My Porsche doesn’t even a have a dip stick.
Hard To Read Dipsticks
- Thread starter Warstud
- Start date
Nissan's dipsticks aren't accurate, especially the 4th gen Maxima!
The old GM 2.2L pushrod dipstick is combined with the oil cap, so you can't even look in the engine from it
I like when the dipstick is actually flat at the end rather than being twisted
The old GM 2.2L pushrod dipstick is combined with the oil cap, so you can't even look in the engine from it
I like when the dipstick is actually flat at the end rather than being twisted
If it’s wet between dots you are good 
. Followed that mantra for 35 years from Grandfather and vehicles lasted.
. Followed that mantra for 35 years from Grandfather and vehicles lasted.A simple dip stick is far too primitive, simple, and reliable for the Germans, they love to way over engineer everything!
Much better to just rely on British electricals, given their historical reputation for quality and reliability.
Kia ones are pretty simple / basic but easy to read. The bottom of the dipstick is like a non-shiny metal while the rest is normal
have a friend who has a civic that I check the oil on, it has like an orange plastic dipstick on top of the motor, that one’s on the harder side to get a accurate reading you can get close enough though.
have a friend who has a civic that I check the oil on, it has like an orange plastic dipstick on top of the motor, that one’s on the harder side to get a accurate reading you can get close enough though.
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although if I'm not mistaken, Porsche was very late to the game in using a push to start button for the engine. My BMW too doesn't have a dipstick, and my Toyota product has none for the auto trans!
It is odd, our GM has two readings depending on which side of the dipstick. I go with the lower reading, really--it is consistently the side of the dipstick facing in. I just go with that and have for more than 10 years!
Maybe motor oils need to add dye so we can read dipsticks better? What was it, old Silkolene used to be green/blue oil....
The ones in the Safari isn't so much hard to read, it's hard to determine where the oil level is. This goes for both engine oil and transmission.
Both dipsticks are +3 feet long and when removed, it drags out what's on the stick and deposits in the tube. Wiping it off and re-sticking it, all you see is drag out. You have to look carefully to see where the oil level is (if at all).
Sometimes, I remove the sticks, wipe them and set them aside and go about doing something else for a while. I come back and then re-stick.
Both dipsticks are +3 feet long and when removed, it drags out what's on the stick and deposits in the tube. Wiping it off and re-sticking it, all you see is drag out. You have to look carefully to see where the oil level is (if at all).
Sometimes, I remove the sticks, wipe them and set them aside and go about doing something else for a while. I come back and then re-stick.
The bad: My Honda Civic is the worst with the orange plastic. The good: It doesn't use oil and I really don't check it that often.
When I check the oil level I pull the dipstick, wipe clean with a paper towel, insert and pull out again. The paper towel is used as a backdrop while I hold the dipstick in the proper light.
Through all the years I’ve never had a problem using this method.
Through all the years I’ve never had a problem using this method.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
It is. It is done for vacuum and emission purposes.
2nd gen Tacomas are notorious for smearing oil up into the dipstick tube, which makes the subsequent reading very difficult. I pull the stick and wipe it off, let everything sit for at least 10 minutes while the oil drains from the tube back to the pan, and then insert the stick for a reading. Also I used sandpaper to scuff up the shiny end of the dipstick which seems to help the reading, along with some daylight or a good shop light to see the reflection on the tip. Not supposed to be this hard LOL.
By far the absolute worst I've ever dealt with was what Toyota uses/used in the Corolla 1.8L. Family members had one from 2008 and 2014 and the only realistic way to check it was to park level and let it sit for hours or overnight. Removing the dipstick to wipe, then reinsert was a waste as it was such a tight fit oil would smear up/down the thing and never gave a correct quick reading.
If you have a UV light be sure to use it when checking fluid level. Easy to see....the oil looks white like milk.
Why go to better dipsticks just as ICE is phasing out?
Phased out.
you see what I did there?Phased out.