Anyone else have a hard time reading engine oil level on 06?? The litle scoop at the bottom of the dipstick is impossible to read. I much prefer the blade type distick over the cable type used in the 06 any day.
Anyone else have a hard time reading engine oil level on 06??
boosthead
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Oohhhhh............. and I guess using a dremmel to add your own hash-marks is a bad idea :hsugh:
I wonder if they'll have a super-fancy 4th-Dimension oil stick for the Mazdaspeed3 ....
I wonder if they'll have a super-fancy 4th-Dimension oil stick for the Mazdaspeed3 ....
So glad I found this forum - I thought I was losing it. I've been working on cars since before I was old enough to drive, but my '06 Mazda3i has me baffled. I just bought it about two weeks ago. Being a bit obsessive about my vehicles, I checked the oil after about 300 miles. It seemed a little bit low, so I added about a pint of oil, which didn't seem to change the level on the dipstick at all (not on the "proper" side, anyway). It seems to be just about right on the flipside of the dipstick, and I've put almost 200 miles on it since, with no apparent problems. Still, I worry about the possibilty that I may have overfilled it. I sure hope not, since not only is the car brand new, but it's a sweet, sweet driving machine. (Just for the record, I once owned a '92 Protege, and I never had any issues like this with that car.)
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77 Posts
I have same problem. But i stopped filling at 4.5 qts, owner's manual written capacity. The way to check it is to use the other side of the scoop instead. Look for a shine that isn't there when you wipe the oil off th dipstick. That shine means oil is touching that area. Hard to explain but you will know what i mean when you.
Take out the dipstick and wipe it off.
Look at the dipstick and you notice there's no liquid shine to it.
PUt it back in and take it out.
Now you will notice a shine. Need to put it at a certain angle to see it.
Take out the dipstick and wipe it off.
Look at the dipstick and you notice there's no liquid shine to it.
PUt it back in and take it out.
Now you will notice a shine. Need to put it at a certain angle to see it.
So when is somebody going to get creative. 
Our dipstick is metal so why not paint it or anodize it... Maybe that could make it easier to read... Maybe I should work on a safe and easy Dipstick Mod.
However, as long as the disptick is getting oil on it, and you put in about 4.25 quarts you know you're golden.
Sure it's hard to read. But we can tell when it "barely" touches the oil, and when it doesn't... and when it's drenched.
That's good enough I guess... You know our engines could run off only 2 quarts of oil. (though I wouldn't want that) hehe
If you put the stick in, and pull it out and it's completely dry, then add oil until it starts getting "wet". I think that's the primary purpose of our dipstick because temperature, car level, and all that good stuff is going to add to contingency.
BTW, I too think the dipstick should be a matte dark metal... and not the shiny slippery metal that makes it difficult to read.
Our dipstick is metal so why not paint it or anodize it... Maybe that could make it easier to read... Maybe I should work on a safe and easy Dipstick Mod.
However, as long as the disptick is getting oil on it, and you put in about 4.25 quarts you know you're golden.
Sure it's hard to read. But we can tell when it "barely" touches the oil, and when it doesn't... and when it's drenched.
That's good enough I guess... You know our engines could run off only 2 quarts of oil. (though I wouldn't want that) hehe
If you put the stick in, and pull it out and it's completely dry, then add oil until it starts getting "wet". I think that's the primary purpose of our dipstick because temperature, car level, and all that good stuff is going to add to contingency.
BTW, I too think the dipstick should be a matte dark metal... and not the shiny slippery metal that makes it difficult to read.
OK, I'm still dwelling on this little isssue... I just got home from running a few errands. I let the car sit about 5-10 minutes. I pulled the dipstick - No foam, no bubbles. The level on the "correct" side of the stick still appears lower than it should, but on the flip side, it's clearly just up to the ridge obove "FoMoCo", which is a bit high. Anybody know if this is TOO high? The car seems fine, and the oil is clean and clear, but still I worry.
