Hard to see level of new oil on dipstick when re-filling
Discussion
Because new oil is so clean, it is sometimes very difficult to see where the oil level is on the dipstick when refilling with fresh oil. This works a treat:
a) Get a length of stiff plastic tube (nylon is best) which will go down the dipstick tube on the engine, 4-5 mm OD and about 40 cm longer than the dipstick.
b) Drill through a cork or rubber bung and thread it onto the tube so it is a sliding fit..
c) Keeping the bung in contact with the top of the dipstick tube, gradually push the plastic tube down the dipstick tube, at the same time gently blowing down it.
d) When the end of the tube reaches the oil in the sump you will hear a bit of bubbling and gurgling. If you suck gently you will also feel resistance.
e) Without moving the bung on the tube, withdraw it, align the bottom of the bung with the stop on the dipstick, and see where the end of the tube is relative to the level markings on the dipstick.
a) Get a length of stiff plastic tube (nylon is best) which will go down the dipstick tube on the engine, 4-5 mm OD and about 40 cm longer than the dipstick.
b) Drill through a cork or rubber bung and thread it onto the tube so it is a sliding fit..
c) Keeping the bung in contact with the top of the dipstick tube, gradually push the plastic tube down the dipstick tube, at the same time gently blowing down it.
d) When the end of the tube reaches the oil in the sump you will hear a bit of bubbling and gurgling. If you suck gently you will also feel resistance.
e) Without moving the bung on the tube, withdraw it, align the bottom of the bung with the stop on the dipstick, and see where the end of the tube is relative to the level markings on the dipstick.
Thanks guys for your helpful suggestions – it’s been a revelation.
As a professional mechanical engineer with 50+ years of working on cars I have never been able to fathom out how to use a dipstick but I think I’m beginning to work it out.
The suggestion of using kitchen roll is pure genius – who would ever have thought of that ?
(the oil actually shows up much better on blue workshop roll wipe)
The level of technical expertise demonstrated by you guys on PH is truly awesome and from here on out it’s my go-to forum for any question I might have where the answer is the bleeding obvious and doesn’t need more than two brain cells.
As a professional mechanical engineer with 50+ years of working on cars I have never been able to fathom out how to use a dipstick but I think I’m beginning to work it out.
The suggestion of using kitchen roll is pure genius – who would ever have thought of that ?
(the oil actually shows up much better on blue workshop roll wipe)
The level of technical expertise demonstrated by you guys on PH is truly awesome and from here on out it’s my go-to forum for any question I might have where the answer is the bleeding obvious and doesn’t need more than two brain cells.
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