining, wind speed, chill factor, recent activity along the San Andres Fault (since I'm in SoCal), and what time High Tide is expected that evening....
But it's still easier than using Nissan's VQ dipstick.
06-10-2012, 09:16 PM
#34
I noticed the same issue with the VQ dipstick. Here's what I have been doing for an accurate read:
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Shut it down and let it sit for a minute.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe clean.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way to the seated position.
5. Remove the dipstick and read the BACK of the dipstick and see where it corresponds on the labeled side.
1. Warm up the engine.
2. Shut it down and let it sit for a minute.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe clean.
4. Re-insert the dipstick all the way to the seated position.
5. Remove the dipstick and read the BACK of the dipstick and see where it corresponds on the labeled side.
Just to take a slight detour. Oil was found low Saturday so went to a nearby Autozone to pick a couple of quarts up. Guy tries to tell me 10w-40 is wrong for my car and even after correcting him and mentioning the inherent oil burn issue of the VQ 3.5, he tried to sell me on engine restore. Ugh, these guys!
So don't go into an auto store complaining of your dipstick, may come out with a universal dipstick or box of condoms! Who knows!!
06-11-2012, 03:06 PM
#35
At least half the time I end up having to read it from the other side of the dipstick as well.
Just to take a slight detour. Oil was found low Saturday so went to a nearby Autozone to pick a couple of quarts up. Guy tries to tell me 10w-40 is wrong for my car and even after correcting him and mentioning the inherent oil burn issue of the VQ 3.5, he tried to sell me on engine restore. Ugh, these guys!
So don't go into an auto store complaining of your dipstick, may come out with a universal dipstick or box of condoms! Who knows!!
Just to take a slight detour. Oil was found low Saturday so went to a nearby Autozone to pick a couple of quarts up. Guy tries to tell me 10w-40 is wrong for my car and even after correcting him and mentioning the inherent oil burn issue of the VQ 3.5, he tried to sell me on engine restore. Ugh, these guys!
So don't go into an auto store complaining of your dipstick, may come out with a universal dipstick or box of condoms! Who knows!!
06-11-2012, 04:33 PM
#39
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