How am i supposed to check my oil level?

Iamzod

Iamzod

Iamzod

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Not as stupid a question as the title suggests.

I have an ST220 and for whatever reason the dipstick is utterly useless, I have tried probably upwards of 30 times today to figure out if I need to top up and I can't tell.

I tend to end up with oil down the dipstick from about 2 inches above the max mark which seems to gradually cover more of the dipstick the further down it goes.

In my old TDCi I had a nice definite line, in this it seems I am supposed to guess?

Anyone else had similar issues on other cars?

Or even better have a solution?
 
Is this even after leaving the car for a while after running it? Some can be a bit funny until oil has drained out the dipstick tube.
 
My ST220 dipstick is fine. Keep an eye on the oil in them cos they tend to go from fine to minimum in a matter of weeks sometimes. They do use a lot of oil.
 
Iamzod said:
Anyone else had similar issues on other cars?

Or even better have a solution?
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Similar issue on my 1.0 Ecoboost Focus - oil is super thin so difficult to see anyway, but because the dipstick curves around so much, it's almost impossible to get a "clean" reading without it dragging against the side.

Only way I can check it to any degree of certainty, is to press the dip stick against some kitchen roll, and compare the darkest area vs the dipstick markings.


R56 Mini Cooper S used to have a terrible dipstick as well - looked like a tightly coiled metal spring and that was difficult to read.
 
To get an accurate reading on my mx5 I allowed the oil to get hot and removed the dipstick for 10-15 minutes. This allows any oil in the tube to drain back down. Then dipstick back in for 1 x single check, job done.
 
I've found that on my Imprezas, I've had to remove the dipstick and leave it for 10 mins or so before dipping.

This is on a cold engine.
 
On my Ibiza Cupra with the 1.4tsi it would always give an over filled level cold. When the engine was upto temp and left for 5 minutes you would get the actual reading. Like you when cold it was always all over the dipsrick.

I always check the oil when it's warm as the level was never right when cold. VAG always recommend to test when warm, I guess it's as the oil is thinner and has worked its way round the engine.
 
Same with my GT86 (Suburu engine), the dipstick is crap. Oil sticks in it's tube so when you pull it out you can't see where the level is because it's smeared all over the stick :/
 
pull the dipstick out and leave it out for 10 or so minutes, this should allow most of the oil in the tube to drain away and reduced the oil smear on the stick.
 
Wait til you get a car with an electronic dipstick and the swearing continues... sure, it's "easier" to get a reading as you just press a button and wait a few minutes (once the car is warmed up and on a level surface), but there's no way to check any level if you're wanting to top it up a little, or the car's cold. I would say "what's wrong with a metal stick with a couple lines on it" but obviously that's now getting problematic with more complex and compact engines...
 
It's hard to get a proper reading from my girlfriend's Auris because of how it smears the dipstick as you pull it out, but I don't recall having any real issues with my ST220. Wipe and reinsert it a few times and you can get a decent idea.
 
DereksDontRun said:
Wait til you get a car with an electronic dipstick and the swearing continues... sure, it's "easier" to get a reading as you just press a button and wait a few minutes (once the car is warmed up and on a level surface), but there's no way to check any level if you're wanting to top it up a little, or the car's cold. I would say "what's wrong with a metal stick with a couple lines on it" but obviously that's now getting problematic with more complex and compact engines...
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They keep making things digital because they think it's progress, but actually they are just making things less reliable and less accurate. Things that didn't need "fixing", like dip sticks. Theres no reason why an engine can't have one.
 
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Nasher said:
They keep making things digital because they think it's progress, but actually they are just making things less reliable and less accurate. Things that didn't need "fixing", like dip sticks. Theres no reason why an engine can't have one.
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Indeed - when I bought my A3 the dealer assured me I'd never need to open the bonnet to check anything, as it would tell me on the display when it reached the low oil mark. Lasted about 6 months of my ownership before that "feature" stopped working, although luckily I was still checking via the "old fashioned" dipstick :)
 
Yep exactly. It quietly stops working and you find out the oil has run dry when the engine explodes all over the road one day, probably out of warranty too. Totally avoidable with a simple dipstick which we've been using since engines were inveted.
 
My new mondeo is hard to see the level on as well, a trick i learnt from my RX8 days is to get some sandpaper on the dipstick and put some horizontal scores along the stick, it helps the oil stick. Also sure i once found a dipstick tube cleaner, thread a bit of towel on the end and clean the tube then take a reading, you would have to make sure it doesnt touch the oil level though or you would make things worse.
 
Armageus said:
Similar issue on my 1.0 Ecoboost Focus - oil is super thin so difficult to see anyway, but because the dipstick curves around so much, it's almost impossible to get a "clean" reading without it dragging against the side.

Only way I can check it to any degree of certainty, is to press the dip stick against some kitchen roll, and compare the darkest area vs the dipstick markings.


R56 Mini Cooper S used to have a terrible dipstick as well - looked like a tightly coiled metal spring and that was difficult to read.
Click to expand...

This- you need to use loo roll or kitchen roll, you just rest the stick against it and take the reading off that.
 
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