Ok, so my 240D uses a lot of oil. It's old, it's go high miles, 322K and it's got both engine wear and leaks from literally every place that it could leak from. So much so that I have to clean out a lake of oil from the drip pan in my garage every weekend. So I know it uses oil and I'm ok with that. what I'd like to know is how am I supposed to know what the oil level actually is. On one side of the dipstick, the outboard side, away from the engine, it currently looks like this...


I read that as 50 percent and I need to add oil. But on the other side of the dipstick, the inboard or engine side it looks like this...



So which one is the accurate side? My previous 240D was pretty much the same but it didn't use nearly as much oil as this one does so I didn't have to check it as often. I'd just like to be sure I'm not adding too much when I top it up.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S