Been around cars/engines all my life and I've never had such a hard time getting a decent oil level reading on the dip stick of this 5.0 liter V-8 engine.

Anyone else have a problem getting a good read on their dip stick?

I let the car set, and even setting overnight, then pull the dip stick and wipe it clean, reinstall the dip stick and let it set fully pushed in for a minute. Then when I pull the dip stick and look for a line of oil on the dip stick, all I get is oil smeared with no distinctive oil line on the dip stick.

 

what makes it hard is that the passage that the stick is in also allows oil to dran back into the engine from the valve cover area. try letting it sit for 15 min then check, by then the oil will be done draining

 

Toss in the PP strut brace and its an even bigger pain. Since my car is new I check the oil a lot, and clean fresh oil is even more brutal to tell what is the line, and what is smears from snaking and twisting through the tube.

 

I did install the Ford front strut brace last week and you're right, it's an even bigger PITA now.

 

I got rid of the sound tube which clears access somewhat.

 

Think this one is bad? Try getting a reading on an 88 Escort. Nothing but oil smear along almost the entire length of the stick. Never knew if I had enough oil in it or not.
I guess Ford just doesn't possess the tech to do it right.