Dipstick length

[sternal]

I hope this can be answered in a few hits and not be epic like my previous posts !

Van of flat driveway (2l Aircooled), it always reads the same reading which is just on the first notch, even after putting oil in (obviously don't want to overfill)n and leaving over night.

The length of the vans dipstick is 60cm top to bottom is this the correct length ?

Oil change done in march so don't really want to do an oil change though I suppose its the only way to get a proper reading knowing the correct amount is in there to begin with.

Many thanks in advance

[kevtherev]

olil should be changed twice a year, filter once.

what ever the mileage done...
If you buy a proper litre oil jug you won't have to guess

[sternal]

cheers I meant for topping up purposes I have now topped up I was low on oil ! back on 2nd notch

thanks for help

[kevtherev]

it's one litre from the bottom mark to the top mark....

[tobydog]

595mm overall, 565mm to seating bit thingy.

"olil should be changed twice a year, filter once.
what ever the mileage done..."

Twice a year oil change & one filter regardless of mileage, why?

[Oldiebut goodie]

Oil is used instead of water for cooling and is therefore abused more in an aircold.

[tobydog]

Oil is used instead of water for cooling and is therefore abused more in an aircold.

Agreed it does probably suffer higher temperatures at times than a watercooled engine, but the engine also has fins and a fan to remove heat primarily.

[kevtherev]

your oil collects carbon in vast quantities from using petrol
unlike modern engines your old flat four does not deal with it well
carbon will grind away your bearing surfaces faster, the higher the carbon content.

...after six months the long chain molecules that help the mating faces slip across each other are vastly reduced as your oil loses its ability to lubricate
oil is cheap..engines are not.

6000 miles or six months

[tobydog]

Just making the point that two oil changes a year is not necessarily needed regardless of mileage. Does oil go off after six months and loose it's properties when it's out of the can? Does it oxidise or something.

PS
carbon - graphite (slippery)
carbon - diamond (very hard)
graphene - (interesting)

[kevtherev]

Just making the point that two oil changes a year is not necessarily needed regardless of mileage. Does oil go off after six months and loose it's properties when it's out of the can? Does it oxidise or something.

PS
carbon - graphite (slippery)
carbon - diamond (very hard)
graphene - (interesting)

graphite is not a byproduct of combustion...or the rest of your ps suggestions.
Oil collects water in an engine, it absorbs it, it's not a sealed can, water corrodes bearing faces.
...and oil prevents oxidisation on the bearing surfaces, allowed to drain the protection is lost

you change your oil when you like, I'll keep doing mine when VW says

ever heard of oil life monitors?

[tobydog]

Is it hygroscopic then?

I 'll better change the oil every month then before the engine drowns in the water that the oil's absorbed before it's boiled off after it's fortnightly run for thirty minutes.

[kevtherev]

ok tell us what you base your oil changes on..
then I can chuck a few smart comments at them

[Plasticman]

the last Dipstick i saw was about 5 foot 6 and driving a toyota today and wanted a right good slap
mm

[tobydog]

ok tell us what you base your oil changes on..
then I can chuck a few smart comments at them

Sorry I thought this was a thread on dipsticks.

I base my oil changes on mileage and the type of journeys that I do. Won't say what oil I use, don't want to open that can of worms.