Astro Dipstick

[wayup]

I just had my oil changed on my 95 Astro. When the attendant checked the oil on the dipstick, there were no oil indicated on the stick. After checking more than four times, still no reading. The oil gage is reading in the right range. They told me that they put 4 1/2 quarts in the vehicle. What could this be, they and I have never came across this before. Please help!!!!

[drew300]

I'm suppossing that you've checked the oil level before? Is this a new event?
I've heard of places not putting the oil in your vehicle. Perhaps an honest mistake, with another vehicle with 8 quarts in it somewhere.
A sure check would be to drain the oil and see how much you have. If you keep it clean you could put it back in, or just put new oil in, and consider this a flush.

[Kings-x59]

holey moley, I hope you took Drew's advice. If nothing is showing up on the dipstick you are low on oil. What kind of reading are you getting from the oil pressure gauge? You noted the gauge was reading in the "right" range. What is the right range you usually see on your gauge?

[wayup]

The range is in the 40s. Range is 0-80 on the engine oil gage. I will take my vehicle to another shop to drain the oil to see how much comes out. I have never heard of the and every one I ask, say the same thing. The one thing that gets me is my engine oil gage is reading in the proper range. If there were no oil, it would indicate so.

[drew300]

I haven't seen an engine where the dip-stick reached the bottom of the oil pan.
You may be lucky and have enough oil in the pan to barely work, but not enough to reach the stick.
And you should have taken it to another by now. Engine replacement is expensive.

[Kings-x59]

It might not be that there is no oil, you just may be over a quart low, so it's not reaching the dipstick.


(ok I really can read if I just take the time - see I parroted Drew's post)

[wayup]

I took the van back where the oil was changed and I watched them drain the oil and it was about 4.5 qt in the van. Thats good news. So now we think its the oil stick tub is out of socket. Its in the shop now being looked at, thanks for all your help.

[drew300]

Yes, I've had that happen before, but it was on a 4 cylinder that you could actually see.
Good that there was no damage