Another "WTF?" - electronic dipstick
Discussion
TooMany2cvs said:
mybrainhurts said:
TooMany2cvs said:
mybrainhurts said:
We change the oil in two cars every two months, sucking the old oil out through the dipstick tube. Couldn't do that with an electronic one.
So that's one advantage to removal of the dipstick...
liner33 said:
Dipsticks do break, often, ever since manufacturers got the great idea to make them out of plastic
Strange, in 40 odd years, never had a dipstick failure.My last Skoda had a black dipstick. Why did the global head of dipstick design have to choose the only useless colour !!
My W203 Mercedes has no dipstick - it's measured electronically. The most annoying thing is that it doesn't actually show you a level of oil - it just says "Engine Oil Level OK". You have to perform some fiddly work to access the diagnostic menu where it'll give you an actual volumetric quantity. Luckily the car doesn't burn much oil as it's a stupid system.
Happily Mercedes must have also used the other half of their brain when designing the W204 as the dipstick is back. It's stayed there for the W205 too.
Happily Mercedes must have also used the other half of their brain when designing the W204 as the dipstick is back. It's stayed there for the W205 too.
VAG in their infinite wisdom made the dipstick tube out of yellow plastic, presumably so it didn't get hot and hence burn peoples hands.
Except that the heat from the engine eventually makes the tube brittle so it cracks and eventually sprays oil all over the engine until the low oil light comes on. Then when you want to remove it to replace it all of the plastic crumbles, falls into the sump and blocks the oil pickup pipe.
Brilliant design.....
Except that the heat from the engine eventually makes the tube brittle so it cracks and eventually sprays oil all over the engine until the low oil light comes on. Then when you want to remove it to replace it all of the plastic crumbles, falls into the sump and blocks the oil pickup pipe.
Brilliant design.....
havoc said:
I think your logic is flawed JD. Manufacturers choose to make a part that SHOULD be metal out of plastic, then it fails, then you use that as an argument for going to a more expensive, more complicated solution that's JUST as likely to fail, rather than going back to the old metal part?!?
Seriously chap, do yourself a favour and think before typing...
(As regards "having a sender anyway" - the old-style "warning light" sender was a very simple affair vs the current 'take the oil level' sensors/senders. Simpler, cheaper, less likely to fail...and even if it did the owner had a manual backup solution...)
Oh, and I've not HEARD of a dipstick breaking amongst any of my family and friends.
Peugeot 206 three times in twelve years. Seriously chap, do yourself a favour and think before typing...
(As regards "having a sender anyway" - the old-style "warning light" sender was a very simple affair vs the current 'take the oil level' sensors/senders. Simpler, cheaper, less likely to fail...and even if it did the owner had a manual backup solution...)
Oh, and I've not HEARD of a dipstick breaking amongst any of my family and friends.
Jimboka said:
liner33 said:
Dipsticks do break, often, ever since manufacturers got the great idea to make them out of plastic
Strange, in 40 odd years, never had a dipstick failure.My last Skoda had a black dipstick. Why did the global head of dipstick design have to choose the only useless colour !!
Many Skoda/VAG owners just put a bit of white paint on the black bit or put on their glasses
Blaster72 said:
If it's taking them more than a week to change a sensor I'd suggest they're incompetent. The sensor is around £40 and is located in the sump.
As for dipsticks, outside of us lot on here how many people even bother checking their oil regularly on modern cars?
I check mine once a week, on some cars I've had you had to as they burnt so much oil.
Most modern cars I'd suggest are driven service to service and the only time the bonnets are lifted is to top up the screenwash.
40 years ago Land Rover dealers used to argue with farmers over whether a piston ring really needed changing. Nowadays Range Rovers are sold to people who barely now how to top up the windscreen washer bottleAs for dipsticks, outside of us lot on here how many people even bother checking their oil regularly on modern cars?
I check mine once a week, on some cars I've had you had to as they burnt so much oil.
Most modern cars I'd suggest are driven service to service and the only time the bonnets are lifted is to top up the screenwash.
sebhaque said:
My W203 Mercedes has no dipstick - it's measured electronically. The most annoying thing is that it doesn't actually show you a level of oil - it just says "Engine Oil Level OK". You have to perform some fiddly work to access the diagnostic menu where it'll give you an actual volumetric quantity. Luckily the car doesn't burn much oil as it's a stupid system.
Happily Mercedes must have also used the other half of their brain when designing the W204 as the dipstick is back. It's stayed there for the W205 too.
All 203's have a dipstick tube so you can fit a dipstick if you really wanted to...Happily Mercedes must have also used the other half of their brain when designing the W204 as the dipstick is back. It's stayed there for the W205 too.
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