Messy Dip Stick

[ChiGGz]

once in a while I check my oil just to be on the safe side.
But I always have to wait over half an hour to get a reading from my dipstick because I find that the oil is splattered to about 1/4 of the dipstick. That's as far as the splatter goes, so I was wondering if this would be something I'd have to look into?

 

[kenamond]

once in a while I check my oil just to be on the safe side.
But I always have to wait over half an hour to get a reading from my dipstick because I find that the oil is splattered to about 1/4 of the dipstick. That's as far as the splatter goes, so I was wondering if this would be something I'd have to look into?

Roughly 1/4 of it is in the oil pan. Pull it out, wipe it off, put it back in (all the way), pull it back out, check the reading. Gas stations usually have paper towel dispensers with the window squeegies.

 

[ChiGGz]

Roughly 1/4 of it is in the oil pan. Pull it out, wipe it off, put it back in (all the way), pull it back out, check the reading. Gas stations usually have paper towel dispensers with the window squeegies.

Well, the problem is that when i put it back in after cleaning it, the oil line is still all over the stick. I actually have to wait for the excess oil to drip back down before I can get an accurate level.

So for example, if I read it right after a drive, the level will read past the dip stick marks.

 

[gernoff]

Sound like crank case pressure is blowing oil up the dip stick tube. Is the crank case vented properly? Do you have an oil catch can? How well is it vented?

 

[brute]

Weird... I just noticed I had this same exact problem like an hour ago. I have a new dipstick waiting for me at the dealer so I didn't pay too much attention to it. However, in my ponderings, I came to the conclusion that it might be water or something got on there from a rag. So when you wipe it off, a tiny bit of water residue gets on the dipstick. Then, when you plunge it into the oil, the oil beads out. Almost like rain on a new wax job.

 

[ChiGGz]

Sound like crank case pressure is blowing oil up the dip stick tube. Is the crank case vented properly? Do you have an oil catch can? How well is it vented?

I have two vents going to a catch can in the valve cover. Are there anymore vents i should know about?

 

[oittehgaps]

"I have two vents going to a catch can in the valve cover. Are there anymore vents I should know about?"

Yes. There is also a postitive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve). It is basically a one way check valve in a vaccum line going to your intake manifold. It opens at idle and lets crankcase pressure into your intake manifold. Once you start making boost it closes so you don't leak boost into your crankcase. Some times they get stuck. Its approx $3-5 at NAPA.

 

[kenamond]

"I have two vents going to a catch can in the valve cover. Are there anymore vents I should know about?"

Yes. There is also a postitive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve). It is basically a one way check valve in a vaccum line going to your intake manifold. It opens at idle and lets crankcase pressure into your intake manifold. Once you start making boost it closes so you don't leak boost into your crankcase. Some times they get stuck. Its approx $3-5 at NAPA.

Actually, there are only 2 "vents" on the valve cover. The one on the side is the "valve cover breather" which lets air go both ways. Under vaccuum (idle or cruising), air is going in that tube. The one on the back-left side is the PCV valve which has a vac line on it running to the intake manifold. It is supposed to be one-way OUT of the VC. When the IM sees vaccuum, air gets sucked through the PCV, and the air it sucks out is "replaced" by the air coming in the VC breather. This ventilates the crankcase so that fuel-rich air which blows by the rings during the compression stroke can be purged from the crankcase (or it will settle in the oil and degrade it). Under boost, the PCV closes (unless it's worn out) so that your boosted IM doesn't blow air into the crankcase and blow seals. In this situation, the blowby needs somewhere to go, so it goes out the VC breather and gets drawn through the intake to get a 2nd chance at burning.

If you block off the VC breather, the crankcase will pressurize itself. The most common side-effect is that your dipstick tube will pop out and blow oil everywhere.

If your catchcan is letting air out of your VC, your dipstick shouldn't be popping.