# Question on dip stick/ 65 pontiac **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** pontiac, engines\ **Created:** [March 9, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436 "2025-03-09T22:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yadmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c4cdca/32.png) [@yadmas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yadmas)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/1 "2025-03-09T22:49:01Z")
Hey there! thanks for all your help in the past! ive just about fixed everything. question though… so i had my oil changed about 12 months ago. synthetic hybrid oil with zinc. its an original 1965 pontiac 389. it have a couple small drip leaks. and the oil is already a little dirty even though i’ve only driven it like 500 miles. so im site out burns at least a little oil. but look at my dip stick…this is overnight. no matter how many i times i stick it in, this is how it comes out. which reading is correct!? ![IMG_0291](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/9/a985bb1233a2581768d9d4f219666244d7ef17df.jpeg) ![IMG_0292](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/6/66fbee40a7578b9764eff22dabd9985dbf2aee67.jpeg) lol any input is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/2 "2025-03-10T01:19:59Z")
It’s an old trick the dipstick will play. You can see that the oil does go farther up the stick so go with the high one. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/3 "2025-03-10T01:43:43Z")
Here’s an idea. Why not wipe the oil off the dip stick so we can see the markings? Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/4 "2025-03-10T17:24:25Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > Here’s an idea. > > Why not wipe the oil off the dip stick so we can see the markings? What’s so hard to see? The two dots to the left have an arrow pointing to them and the words “ADD 1 QT.”. The two dots on the right have an arrow pointing to them and say “FULL”. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/5 "2025-03-10T17:53:57Z")
I had a 66 Catalina 389 4V, my dad had a 64 Catalina 389 2V and my grandfather had a 65 Bonneville 389 4V. The dipstick would get wiped on one side. My grandfather who had never opened the hood of any car he had owned decided one day to check his oil, but he read the wrong side of the stick and it kept reading a quart low. He ended up adding 3 quarts of oil before he brought it to me to find out what was going on. Turned the stick over and it was three quarts over. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/6 "2025-03-10T18:31:20Z")
The dark oil is indicative of a plugged crankcase vent system. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/7 "2025-03-10T18:31:46Z")
> [@yadmas](#): > > which reading is correct!? Both sides show the same amount, the impression of “FULL” can be seen on the back side of the stick where the oil level is observed. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/0/9/0974ac3f05aa7381e3f41018ce09c1679c8cb551.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/8 "2025-03-10T18:45:09Z")
One way to tell for sure is to just change oil and put 5 quarts in. Depending on the filter I guess but agree with the others, reading the wrong side. I don’t remember but I suspect they called for 2-3000 mile oil changes back then. I suspect it is cleaning some of the crud out of the engine. On my 59, I always had evidence of moisture in the oil no mater how much I changed. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/9 "2025-03-10T18:58:21Z")
Dark oil occurs naturally as the oil is used. And is not an indication of a problem. > **[What Causes Black Motor Oil? Is it a Bad Thing?](https://blog.amsoil.com/why-does-motor-oil-turn-black/)** > > Find out why motor oil turns black and how that may affect your engine and, more importantly, if it signals the time for an oil change. Tester ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/10 "2025-03-10T19:13:02Z")
I have had this happen on a few vehicles I have had over the years. where one side reads normal, and the opposite side reads low. just go by the side in the first picture. and I always wipe the stick and check a few times just to make sure. you look like you may be about a quarter of a quart over. it is nothing to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![yadmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c4cdca/32.png) [@yadmas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yadmas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/11 "2025-03-10T21:28:58Z")
i can see the markings fine thru the oil. the issue is how one side can show one level and the other shows another level. thanks for that response. ---
**Author:** ![yadmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c4cdca/32.png) [@yadmas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yadmas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/12 "2025-03-10T21:30:21Z")
nice. i see what you mean. thank you! ---
**Author:** ![yadmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c4cdca/32.png) [@yadmas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yadmas)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/13 "2025-03-10T21:32:09Z")
i’ve never heard of that one. is that something that can be done in the driveway? lol. can you tell me more? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/14 "2025-03-10T21:37:34Z")
This engine has 60 years of old oil deposits in its nooks and crannies. The new oil (especially synthetic oil) will be slowly cleaning that stuff out for decades to come. Do you have other symptoms of engine problems? How is the compression? High oil consumption? Blue smoke out the exhaust? I wouldn’t worry about the oil color if everything else is fine. I remember needing to use a putty knife and screwdriver to clean out the deposits inside some valve covers when I changed valve cover gaskets on a few engines of that vintage back in the '70s; ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/15 "2025-03-10T21:52:48Z")
> [@yadmas](#): > > is that something that can be done in the driveway? Fewer sessions of idling the engine in the driveway will reduce pollution in the motor oil. After a year of use, it is time to change the oil. There may be gasoline dilution in the oil from short trips and idling. Distance isn’t the only factor for oil changes. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/16 "2025-03-10T22:18:25Z")
Tester, yasmas, I came to that conclusion from several years of observation. Of course there’s a lot of incidentals to consider, But it’s been my observation that when driven reasonably normal, well maintained using a quality, oil the oil will not become dark for thousands of miles. I was just thinking and considering how many vehicles I’ve maintained while in the business and it’s likely approaching 100 from new until 100k+ miles, some 300k+. When oil became prematurely dark I made an effort to find and correct the cause. Poor crankcase venting was usually part, if not the complete cause. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/17 "2025-03-11T16:23:24Z")
One side of the dip stick is wiping oil off the tube, very common on older cars especially, you read the lower side, not the higher side… If you rotate the stick 180\* it will do the same thing but shows up on the different sides of the stick because you rotated it… Just pay attention to the orientation of the stick and check it a few more times, you will see what I mean, one side will be high, the other normal… ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/18 "2025-03-11T19:22:58Z")
I never noticed that on my 59 or 67 Pontiacs, maybe I just never looked on the other side.😀 The phenomenon is not limited to older cars. The Coyote in my F150 does that. I pull the dipstick out, leave it out for ~15 minutes to let any residual oil to drain out of the dipstick tubing, then I get a good reading. ---
**Author:** ![yadmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/c4cdca/32.png) [@yadmas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/yadmas)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/19 "2025-03-11T22:59:59Z")
no its pretty good. ib think you’re right. my only complaint is the valve click alot when u give it heavy gas. even with high octane -92- ethanol free. ---
**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436/20 "2025-03-11T23:40:36Z")
If high octane fuel is not required for the car, you’re wasting money by using it. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-on-dip-stick-65-pontiac/199436.md?page=2)