Dipstick smearing

[V8S]

I've noticed in the past year that it's very very difficult to get a clear oil level reading on my V8.

I can wait a day, clean the dipstick and then dip and it'll come out smeared up the stick about 6 inches from the bottom.

I can take the dipstick completely out, put a rag over the tube and leave it overnight and it'll still smear up a clean stick. It's like the oil in the tube never drips down.

It is VERY frustrating.

Any ideas? Does anyone else have that problem?

[V8Bart]

what about when the engine is hot?

[V8S]

Same.

[V8S]

Any ideas?

[greymrj]

Not sure about the tube in the V8, cant remember how it is fitted. In the V6 the tube can get damaged and bent, in which case the dipstick simply cannot get out without smearing. I have also seen a V6 one crushed at the bottom so the stick was a tight fit and came out 'wiped' and very difficult to read.
In my 'daily diesel' the tube is not straight and I have to be careful not to rotate the stick as it comes out, one side will always be smeared but the other gives a true reading.
Doubt if any of that will be relevant to you but it just might be.

[V8S]

Hopefully I can get TVRSW to check if there's bentness next week.

[phillpot]

Pop another 1/2 litre of oil in, it'll be fine






Is it so smeared you can't make out the completely covered part from the smearing? Photo????