Rep Power: 0

Ok, so I changed my oil, just like the hundred times I have before. After refilling with the new oil, I let the car run for a few minutes. No lights came on and everything ran smooth. After shutting off the engine, I checked the dipstick and it was completely dry! I checked it several more times, with mixed results, sometimes dry, sometimes ok. I let the car run somemore, and checked it again. I got the same results. So, I backed the car up and drove it forward to see of anything happened, and this time the Check Engine light came on. I checked the oil one last time and the dipstick looked ok.
No oil is leaking under the car and I put in like 3.5 liters of new oil and a new filter.

Anyone know why the dipstick comes out dry?
Why did the check engine light come on? (it is still on) I think i have to reset it with the analyzer.

Could it be the oil pump?

*Note: the oil pressure light never came on...

 
Rep Power: 305

check the code.. goto autozone they do it for free. report back what the code is so we can help you diagnose it.

 
Rep Power: 811

when checking oil, car should be cold, or at least sitting off for 10 minutes.

 
Rep Power: 246

cold and make sure all the oil has settled because it cna take a few mintues for it to go through the engine/ filter so that you can get the right results

 
Rep Power: 0

According to the owners manual, you're suppose to check the oil when the engine is warmed up to operating temp. Either way, checking it when it's hot or cold, you should still have oil on the dipstick reguardless.

As far as where the oil went, thats a strange one, that much oil can't hide anywhere, unless the head gasket has a major leak and the oil went into the cooling system.

 
Rep Power: 811

um i think warmed up is trans oil. im pretty sure engine oil it says either cold or 10 mins after the car is turned off.

 
Rep Power: 0

I mean, 4 quarts of oil poof? Laydown some cardboard and pull your car ontop. Pull the drain plug, and drain out any oil thats in there. Then put all new stuff in and check for leaks. if you see any oil anywhere coming out you know you have a problem. (I mean you still have a problem because you are throwing a code). Check your coolant to.

 
Rep Power: 0

It really doesn't matter; warm, cold , or hot, there should be oil in the safe range on the dipstick.

(10 minutes after the car is turned off the engine is still hot. )

 
Rep Power: 0

the whole engine stays warm for a damn long time. I once had to swap out my coolant. 4 hours after driving it for 4 hours I went to take out the bolt behind the block to drain the coolant and burned my self. **** stays hot for a long time.

 
Rep Power: 0

put a box fan up ontop of the engine blowing down on the engine. It will cool off fast.

 
Rep Power: 312

or drive it into yer local pool


but yeah.. hot or cold.. you should have oil on the stick

 
Rep Power: 0

Man,,I have the same problem. Today i checked the oil dipstick. It was not oil at all. It was dry. I went to the shop to change the oil. When they open the washer, there were some oil, but how come there was no oil on the dipstick. I asked for any leaking. The dude said there is nothing leak there. Everything is fine..This is the second time it happen. I dont know why. does somebody know?

 
Rep Power: 0

Can you say burning oil?

 
Rep Power: 312

yeah... id like to know what yer oil looks like when they drain it... im sorta scared

 
Rep Power: 0

hot/cold oil levels really don't make a difference, maybe 1 mm diff on the dipstick

 
Rep Power: 0

i checked my dipstick again to make sure it is not cut off and it is not. When i went to the shop and got it drained, it was black (at least that is what i see) but none in the dipstick...interesting huh..hmmm..i m curious and worry

 
Rep Power: 312

sounds like its burnning the hell out of it..
stand behind yer car and have someone start it (cold start.. aka first start of the day)... see if yer blowin smoke out yer exaust...

yer doin something wrong somewhere.. is it dripping.. maybe its not dripping to the ground.. but its going somewhere and burnning inside the engine....

get it change.. pay a few bucks extra and have them just dump some through to flush it out a bit...

good luck

 
Rep Power: 0

Oil should be checked warm and with the car OFF. Oil will expand when it gets warmer, so the key is to find out what the level is when warm. Can you check it cold, yes, just make sure it is in a safe range. After you turn off the car, let it sit for a minute to allow the oil in the engine to drip back into the oil pan.

If you do not have oil on the dipstick, look closer as fresh oil is sometime hard to see. If there still isn't any, clean off the dip stick, insert it all the way back into the tube and let it sit for a few seconds, pull it out and read it again. Besure to look at both sides as I have all ways found it easier to read the oil level on the back side (of just about every car I've worked on). If there is still no oil, add some more oil, let it make its way to the pan, and check it again.

As for the transmission comment made earlier. On automatics, the fluid should be check warm and with the engine running.

 
Rep Power: 247

agreed, new oil is hard to see sometimes. try using a fashlight or a shoplight on te dipstick whn you pull it out and see if theres any oil. i wanna say something else but i cant remember...maybe later.

 
Rep Power: 0

check your oil on a flat surface