My Method Is Best Among 4 Solutions for Reading Oil Dipstick Accurately, Part 1 Thin Oil
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- For some cars, reading the dipstick is difficult. There could be many reasons why it is hard to read and many people discuss this topic on the internet. There are three existing common solutions: some suggest drilling additional holes on the dipstick, some recommend cutting, or notching, the edge of the dipstick to capture oil, others encourage you to file surface the of the dipstick to roughen the surface assuming this would capture more oil than a smooth surface will. But all these existing solutions are creating permanent irreversible change to a car component. Not only is it uncertain whether the modification will work well under various different conditions, but also it may lead to unintended consequences. Why would your own modification be significantly better than that designed by experienced car manufacturers?
My solution is quite easy and simple, and it does not require any modification. It may take a few seconds longer to check the oil, but can be as precise as you wish.
Your vehicle’s dipstick should have holes, letters, or lines that help indicate the oil level in the engine. The lowest marking is closest to the tip of the dipstick, while the highest should be closer to the cap of the dipstick. So where should oil be on the dipstick? Those two holes or marks on the dipstick show the optimum level that your oil should be at. Your oil level should be somewhere between the two. if the oil is close to or below the markings at the end of the dipstick, or if there isn’t any oil on the dipstick at all, then you need to add some engine oil. If the oil is above the upper mark, you’ll need to drain it out to maintain a normal oil level.
Q: What does the H stand for on a dipstick?
The letter “H” on a dipstick stands for high or normal oil levels. The car dipsticks have holes or markings that depict optimal and worrisome oil levels. Depending on the car, the markings could be a set of pinholes that indicate MAX (for maximum) and MIN (for minimum). For some vehicles, you might find letters like H (High) and L(Low). Others use F(Full) and L(Low).
Chapters
0:00 some dipsticks are hard to read
0:20 thin oil 10W-30, 2W-20, 0W-20
0:53 oil 0W drips fast,
1:13 water can be caught in the Low hole
1:34 how to capture oil, the hole is the most important feature
2:05 step 1: check oil level same way as traditional
2L25 distance estimate needs to be generous
2:45 step 2: insert but stop short of distance
3:31 without cleaning dipstick, insert further each time
3:51 final distance indicates the oil level
4:19 my method easy to read, accurate,
4:39 Alternative method 1: drill holes on dipstick
5:01 Alternative method 2: cut dipstick edge
5:35 Alternative method 3: file dipstick surface
6:09 car modifications risks: irreversible, unintended consequences
6:33 other causes of reading dipstick difficult
6:54 cause 2. parked on slope; 3. stick rubs tube wall
7:19 4. dipstick reading asymmetry
7:40 when hot vs cold engine reading dipsticks
Since various cars have dipsticks which are harder or easier to read than others, please leave comments below on your experience with cars or dipsticks so that we can know more about where issues occur!
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My Method Is Best Among 4 Solutions for Reading Oil Dipstick Accurately, Part 1 Thin Oil - Jak na to + styl
I have noticed many dipsticks tubes are not perfectly 'straight' and have a slight bend in them. IF your dip stick is a flat one, it will scrape against the bent section tube sides when removed and streak the oil all over the dipstick and create a mess all over the stick in the reading area. Your method is about the only way to get around this. I may order a new OEM dipstick tube and see it is dead straight, meaning the bent one in their now was bent during engine install. Yes I agree never modify your dip stick!
I used a small triangle stone , placed the dip stick on a flat surface , made about 4 strokes to make a line , put several lines between the two holes , then did the same thing only across in a different to direction ,,,,this helps in capturing the thin oil, do both sides of the dip stick ...its not perfect but gives you a visible reading .....I am happier with my result, because it's a good improvement ....marking the area between the holes is the way to a better result
A concern I'd have about drilling holes or cutting a notch would be that this could create small pieces of metal that will break off and damage the car's internal components.
I haven't needed to do this before, but one other method is that someone can take the dipstick, hold it horizontal, and touch white paper to the dipstick. Where it transfers and changes the color will indicate how far up on the dipstick the oil is. A disadvantage is if you use a paper that has strong capillary action, the oil will spread quickly as soon as you touch the dipstick to the oil.
yes paper would help if your problem is your "eyesight" problem of not seeing the oil on the dipstick, but if there is not sufficient amount oil on the dipstick to begin with, you can't transfer that oil to paper, it does not matter how good your eyesight is, or how good magnifying glass or better lighting, it would not help if no oil on the dipstick.
I have a 2016 Toyota Prius, it does not have holes right through it has dimples. I am able to read the dipstick with a different method. I hold the dipstick flat and horizontally to look at it. Then I tilt the dipstick just a little so the oil runs up the dipstick instead of down. Where the oil meets the dry part of the dipstick it forms a slight bubble that you can actually see. Don't tip it too far or the oil will spill over onto the dry part of the dipstick, and you have to wipe it off and start over.
all the videos ive watched this one nails !! thanks !!!! great solution !!
I have owned a few cars. Toyota highlander 2010 has a hopeless dipstick. I will try your method and see how I get on. The dipstick snakes sharply in in to the engine making streaks appear and getting a reading visually is impossible.
Toyota Camry 2011 is perfect easy to read. Toyota starlet 1996 easy to read. Mazda 5 2005 easy to read.
Thanks for the video.
thank you for taking the time to share your experience with different cars
@@GeniusAsian all good my friend. I think the person who invented the 2010 highlander dipstick, is a dipstick 😛
@GiantChickenCreature love the pun!!! 😛
@@giantchickencreature I have the same problem with my 2011 Toyota Highlander! Wow I'm glad I'm not crazy! I've dealt with many cars and never have I experienced this! Have you figured out a way to read it accurately??
@@phillippardo5712 No sorry, I tried to scuff the end with sandpaper which didn't work for me as well as it does for other people in videos I have seen. I didn't want to risk damaging my dipstick by cutting notches or drilling holes into it. In the end I put oil in and put the dipstick in and out trying to see if any oil would sit in that top indent. I kept adding oil until the indent was always full. Hope this makes sense but it is no way accurate I don't think.
My 2006 Jeep Liberty isn't hard to read but I have had situations where it was. A head mounted light makes it easy.
Thank you for taking the time to share, your tips will help other viewers
How much oil is between the two marks on dipstick?
usually designed as one quart of oil between the two holes