I have synthetic Dexos1 and check every few months in the morning before I start the car for the first time but it is a struggle because I do not understand the manual's description. The manual says "If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick add 1 qt of recommended oil". When I pull the dipstick out it shows two different readings depending on which side I look. No matter how fast or how slow I remove the dipstick the oil always runs up one side and that oil drips over to the other side so I can not clearly see the line on either side definitively. The manual does not mention this feature.
For sure it is not below the lowest cross-hatched area. I would guess it is the middle of the cross-hatched area.
If anyone has any ideas how I can get a cleaner reading please let me know.