Got a question, probably overthinking it but here goes. When I check my oil I notice that the oil level isnt equal on both sides of the dipstick.
The bottom sign reflect a level but the top side of the stick reads empty.
My question is the placement of the dipstick in the engine. Should the stick go in with the oil indicator side facing down or facing up? They give different readings dependent on how you put it back into the engine.

 

Let the car sit for an hour or if possibleovernight. Remove the stick and wipe it then recheck level.

Typically the stick is installed so as when removed the indicator is right there to be view. However never known it to make a difference in reading the correct level on either side of stick..

 

I should had prefaced this with what I did so far.

The car had sat on level ground for half the day when I checked it. Checked multiple times at that point. So I checked yesterday after work, same place sitting with cold engine and this time the stick was reading correctly on both sides. I'll check again today and see if anything changes.
It seems that the stick prefers to go into a certain way.

 

Do some experimenting.

When the two sides of the stick read different, wipe the complete stick and try again. If no change start rotating the stick and repeat the process.