Is your dipstick tube on the front of the engine (close to the radiator grill)? Someone told me the "marine" version of this engine required a long dip stick and that it entered from the side of the engine and more toward the rear....food for thought. Right now I am running with the dip stick tube capped and NO dipstick - at least that takes the ambiguity out of the reading. Convinced that my 30+ inch dipstick is NOT the one - seems like something in the 25" range would be suitable, as that is what it appears to take to bottom out a coat hanger stuck in the tube. I don't drive the truck much, and plan to change the oil every 3000 miles, so figure unless I am burning a sh*t load of oil, should be okay...I know...GET THE DIPSTICK!!!

 

it is a good idea to have a dip stick. i have about another 3000km until my next oil change and i was down about a litre maybe close to 2 and i always try to keep mine at the full line just to be safe.

 

My dipstick is the right (passenger) front side of the motor.