Hello, I have a unique situation. When I try to check my oil level (remove, wipe, insert, and remove dipstick) there is oil all over the dipstick and the level is not distinguishable with the LOW and FULL markings. It's just a mess. I know the oil level has to be a little low since the car burns oil as you drive. Am I doing something wrong? I have a 1988 Rx-7 Turbo 2.

 

welcome to the board.

describe "all over the dipstick".

all i can think of is maybe it was over-filled. when was your last change?

 

There's no distinct line like on other cars that I've checked oil for. The dipstick has oil present on the entire end, above the FULL marking. Could it be possible that the inlet where I insert the dipstick may have oil on the sides and is sticking to the dipstick as i pull it out?

I haven't driven the car for a while, so I do not remember when my last oil change is. However, back when I did drive the car, I never added oil regularly because it always seemed full.

I'm going to change oil this weekend, so I will try to see if there is an amount of oil, as I'm adding it, where the dipstick doesn't have oil all over the end. I will post pics too.

 

sometimes it takes 4-5 stabs/wipes to get an accurate reading, the RX8 is even worse than any of these cars.

if it still reads above the hash marks then it is likely just over full.

when doing an oil change start with 4.5quarts and add as necessary.

 

Any heavy fuel smell with the oil?

 

I checked oil again last weekend, stabbing/wiping 4-5 times. When I don't insert the dipstick all the way, the oil line stays withing the markings, so I'm guessing it may be overfilled. Here are some pics of what I'm seeing. I also noticed my dipstick looks different from the ones in both the Haynes and FSM. I'm not sure if it's the correct one for my car, but it's the one that came with it when I bought the car. Also, there's no heavy fuel smell in my oil.

 

that dipstick is the correct one,so no worry about that.
IF you feel that the oil level is incorrect then the best thing to do is drain it and then toss in 4.5 liters and then measure it,adding as you need it.Fill to the MAX line and you are done.
If you measure the old oil that came out of it and it exceeds the 4.5 liters or so then it will have been excessively filled.

the level I see on that stick however is a "wee-wee" bit over max,but not critical.
Honestly if you are picky,just drain a couple ounces out of it.Personally being at that "dented portion" of the stick,I would not even do that.