So I'm having a very newbie (which I am) issue in checking the oil level in my snowblower. This weekend I put gas in the snowblower, ran it for a bit to warm up the oil, then drained the oil (I think I got it all out but not 100% sure).

I then started filling it from a new 1 qt (32 ounce) bottle.

The manual says it takes 18 - 20 ounces, and to "fill tube to raise the oil level to the Full mark on the dipstick." I therefore figured I'd need just over half the bottle.

I put in half the bottle to start, and then checked the dipstick. Here's where I have an issue. No matter how careful I am, there's (I guess) so much oil on the sides of the tube, that the whole dipstick basically gets oil on it as it goes in and out. It's nearly impossible for me to figured out if the oil level is at the full mark on the dipstick or not.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Put in 2 -3 ounces, run the engine to warm it up. Then wait a minute, pull the dipstick, wipe it off, then reinsert and check the oil on it . It should be fairly easy to read.

 

Just wiping the DipStick before re-inserting it should give a clear reading.

Could it be that the Tube has debris in it that's dampening your DipStick on the way out ?

 

I think the process of putting in the oil coats the side of the tube, so that when the dipstick goes in and out, it picks up that oil (not debris). It's impossible to put the dipstick in and out directly in the center of the tube, no matter what it brushes against the side and the whole thing ends up covered in oil.

However, now that it's been a couple of days perhaps the oil on the side of the tube has all slid down, and trying again will be better...

I'll check it in the next day or two and report back if I have continued problems.

Thanks again.

 

Yes, I've always overcome that problem by waiting a few seconds . . . . maybe even a whole minute after pouring oil to insert the DipStick. Don't do it until the oil has an opportunity to drain from the Tube.

 

I find that because of the thick viscosity of the oil in the sump that if I pull the dipstick out & read it quickly I can tell the difference between the thin coat of oil from contact with the tube, and the thick clingy oil from being submerged in the sump.
Also--unless your motor is VERY new the sump oil will be darker than the added oil. Maybe you haven't put in enough oil yet to even register on the end of the dipstick?

 

Wrap a cloth or paper towel around a screwdriver or something and insert it into the tube and wipe it clean and it will probably stay clean for a long time, they get gunked up when tilted to drain the oil. Have a good one. Geo