Dipstick hard to read

[damaster]

I gotta say this car has one of the hardest dipsticks to read in all my experience. Anyone have any tips on which direction the dipstick should be inserted, i.e. rotation is what I'm referring to?

 

[10Molavi]

Are you talking about the transmission stick?

 

[damaster]

Engine oil

 

[Jasonjames]

I insert the engine-oil dipstick so the yellow circle is positioned East-West or the broad side of the dipstick handle is parallel with the front of the car. You need to withdraw it,..wipe the end,...re-insert it as described, then withdraw and read oil-level

J J

 

[table5511]

The dipstick can be flipped either way 180 degrees. There is a technical service bulletin that Mazda published to direct clarity on reading the dipstick.
Disregard the holes in the dipstick.
The oil level portion is only in the cross-hatched area. 5.5 qt oil change with filter change should result in the oil level being right in the middle, or a little higher on the cross hatched area.

Best to read the dipstick after the engine has been sitting for awhile.
Remove dipstick, wipe it off completely, then put it back in and take another reading.

Hope this helps!