Dipsticks (again)

[davidd]

Just checking the oil (well bunging some in) and noticed that if I read from the back of the dipstick I get a completely (lower) different reading. How bloody confusing. Can someone explain please?

It does worry me a bit because..

A) The car uses a bit of oil
B) It is an early 4.2 which has had a new sump and so the dipstick is not where it was when the car was built.
C) The dipstick had new marks cut into it after the new sump was put on

D

[Julian64]

dipstick is not a well designed device on the cerb. It has to bend to run out an oil covered outer wall therefore oil could be anywhere on the dipstick

My advice. Clean the dipstick. Insert without twisting and straight out.

The lowest level you can see on either the back or the front is the true reading.

[davidd]

And how much oil do we think between min and max ?

D

[olly]

1 litre

(I think !)

[kojak69]

Mine is 1 litre between min and max, but I think a lot are 2 litres.

Try taking the dipstick out over night, and checking it the next day. Put the dipstick in, wait a few seconds, and remove.

[gbbird]

I find it a nightmare getting any sense from the dipstick. So what i tend to do is every 1000 miles or so, or when oil pressure gets to read a bit lower than normal, i just pour a drop in (maybe 1/4 litre) just to be on the safe side

[cirvy]

I had this problem, i found Kojak69 method works quite well, coupled with a random top-up once a month whether it looks like it needs it or not!! ( i'm no mechanic, but i guess too much oil wont do too much damage, certainly better than too little)

[davetherave1970]

So glad I'm not the only one.
I'll try Kojak's method tonight!!

>> Edited by davetherave1970 on Thursday 1st July 11:27

[Buster4.2]

Julian64 said:

dipstick is not a well designed device on the cerb. It has to bend to run out an oil covered outer wall therefore oil could be anywhere on the dipstick My advice. Clean the dipstick. Insert without twisting and straight out. The lowest level you can see on either the back or the front is the true reading.

Method I use & works for me.

[james45lw]

I average front + back readings and generally chuck in a few glugs every second week