Well, I work at Jiffy Lube(yes, sad but ture) and how do I feel when I can't read the dipstick on my own new car? Yeah, nevermind. But it is hard to do. And I do find that if I wait a few hours I can read it fine. I don't know why. Maybe it is because hot oil doesn't want to stick to the dipstick like cold oil would. I don't know. And I have never seen a dipstick like that on another car. Anything like that on another car at least has a crosshatch or some lines on it to catch the oil. I have no problem at all reading 04 and 05 sticks. But at least it isn't like half the stupid nissans out there. It takes a good 5 or 6 tries to get any sort of a reading that makes sense.
And my oil is much easier to read now that the oil is dirty. But it looks to dirty for only running about 1700 miles since my first oil change. Also, I have never put any more then 4 QTs into a 04-05 but my 06 seems to take 4.25 or more.
And my oil is much easier to read now that the oil is dirty. But it looks to dirty for only running about 1700 miles since my first oil change. Also, I have never put any more then 4 QTs into a 04-05 but my 06 seems to take 4.25 or more.
Me again! I've been pretty much just assuming that everything was OK, oil-wise. Today, I decided to check it again, since the car's had been sitting about 40 hrs. (the longest it's sat since I got it). Yep, the oil level is definitely high - just a bit up over the ridge past "FoMoCo" on the filp-side of the stick. I hesitate to drain any out for several reasons. First, the break-in oil is supposed to contain special additives. Second, the oil still looks clean & clear. Third, it's been over 5 weeks since I added the "extra" oil, and so far the car's been fine. There's currently 763 miles on the car, so far without smoking, oozing, or dripping. Perhaps Mazda allows a certain "idiot factor", knowing the dipstick can't be trusted. Any of you engineering folks out there know what the dimensions of the oil pan are? (i.e., What's the volume, and how much extra oil would be dangerously high?) Do I have a well-oiled machine, or a future lubricant-volcano?
Mazda: When you decide to make a blade-type dipsick compatible with the '06, please FedEx one my way. I can't always let the car sit a day and a half to check my oil. Thank you.
Mazda: When you decide to make a blade-type dipsick compatible with the '06, please FedEx one my way. I can't always let the car sit a day and a half to check my oil. Thank you.
Just got done siphoning the "extra" oil through the dipstick tube. (I took out as much as I put in before I first realized how much fun the dipstick could be.) I just hope I got it right now, and that I haven't screwed anything up since I added the oil. (I'm carrying an extra quart, just in case I went too low. How sad is that for a NEW car???)
As I pointed out elsewhere on this forum, somebody needs to make a blade-type stick for the '06. If Mazda won't do it, NAPA or some other after-market supplier should. Seems like a goldmine to me.
As I pointed out elsewhere on this forum, somebody needs to make a blade-type stick for the '06. If Mazda won't do it, NAPA or some other after-market supplier should. Seems like a goldmine to me.
G
Guest
·mjwjr68
I guess its best i check my oil in the AM.
On my 3rd ever gas stop at 9pm during my 12 hr drive from SC to NY
I checked my oil. After sticking it several times i concluded I needed oil!
I was flabbergasted. my car only had 1200 miles on it and I thought,
"oh my god i've breaking it in low on oil".
So i but a bottle of 5-20w and add half a quart.
re stick it a few times, still looks like its low.
So i add the rest of the bottle.
Still loook low! wtf.
Next I pull th dipstick, clean it off and then restick it.
this time i use a white napkin and toucj the dipstick to the napkin to see if it has
oil on it.
It reads high and now in total disgusted!
I just lef it at that. I still had 500 mile to drive!
BTW, i filled up this AM, got 35.8 mpg!
And notice my new baby got its 1st ding!
looks like the classic car door dent/ding. right on the seam of the rear corner panel where it meets the rear door about half way up the door!
