2009 5.3L Dipstick markings

[flyboyron]

I have the 2009 5.3L with the 4 speed auto.

I don't have my owners manual with me, but I wanted to find out what the markings are on the dipstick.

 

There are 4 dots. I assume (a$$ out of you and me) that the top dot is full, and the lowest dot is 1 quart low.

Are the dots separated by 1/3 quarts?

[carnau]

35 minutes ago, flyboyron said:

I have the 2009 5.3L with the 4 speed auto.

I don't have my owners manual with me, but I wanted to find out what the markings are on the dipstick.

 

There are 4 dots. I assume (a$$ out of you and me) that the top dot is full, and the lowest dot is 1 quart low.

Are the dots separated by 1/3 quarts?

No. Anywhere in the Cross stitch is considered full. The engine can fluctuate how much oil it shows on the dipstick due to the top of the engine holding some of the oil along with the acceptable oil consumption.

 

If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended oil. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity.

 

(that's from the owners manual)

[flyboyron]

Mine is different. It does not have a hatched area and there are only 4 dots.

[carnau]

Anywhere in those 4 dots is fine.

[flyboyron]

Just checked my owners manual. My dipstick does not look like the one in the manual.

I wonder why?

Oh, well!

[carnau]

3 hours ago, flyboyron said:

Just checked my owners manual. My dipstick does not look like the one in the manual.

I wonder why?

Oh, well!

Could be from a different vehicle. Someone left it off during an oil change and got one from a parts yard to replace it. Could be out of a Ford for all we know lol.

 

Here is the dipstick you need if you decide to replace it. Doesn't have the holes, but has the cross stitch area.  

http://amzn.to/2zehphh

[MaverickZ71]

Mine only has 4 dots as well as the very lightly imprinted cross-hatch area on the oil dipstick. Bought the truck brand-new. Dunno why the manual shows 5 dots.

 

When checked at normal operating temp of 210 F on dash temp gage, and shut off for a few minutes to allow oil to drain back into the oilpan, such as when fueling, hot “FULL” is on the top dot of the dipstick.  Each dot is approx. 1/4 quart lower. 

 

When checked totally cold, such as before first start of the day, it should read about 1/4 quart over that “hot full” top dot—that is the same “cold full” level it shows after an oil change when 6 full quarts of room temp oil have been poured in, and the AC Delco PF48 oil filter is used. 

 

I have learned this the hard way, by always doing my own oil changes, and many hundreds of oil level checks (between oil changes) and refills due to the infamous GM AFM oil usage problem, over the last 8 years.