i place a flash light on the other side of the intake tube and it illuminates the
dipstick's hole well. no issues with reading or re-inserting it back into the motor.

i recommend checking the area around the dipstick alignment rail thingie
b4 you pull the dipstick out as there's sometimes dead bees and bugs sitting
there which could fall inside the opening...

i too check the level when the motor's cold.

 

just guide it with your other hand while taking it in/out. wipe it the first time and reinsert, then take it out again for your reading. you'll get the hang of it.

 

This thread has been dead for a few months but I just had to post a reply here.. I was going to post a new thread about how inefficient and annoying the G35's oil dipstick is. Goodness gracious, seriously, the person who designed the dipstick should be hanged! I've never seen a dipstick that bends like ours. Every other dipstick I've seen is just straight. Also I was wondering how anyone can accurately figure out how much oil is in their car because when I was checking the level (this was while the car was on) the whole stick from top to bottom was covered in oil. After wiping it, reinserting and pulling it back out it was still covered completely. Now I see that in order to check the oil level you have to check it when the car has been turned off for a while.

 

I shot the Dip that designed the dip stick, last week. The next designer has been warned.

 

LOL Thank GOD you put him out

 

LOL! Its so stupid to have this problem, but I'm in the same boat! My car has about 2,500 miles on it, and I changed my oil around 2,000 miles. Everytime I checked the dip stick, I was at a lost. It seemed like it would cover the entire stick (after wiping and re-inserting). I was thinking that the oil was too clean and clear for me to fully distinguish it yet.

 

You didn't shoot him early enough, he managed to exact his vengence on the 06 model as well. I was hoping it wasn't just the '06's with the worst oil check design invented.

 

First time i checked it, i thought my dealer was playing some cruel joke.
I thought he was getting revenge for the hard deal i drove him to. Seriously, who makes something like this? I was laughing when i pulled it out, but after 10 minutes futzing with it and freezing my nuts off, i was getting way pissed.

I worked at a gas station all thru high school and seen my share of nutty dip sticks, but who puts this in a production car?

 

Yeh it's a PITA for sure...best time to check the level is in the morning or after a long time parked. That way the oil is all drained back from the stick.
Not the VQ's best trait.

C.

 

Hey Colin....
Was just wondering, did they get it right with the M45 ??

 

As noted before, you should check it with the engine off, after it has sat for a good 10 minutes or so. Or, even better, after a night parked. Don't check engine oil with the engine on.

Curt

 

I know an easy way. Just take apart your whole air intake assembly

 

No kidding!