I am having a very hard time determining what my oil level is on my 05 Rubicon.

I think the DipStick is very poorly designed.
For one, the flat portion of the stick it up toward the top,
why does the stick itself extend several inches past that?

If I check the oil level, after the Rubicon has been sitting overnight, it is easy to see the level on the stick.
Which reads right on the bottom of the fat portion.

If I follow the procedure in the manual,
that says to let the Rubicon run for several minutes to warmup,
then shutoff the Rubicon, and let it sit a couple minutes,
there is oil thrown all the way up in the dipstick hole.
If I check the oil, the entire dipstick is covered in oil.

It seems it would work better, if the stick was shortened,
so that it stops at the bottom of the flat portion.

Is anyone else having this problem?
How should I go about checking the oil?
I would like to know where on the stick the oil level should be, while the engine is COLD.
Since it is much easier to see at that time.

Thanks
~John

 

um wow, u have to let the motor warm up so oil can get up in the head, then after it is warm, you remove the dipstick, wipe it off, then put it back in without screwing it in, remove it and that is when u check the oil, there is no other way to check it, cold reading is false on these motors

 

That is how it says to check it in the manual,
but when I do that, there is still alot of oil laying in the dipsticks hole,
so when you insert the dipstick back in it to check it, it covered itself, pretty much completely in oil.

 

You can't check the oil when it's cold sitting overnight or longer. The oil will leak out of the sump build into the case halves into the crank case giving false readings. You MUST check it at least after it's been running for a couple minutes to warm up. Leave the stick in, start it up and run it for a few minutes, you can warm it all the way up if you want to. Go out and drive it around your yard for a bit. Then shut it off, let it sit for 5 minutes, then pull the stick out, wipe it off, push it in as far as it will go WITHOUT threading it in, then pull it out and check where the oil is. wipe it off and try again if you need to. I dont know how the rubicon works, but my rancher is the same way, start it up, run for a bit, shut it off and let it sit for a few minutes, then check the oil. it should be between the 2 marks on the stick. If the oil is in the marks, it's good to go.

If you're afraid to start it cuz you dont know how much oil is in it, you have to drain it and pour in the right amount.

 

Sounds like it may be too full if its completely covering the stick. I've changed and checked the oil on countless Rubicons (yes the skid plates still suck after 150 times) and have never had trouble reading the dipstick. They make the stick so long because of the large amount of oil in the tank. And like everyone else said, don't check it cold.

 

Kind of a funny topic, in a way. Some customers do not understand how to check the oil. They walk up the unit after sitting all night, pull the dipstick and notice the oil is at the bottom so they add oil to the upper mark before starting the unit. WRONG.... hehehe... I had one the other day that had this hapen so many times that the airbox was full, and it had blown the rear outputshaft seal out, filling the driveshaft tube in the swing arm. I laughed so hard. I had explained to the owner last year how to check oil. His hired hand keeps checking the oil and its low so he adds oil....
When checking the oil after it has been sitting, remove the dipstick and oil should only be at the very bottom tip of the dipstick. Yes there is a mark down there. After starting the unit and let it run for a few minutes (not revving ) let it set for a few minutes (not running) for the oil level to stabilize and check on the upper mark. If it's abovr the marks, it is too full. Kind of reminds me of checking oil on an old Allis Chalmers D-19 tractor with a power director...

----- Gregg -----

 

I know that I am not supposed to check the oil while its cold,
that never was the issue here,

Its simply that I find the stick very hard to read, due to the exccess oil thats always in the dipstick shaft.
I am going to check it real good next time I go out,
I have a suspision that its alittle over filled,
but it may just be that the excess oil getting on the dipstick is making me think that.

Thanks for the input guys.
~John

 

Pull the dipstick out, wipe it off, warm it up in the area where the oil level should be with a cigarette lighter, reinstall the dipstick, pull it out and the level should be clearly visible if within the safe level range..

----- Gregg -----

 

hmmmmm interesting,

I will try that, thanks.

~John

 

And if it is a little over full, a 99cent turkey baster works great to remove the extra oil.