I am going to try to use somke rough sand paper on the dipstick first.
if that doesnt work, then i will use a small file to make a a crosshatch pattern on the back side of it.
flat white paint might work also.
it would have to be flat paint no semigloss or glossy.
btw, i hate FORD! i have experienced two of the worst cars i ever had that where Fords.
pete
I guess its best i check my oil in the AM.
On my 3rd ever gas stop at 9pm during my 12 hr drive from SC to NY
I checked my oil. After sticking it several times i concluded I needed oil!
I was flabbergasted. my car only had 1200 miles on it and I thought,
"oh my god i've breaking it in low on oil".
So i but a bottle of 5-20w and add half a quart.
re stick it a few times, still looks like its low.
So i add the rest of the bottle.
Still loook low! wtf.
Next I pull th dipstick, clean it off and then restick it.
this time i use a white napkin and toucj the dipstick to the napkin to see if it has
oil on it.
It reads high and now in total disgusted!
I just lef it at that. I still had 500 mile to drive!
BTW, i filled up this AM, got 35.8 mpg!
And notice my new baby got its 1st ding!
looks like the classic car door dent/ding. right on the seam of the rear corner panel where it meets the rear door about half way up the door!
I am going to try to use somke rough sand paper on the dipstick first.
if that doesnt work, then i will use a small file to make a a crosshatch pattern on the back side of it.
flat white paint might work also.
it would have to be flat paint no semigloss or glossy.
btw, i hate FORD! i have experienced two of the worst cars i ever had that where Fords.
pete
[quote author=pgmomni link=topic=37074.msg727953#msg727953 date=1148007934]
mjwjr68
I guess its best i check my oil in the AM.
On my 3rd ever gas stop at 9pm during my 12 hr drive from SC to NY
I checked my oil. After sticking it several times i concluded I needed oil!
I was flabbergasted. my car only had 1200 miles on it and I thought,
"oh my god i've breaking it in low on oil".
So i but a bottle of 5-20w and add half a quart.
re stick it a few times, still looks like its low.
So i add the rest of the bottle.
Still loook low! wtf.
Next I pull th dipstick, clean it off and then restick it.
this time i use a white napkin and toucj the dipstick to the napkin to see if it has
oil on it.
It reads high and now in total disgusted!
I just lef it at that. I still had 500 mile to drive!
BTW, i filled up this AM, got 35.8 mpg!
And notice my new baby got its 1st ding!
looks like the classic car door dent/ding. right on the seam of the rear corner panel where it meets the rear door about half way up the door!
I am going to try to use somke rough sand paper on the dipstick first.
if that doesnt work, then i will use a small file to make a a crosshatch pattern on the back side of it.
flat white paint might work also.
it would have to be flat paint no semigloss or glossy.
btw, i hate FORD! i have experienced two of the worst cars i ever had that where Fords.
pete
[/quote]
Great idea!! I have a dremmel with an attachment that I could make a cross pattern on the back side very easily. I think I might try it. It isn't like it could harm anything.
mjwjr68
I guess its best i check my oil in the AM.
On my 3rd ever gas stop at 9pm during my 12 hr drive from SC to NY
I checked my oil. After sticking it several times i concluded I needed oil!
I was flabbergasted. my car only had 1200 miles on it and I thought,
"oh my god i've breaking it in low on oil".
So i but a bottle of 5-20w and add half a quart.
re stick it a few times, still looks like its low.
So i add the rest of the bottle.
Still loook low! wtf.
Next I pull th dipstick, clean it off and then restick it.
this time i use a white napkin and toucj the dipstick to the napkin to see if it has
oil on it.
It reads high and now in total disgusted!
I just lef it at that. I still had 500 mile to drive!
BTW, i filled up this AM, got 35.8 mpg!
And notice my new baby got its 1st ding!
looks like the classic car door dent/ding. right on the seam of the rear corner panel where it meets the rear door about half way up the door!
