I recently had my truck serviced about two weeks ago and I change the oil myself sometimes but it seems like every time I check my oil, the oil doesn't show on the dipstick. It shows right after I drive but if its just sitting and then I check it, it doesn't show at all. I don't know if it may be a wrong dipstick or what but it's been driving me crazy for about a month. I've heard you can spray brake cleaner on the dipstick so it will make some kind of adhesive but I'm very hesitant about that. Any suggestions?

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Something isn't right because the dipstick should show the level of the oil present. If it isn't up to the 'Full' mark, then, the vehicle doesn't have enough. After driving, the oil level should rise on the dipstick and that is why oil is checked with a cold engine. Also, by the time a light comes on, the vehicle is down more than a quart, so my suggestion is to see what happens when adding a quart. Then, check the level again with the engine cold. There is no reason that having your vehicle serviced one time (A.K.A. oil change) should cause the oil dipstick to change, so it is possible that the shop did not add enough oil. The only other possibility would be that a different filter was used, but as weird as this sounds, I had that happen to me. I used to frequent Valvoline for my oil changes, and I was serviced in November and then April, and by pure accident I discovered that the filter changed. I researched online and found out that Valvoline carried two nearly identical filters, so they discontinued the one. It was a very small change in width, but enough evidently to make a difference because I have noticed that my readings measure but not exactly at the 'Full' mark. I don't worry about it, however, you may have a completely different situation, and I wouldn't think the dipstick would simply "go bad".

I'll do that...but it's been doing this before I got my truck serviced. I believe the oil filter on it is Powerworks? too. It's the one Advance Auto Parts recommends. I use Vavoline NextGen 5W-30 on it as well but I don't know what the shop put in it. Also, I was told that I need a new seal/gasket on my oil pan and also a new rear main seal so maybe that's making the problem...

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Hopefully you dont need a rear main seal repair. Those are pricey.

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2004 ford ranger xl. 2wd and a 3.0
double lifted 3 inch body and 3 inch spindles. Running 32/11.50/15 bfg Km2s.

Yeah...I was told it would be about a $500+ job

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Yep lol. I got a quote for that also. Then i poured bars rear main seal leak into the oil and it fixed it

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2004 ford ranger xl. 2wd and a 3.0
double lifted 3 inch body and 3 inch spindles. Running 32/11.50/15 bfg Km2s.

I believe am gonna get me some of that! I'd rather do that than pay $500+! Lol

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Yeah lol. Try it and see if it works for you. Its called "bars leak" its like 8 bucks

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2004 ford ranger xl. 2wd and a 3.0
double lifted 3 inch body and 3 inch spindles. Running 32/11.50/15 bfg Km2s.

is it leaving any oil on the ground? It sounds like you need to double check the dipstick after the oil change to verify where it's reading if you're questioning it. I think you need to look harder before you start dumping in stuff, you'll want to know where an oil leak that bad is. 2 weeks and you're not reading anything, not good if the dip stick is reading right.

My Tempo rear main leaked pretty bad, not dry on the dip stick in 2 weeks bad, but enough to leave oil slicks all over the place. Bars leak didn't help with that one, I had to pull the engine out.