I just bought a 1981 300TD and checking the oil level is driving me a little nuts. If I do as most of you suggest, wait 5-10 min after turning the engine off, sometimes the dipstick say I have no oil in it at all. But if I wait several hours the oil level shows that it is normal or overfilled.

What gives, does it take that long for the oil to drain or do I have another problem? I drive back and forth from central Texas to Arizona, 1100miles each way, once a month and have been changing the oil after every trip thinking that there are sludge deposits and this will clean it out. I have done this 4 times in the last 3 months.

I use 15-40w oil and change the filter each time.

I get into the habit of pulling the dipstick, cleaning it, putting it back in & pulling it out and looking at it then. I have found that the dipstick tube sometimes gets an air lock in it & so if you look at the level when you first remove it you dont get the correct reading. Try it & let us know how it goes.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I went out and tried your suggestion. You were right, after the third insertion/removal of the dipstick, the oil level is at the top of the min/max.
Thanks, I was going to drain the excess tomorrow.