I am going to try to use somke rough sand paper on the dipstick first.
if that doesnt work, then i will use a small file to make a a crosshatch pattern on the back side of it.
flat white paint might work also.
it would have to be flat paint no semigloss or glossy.
btw, i hate FORD! i have experienced two of the worst cars i ever had that where Fords.
pete
[/quote]
Great idea!! I have a dremmel with an attachment that I could make a cross pattern on the back side very easily. I think I might try it. It isn't like it could harm anything.
[quote author=deluxe link=topic=37074.msg728315#msg728315 date=1148044517]
Great idea!! I have a dremmel with an attachment that I could make a cross pattern on the back side very easily. I think I might try it. It isn't like it could harm anything.
[/quote]
Which attachment were you thinking of using?
Great idea!! I have a dremmel with an attachment that I could make a cross pattern on the back side very easily. I think I might try it. It isn't like it could harm anything.
[/quote]
Which attachment were you thinking of using?
G
Guest
·on saturday i took some medium grit sandpaper and lightly roughed up the surface of the end of the dipstick.
oil clings to it alot better now.
As i now have like 2300 miles on the car now the oil is also not as clear as it was the very 1st time
i checked it.
part of the problem seems to be that the oil the 5w20 is very thin when hot and it quickly slides right off the end
of the dipstick.
pete
oil clings to it alot better now.
As i now have like 2300 miles on the car now the oil is also not as clear as it was the very 1st time
i checked it.
part of the problem seems to be that the oil the 5w20 is very thin when hot and it quickly slides right off the end
of the dipstick.
pete
Yes, I find it miserable to read. I changed the oil on two of my other vehicles yesterday and took note of how I read the oil level. They both have conventional flat dipsticks. I found what I did was rotate the dipstick back and forth with a slight downward angle (so the oil did not run up the stick), and the light reflected of the flat side. You easily see where the oil level is, even with clean oil. One was crosshatched and the other not, and that does not seem to have any additional benefit. Flat and polished seemed to be the key.
So that makes me wonder if I should modify that stupid plug on a cable thing (which insults me the Ford Motor Company logo on the back of it) so that the boat shaped portion is flat and polished? Anyone tried that?
Perhaps that's how Ford makes their money with their investment in Mazda. Sells them useless dipsticks!
So that makes me wonder if I should modify that stupid plug on a cable thing (which insults me the Ford Motor Company logo on the back of it) so that the boat shaped portion is flat and polished? Anyone tried that?
Perhaps that's how Ford makes their money with their investment in Mazda. Sells them useless dipsticks!
Joined
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2,844 Posts
[quote author=pgmomni link=topic=37074.msg732244#msg732244 date=1148321532]
on saturday i took some medium grit sandpaper and lightly roughed up the surface of the end of the dipstick.
oil clings to it alot better now.
As i now have like 2300 miles on the car now the oil is also not as clear as it was the very 1st time
i checked it.
part of the problem seems to be that the oil the 5w20 is very thin when hot and it quickly slides right off the end
of the dipstick.
pete
[/quote]
Thanks! I would not have thought of that... I told my dad when I wanted to check my oil it was the stupidest dipstick EVER... he told me I am not a normal girl that is should not be that hard... he went out to see what I was saying and came to the same conculsion... IT SUCKS... lol.. I will sand it to help...
on saturday i took some medium grit sandpaper and lightly roughed up the surface of the end of the dipstick.
oil clings to it alot better now.
As i now have like 2300 miles on the car now the oil is also not as clear as it was the very 1st time
i checked it.
part of the problem seems to be that the oil the 5w20 is very thin when hot and it quickly slides right off the end
of the dipstick.
pete
[/quote]
Thanks! I would not have thought of that... I told my dad when I wanted to check my oil it was the stupidest dipstick EVER... he told me I am not a normal girl that is should not be that hard... he went out to see what I was saying and came to the same conculsion... IT SUCKS... lol.. I will sand it to help...
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