You wouldn't happen to have a GE dipstick would you? They're a lot shorter and won't even reach into the pan.
Also, keep in mind that the darkness depends on the volume... a pan full of oil is always going to be MUCH darker than a couple drops. If the oil is simply caramel colored then it will still look pretty clear on the dipstick.
Otherwise you could have an irregular blockage preventing the dipstick and a small sample of uncirculated oil from mixing with the general pool.... pretty unlikely.
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