Dipstick Fix!
#1
#4
At 600 miles.. I got fed up with that stupid dipstick.
Here's my 20 second zero dollar fix!
File it, file two flats on each side.
IT'S PERFECT!
Repeated dips... NO LONGER A PROBLEM!
Mounted it in a vice. Filed it, flipped over.. Filed other side.. Wiped it off... FIXED!
Here's my 20 second zero dollar fix!
File it, file two flats on each side.
IT'S PERFECT!
Repeated dips... NO LONGER A PROBLEM!
Mounted it in a vice. Filed it, flipped over.. Filed other side.. Wiped it off... FIXED!
I know some people are sensitive about their dipsticks, but really, I check mine once every ~3K miles, and it always shows engine oil at full mark (my MCS doesn't burn any oil). The next time I check it is after I do an oil change.
a
#5
What exactly where you doing with it for 600 miles that got you fed up?
I know some people are sensitive about their dipsticks, but really, I check mine once every ~3K miles, and it always shows engine oil at full mark (my MCS doesn't burn any oil). The next time I check it is after I do an oil change.
a
And then today while I had the bonnet open after washing/waxing it..
I tried several times in good light to see just where the level was... It seemed to change as the bulbs dragged the oil up the tube...
It dawned on me that every other dipstick on the planet has flat sides.. So I made some flats.
Now that goofy reading doesn't happen any more.
I had read that it was hard to read.. I thought people were blowing it out of proportion... But it's just a poor design. What's so hard about a metal stick or a steel cable? They had to go put this dumb barb shaped thing in it and make it cylindrical...
#7
I've noticed when the dealer fills it (from new + oil solenoid fix) he 'brims' it and the dipstick never makes sense. Like most, I choose to 'between interval change.'
When I change the oil myself (twice now) I only ever measure out 4litres and the oil level can easily be seen hovering on the 80-90% mark of the stick despite numerous successive 'dips' afterwards.
Of course, I check the oil weekly (who in their right mind doesn't?) and I've never seen the need to top it up (touches wood).
I can see why the dealer feels the need to stuff it to the very top if people 'can't' do their own checks. What's the weekend for, anyway?
When I change the oil myself (twice now) I only ever measure out 4litres and the oil level can easily be seen hovering on the 80-90% mark of the stick despite numerous successive 'dips' afterwards.
Of course, I check the oil weekly (who in their right mind doesn't?) and I've never seen the need to top it up (touches wood).
I can see why the dealer feels the need to stuff it to the very top if people 'can't' do their own checks. What's the weekend for, anyway?
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#8
What exactly where you doing with it for 600 miles that got you fed up?
I know some people are sensitive about their dipsticks, but really, I check mine once every ~3K miles, and it always shows engine oil at full mark (my MCS doesn't burn any oil). The next time I check it is after I do an oil change.
a
I know some people are sensitive about their dipsticks, but really, I check mine once every ~3K miles, and it always shows engine oil at full mark (my MCS doesn't burn any oil). The next time I check it is after I do an oil change.
a
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-dipstick.html
2011 MC, PW/B
#9
#13
Your method appears to be a great idea.
Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...68-post17.html
#14
Yea, I read about BlackIces mod before I even got my car... I was going to do it... but then I realized that drilling the holes ran the risk (IMHO) of cracking the stick as it aged.. (not a huge issue, but a problem..)..
Plus I kinda suck at drilling holes... I just eyeball stuff... lol.
edit - Oh, I see he filed his too... I missed that... I thought he had just drilled the holes.. I think the file is all thats needed.. (on both sides..).
Plus I kinda suck at drilling holes... I just eyeball stuff... lol.
edit - Oh, I see he filed his too... I missed that... I thought he had just drilled the holes.. I think the file is all thats needed.. (on both sides..).
#15
For those who may not want to improve the car, I noted this technique recently... I don't know if it's AS visible here in pictures as with the Eyeball MARK I, but you get a clear line accros the dipstick knurling this way, and where this indicates now is from 4.4l of oil replaced within the last 1000km or so... This level hasn't moved appreciably since the change.
The routine is to 1. Remove dipstick. 2. Clean and insert as shown. 3. Remove and read.
'12 N18.
I apologise in advance if this method has been documented a billion times already and/or is terribly wrong somehow!
E
The routine is to 1. Remove dipstick. 2. Clean and insert as shown. 3. Remove and read.
'12 N18.
I apologise in advance if this method has been documented a billion times already and/or is terribly wrong somehow!
E
#16
Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B
#17
#18
I just pull mine out, wipe off, insert until about that black gasket, pull it back out and wipe it off again, do that one more time... then sit it on the engine. Go about doing whatever it is I'm doing, and in about an hour I come back, fully insert it and read, works like a charm. I do this almost every weekend.
Granted if I was trying to read it on the fly at a gas station or something, that wouldn't work... I just make sure I read it about every weekend or every other weekend while it sits in the garage.
Sometimes I'll even leave it out overnight and check in the morning... this allows all the oil to drain back down out of the tube so you don't get any on the bulbs of the dipstick.
Granted if I was trying to read it on the fly at a gas station or something, that wouldn't work... I just make sure I read it about every weekend or every other weekend while it sits in the garage.
Sometimes I'll even leave it out overnight and check in the morning... this allows all the oil to drain back down out of the tube so you don't get any on the bulbs of the dipstick.
#20
dipstick
At 600 miles.. I got fed up with that stupid dipstick.
Here's my 20 second zero dollar fix!
File it, file two flats on each side.
IT'S PERFECT!
Repeated dips... NO LONGER A PROBLEM!
Mounted it in a vice. Filed it, flipped over.. Filed other side.. Wiped it off... FIXED!
Here's my 20 second zero dollar fix!
File it, file two flats on each side.
IT'S PERFECT!
Repeated dips... NO LONGER A PROBLEM!
Mounted it in a vice. Filed it, flipped over.. Filed other side.. Wiped it off... FIXED!
#21
Your method is the best I found for reading the stock dipstick. This method works because the reading is far enough away from the upper bulge that the oil wiped onto the dipstick does not interfere with the reading. The distance from the contact point you show to the contact point of the fully inserted dipstick is almost exactly 1". I marked my dipstick 1" below the center of the top bulge. If the oil level using your method is above the mark it is overfilled or if below the mark oil needs to be added. I tried BlackIces's modification because the holes he added made it extremely easy to see the level.
Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B
Morris, 2011 MC, PW/B
1. Warm up the engine and take the dipstick out. Of course, wipe it clean but do NOT put it back.
2. Let car sit for 5-10 minutes (The person who posted the suggestion lets his sit 30 minutes! I doubt it needs to sit that long)
3. Put dipstick in BUT stop once the bottom of the **** touches the edge of the tube.
4. Pull out and wipe it off.
5. Repeat once or twice.
6. Finally, put all the way in and take a reading.
The poster of that thread said that because of the steep angle where the dipstick bends, oil is rubbing on the sides, messing up the level reading. The in-n-out motion done first is to scrape the excess off the walls. This is why you do it three or four times before taking a reading. Interesting but it makes sense. Before trying that, my dipstick was totally useless, the oil was smeared all over no matter how many times I cleaned it off. Makes me suspect the dealer's mechanics were using their own "top secret" dipstick!