1995 1.6LX Dipstick reading (Engine Oil) - njwatts
I'm getting ambiguous readings from dipstick. The first reading I take with the car having been standing for a long time shows the level to be at "max" but if I replace the dipstick and look again it appears to show much higher level.

Is it possible that the process of replacing and removing the dipstick causes it to pick up oil from somewhere other than the sump and create a false reading?

Which reading should I trust?

And if I am running the engine with too much oil is that risky?

Ta, Nick.

{typo in header corrected}

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 09/10/2008 at 10:45

1995 1.6LX Dipstick readong (Engine Oil) - L'escargot
Taking the dipstick out the first time drags oil up the dipstick tube, which will stick to the dipstick the second (and any subsequent) time, so it's quite understandable that your second reading will be higher than the first. I just take the reading the first time (after it's stood overnight) and leave it at that.