The dipstick conundrum

[col.decker]

Evening all. Excuse me asking a potentially embarrassing dummy question but this has always bugged me.


On that there dipstick, how do you read it? You take it out, wipe it clean, put i back in, read the level. Yes I know that, but one side will say Max, and the the other will be at the mid point. Which is the right one?



/dipstick

[thebobster]

I find it difficult getting the oil down that silly little hole as well. You would think that German engineers would have come up with something better than that, wouldn't you. I think 'Max' on the dipstick was the name of the guy who invented it, but I am only guessing here. Sounds German to me, anyway.

[col.decker]

lol

Many views, no answers. It's a mystery I tells ya!

[Aidan]

correct dipstick only has min and max marks no writing so you may have the wrong dipstick hence the lack of replies

[Hendrixevo147]

correct dipstick only has min and max marks no writing so you may have the wrong dipstick hence the lack of replies

Agree with Aidan, Mine only has the two min and max marks and no writting, another mystery is how come when I filled it up to the max, went to shell Island over the weekend and home again Monday did mine end up just below the min mark..... lol guess I need to sort out the leaking push rod tube seals and leaking rocker cover gaskets...
Only just realised I was missing a rubber for the dipstic until I saw one advertised, looked at mine and realised I never had one. (it now has one)



Pete

[Ralf85]

correct dipstick only has min and max marks no writing so you may have the wrong dipstick hence the lack of replies

Agreed. It looks like you need to get the correct dipstick otherwise the result could be disastrous. Compare yours with somebody local who has the same engine.

[Ralf85]

[quote="Hendrixevo147

another mystery is how come when I filled it up to the max, went to shell Island over the weekend and home again Monday did mine end up just below the min mark..... lol guess I need to sort out the leaking push rod tube seals and leaking rocker cover gaskets...

Pete[/quote]

It's not a mystery. Engine pressure (don't laugh) will push oil out of a knackered rocker gasket at an alarming rate. I had one fail on my old van and it suddenly failed and lost half the oil from a new engine in a couple of minutes. Luckily, the oil warning light came on and I stopped straight away, looked underneath to see oil still dripping out from the failed gasket. I then fitted a new gasket (always carry spares - they are cheap to buy and critical kit), topped up with oil and back on the road. It's messy and a bit fiddly, but a 10 minute job. Once changed check for leaks. PS buy the best quality gaskets - some are too thin and are useless.

[col.decker]

correct dipstick only has min and max marks no writing so you may have the wrong dipstick hence the lack of replies

Agree with Aidan, Mine only has the two min and max marks and no writting, another mystery is how come when I filled it up to the max, went to shell Island over the weekend and home again Monday did mine end up just below the min mark..... lol guess I need to sort out the leaking push rod tube seals and leaking rocker cover gaskets...
Only just realised I was missing a rubber for the dipstic until I saw one advertised, looked at mine and realised I never had one. (it now has one)



Pete

hey were you in that blue air cooled one I followed up Dianna's Mowgley?

[col.decker]

BTW just for clarity it is the right dipstick, when I said 'reads max' I meant it was on the top notch, and 'mid point' as in betwixt the top & bottom notch.


never mind, I'll keep aiming for top on one side, and half way on the other

[R0B]

Stick a picture of it up.Lets have a ganders..

[itchyfeet]

I think what you are saying and what is happening is as you withdraw it the oil is being scraped up the dipstick so what you see is not a clear line of oil.

Try rotating the dipstick in the tube. on mine the loop to pull from is about the 1.30 o'clock position.

Also don't bother withdrawing wiping and doing it again, just look at the level as you first withdraw it, each time you do this oil is left in the tube which then obscures the reading.

you need to do the reading cold or after say 15- 30 mins of running.

[blacky]

Col. Decker,
I believe what you mean is any time you put the dipstick in and withdraw it one side reads higher or lower than the other. Ignoring full line and low line, they don't matter in the discussion. Simply you can't be sure if the high reading on one side of stick is correct or if its low reading on other side. I have this all the time when servicing cars and it's frustrating. You could measure in recommended capacity eg put 4 ltrs in if thats capacity. I try several dippings and take average erring towards high reading.

[Hendrixevo147]

[quote="Hendrixevo147

another mystery is how come when I filled it up to the max, went to shell Island over the weekend and home again Monday did mine end up just below the min mark..... lol guess I need to sort out the leaking push rod tube seals and leaking rocker cover gaskets...

Pete

It's not a mystery. Engine pressure (don't laugh) will push oil out of a knackered rocker gasket at an alarming rate. I had one fail on my old van and it suddenly failed and lost half the oil from a new engine in a couple of minutes. Luckily, the oil warning light came on and I stopped straight away, looked underneath to see oil still dripping out from the failed gasket. I then fitted a new gasket (always carry spares - they are cheap to buy and critical kit), topped up with oil and back on the road. It's messy and a bit fiddly, but a 10 minute job. Once changed check for leaks. PS buy the best quality gaskets - some are too thin and are useless.
[/quote]

Thanks Ralf, I do intend to Change the gaskets before my next run, as I have a set in the garage.
And Col Decker, yes it was me you followed up Dinas Mowdyy (however you spell it) were you the yellow one I was leaving in my wake. Lol at 15 MPH.

[col.decker]

BTW just for clarity it is the right dipstick, when I said 'reads max' I meant it was on the top notch, and 'mid point' as in betwixt the top & bottom notch.

ooooops, belay that order!

After a fiddle tonight and actually paying attention to the details of the dipstick I do indeed have 3 nothces and the word max , med, and min on it. hmmmmmmmmmm.

if its not the proper dipstick for the engine that might explain it maybe (its an 1986 1.9l petrol DG)

[col.decker]

Col. Decker,
I believe what you mean is any time you put the dipstick in and withdraw it one side reads higher or lower than the other. Ignoring full line and low line, they don't matter in the discussion. Simply you can't be sure if the high reading on one side of stick is correct or if its low reading on other side. I have this all the time when servicing cars and it's frustrating. You could measure in recommended capacity eg put 4 ltrs in if thats capacity. I try several dippings and take average erring towards high reading.

bingo