Yes you need to pull the dipstick out and wipe it, insert it fully then remove and read.
Reading it on the first pull will never be accurate.

 

MrNomer has noticed that even a little off level can be significant.

 

Can you give more details? What was the issue with a little off oil level? Was it too high or too low?

 

I always found that style of dipstick to be a PIA. It would collect oil on the wire during insertion. The bullet tip is hard to read. I’d be wiping it clean and reinserting many times and still getting oil slopped all over the wire and bullet.

For 2023 they went back to an old fashion American blade style dipstick. No more Euro style. WAY easier to get a good reading now.

Follow the oil geek on youtube. NASCAR driver Lake Speed’s son runs it. Overfilling maintains better oil pressure throughout the engines RPM range, but reduces HP. Not the end of the world.

 

♦♦♦ How does van slope side to side effect the dip stick level ? ♦♦♦

Inquiring minds want to know... A rough sketch.

Stop guessing: Find a level spot. Glue on a bubble level (shim to make it read level if needed). Now you will always know that you are close to level whenever you check your oil. ---KenA

ps... The dip stick may be somewhere in the middle of the pan which would lessen the inaccuracy. (I did say approximate).

 

The business end of the dipstick protrudes into the lower oil pan at the very front of the pan (favors the passenger side a little). So, front to back level of the van affects the measurement with the stick. Overnight draindown will make a little difference as well.

Also, the pan is not particularly strong in the middle, so check that the oil pan has not been dented upwards from an impact, etc. That can displace the oil level upwards too.

 

It's funny I happened to catch this, as I was considering a similar post. I see too much oil when I first pull the dipstick out, wipe it, and then try again and see none. It is concerning, but I definitely have no leaks and doubtfully am burning oil at 31K and she runs fine.

I do my own oil changes, this last time sucking the old oil out through the dipstick tube and opened the pan's drain plug and reached in to confirm empty. I am considering sucking it all back out again to measure and confirm volume. I've only driven about 1K on it since the oil change and what I see on the dipstick seems clean. My theory is the oil is simply not sticking to the dipstick... but then again, maybe I'm the dipstick... 😁

 

. . . I see too much oil when I first pull the dipstick out, wipe it, and then try again and see none. . . .

I was always taught that the first reading is invalid. Only the second reading after the wipe is valid.

Maybe oil wicks up the tube around the stick? Or the splashing of the crank pushes oil up the tube?

Maybe we can appeal to the higher power of ProMaster maintenance . . . @Kip-on-truckin: please tell us the right way to check the earl.

 

What I noticed on mine is that the oil level depends a lot on multiple factors. Is the van level? Is the oil cold or hot? How long do you wait after you shut down the engine before checking the oil? Don't worry to much about it. Engine won't grenade if it has a little bit too much or a little bit less oil. Now if it was a lot over or under I would worry.

 

It could be the result of a damaged head gasket. Do you see any water mixed with the oil on the stick? It usually looks like little bubbles.

 

I've been putting in 5qts(US qts) at every change. Dipstick always shows full. It's either not draining it all out or 5qts is fine, even thought the manual says 6qt. 10 years, 70K, 5qts a change has been fine for me.

 

On ours, 5.6 ltrs (6 qts) has always registered a little over full. The tiniest bit over the top of the bullet. I've gone to 5.5 ltrs recently, mainly to make the leftover amount (0.5 ltr) ready for the next oil change. But that 2% reduction is barely noticable on the dipstick.

 

From the 2016 Owner Manual. No chicken dance or slide rule required.

Engine Oil

Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil must be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil level at regular intervals, such as every fuel stop. The best time to check the engine oil level is about five minutes after a fully warmed engine is shut OFF. Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Maintain the oil level between the MIN and MAX markings on the dipstick. Adding one quart of oil when the reading is at the MIN mark will result in a MAX reading on these engines.

CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling will cause oil aeration, or loss of oil pressure. This could damage your engine.