Any tricks to reading dipsticks? My older eyes have a real hard time seeing the oil line, especially with fresh oil. I was wondering if applying some colored nail polish to the fill area on the stick would help (okay ... stop laughing ... I'm serious).
Reading dipstick woes
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Im thinking the detergents would strip off that nail polish pretty quick. I've tried to clean up my funnels before with soap and water, and that didn't work. Then used the funnels for a oil change and the oil, just passing over the "dirty" funnel, cleaned it up significantly more than my dish soap and hot water.
Maybe some kind of epoxy based paint? Or maybe just use a darker oil?
Maybe some kind of epoxy based paint? Or maybe just use a darker oil?
Hmm.. I'm guessing that nail polish would rub off and end up in your oil. My trick is looking at it under a bright light on an angle. You'll be able to see where the oil stops by the sheen on the oil. If all else fails, take the dipstick out and immediately place it flat on a paper towel, the oil should seep into the towel right away and show you where the level was at.
My dads eyes are starting to get a tad "older" and his car uses oil...
He took out his dipstick, cleaned it with brake cleaner really well to get all the oil off, then marked the full level with some tape. Lightly sanded below this area so that the paint had a good surface to stick to. Then he used white enamel appliance paint and painted the end of the stick. Let it dry over 6 hours and then applied another coat. He then let that dry over another 6 hours and then cured it using a lighter moving back/forth over the dried paint over the course of a 5-10 minutes.
Then he put it back in the engine. He can now see the oil level properly. Works great and doesn't come off because it's high heat enamel paint.
He took out his dipstick, cleaned it with brake cleaner really well to get all the oil off, then marked the full level with some tape. Lightly sanded below this area so that the paint had a good surface to stick to. Then he used white enamel appliance paint and painted the end of the stick. Let it dry over 6 hours and then applied another coat. He then let that dry over another 6 hours and then cured it using a lighter moving back/forth over the dried paint over the course of a 5-10 minutes.
Then he put it back in the engine. He can now see the oil level properly. Works great and doesn't come off because it's high heat enamel paint.
Just tip the stick to reflect the light. You'll see where the oil is. I have the same issue. My eyes are terrible.
Ken
Ken
just lay the dipstick on a dry paper towel , and it`ll be wet where the oil level is !
Shine a Maglight on it.
Some of the new dipsticks simply suck, my Mazda has a terrible dipstick and I have a hard time checking the level when the oil is fresh, I can see an older person having even more trouble.
Artificial light helps with reflections and getting the angle right, I find that when it's sunny outside there is too much reflection as the sun is too strong, I usually move to the shaded area or inside my garage, that helps a lot.
Artificial light helps with reflections and getting the angle right, I find that when it's sunny outside there is too much reflection as the sun is too strong, I usually move to the shaded area or inside my garage, that helps a lot.
I also have a Mazda3 & that dipstick does suck.
That being said - I cut (dremel) a few notches in between the hi & low marks on the diptstick so that the oil has more places to cling to.
This is based on the same theory of looking on the back side of the diptstick where the FoMoCo engraving is to determine oil level.
This has been a reasonable solution for me.
That being said - I cut (dremel) a few notches in between the hi & low marks on the diptstick so that the oil has more places to cling to.
This is based on the same theory of looking on the back side of the diptstick where the FoMoCo engraving is to determine oil level.
This has been a reasonable solution for me.
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Drill a small hole in the dipstick at the top and bottom marks. You can see the oil in the holes when you read the stick.
A bunch of small holes drilled will show the level.
But it's best not to use paint or drill anything.
Keep a cheapo magnifying glass under the hood of the car.
But it's best not to use paint or drill anything.
Keep a cheapo magnifying glass under the hood of the car.
I wouldn't use anything that might contaminate the oil, such as paint of any kind.
If your dipstick is metal, simply put a series of dimples along it with a center punch, that will let you see the level easily.
If your dipstick is metal, simply put a series of dimples along it with a center punch, that will let you see the level easily.
Originally Posted By: Georgiadave
Drill a small hole in the dipstick at the top and bottom marks. You can see the oil in the holes when you read the stick.
I gotta tell my dad that one... Thanks for posting it...
My Hyundai has indentations for the Full/Low marks... Otherwise I would be in the same boat with y'all because new oil is so clean it is barely visible and I have decent eyes...
Drill a small hole in the dipstick at the top and bottom marks. You can see the oil in the holes when you read the stick.
I gotta tell my dad that one... Thanks for posting it...
My Hyundai has indentations for the Full/Low marks... Otherwise I would be in the same boat with y'all because new oil is so clean it is barely visible and I have decent eyes...
Best is to drill tiny holes like 1/32" in the middle of the stick at the top and bottom of safe range, and a couple in between. If the hole gets dipped in oil it will remain filled when you pull out the stick. Careful, I broke a couple bits drilling mine, the dipstick is some pretty tough material.
Alternately, dip the stick, then carefully lay it on a napkin, fold the napkin over, then back and you'll see the wet area on the napkin. If you didn't mover the stick relative to the napkin, then you can see where it comes to on the stick.
I prefer the holes. The holes have to be small 1) to hold oil, and 2 to prevent compromising the stick (a 1/8 hole obviously could result in the tip of the stick remaining in the engine someday, and would not hold the oil).
Alternately, dip the stick, then carefully lay it on a napkin, fold the napkin over, then back and you'll see the wet area on the napkin. If you didn't mover the stick relative to the napkin, then you can see where it comes to on the stick.
I prefer the holes. The holes have to be small 1) to hold oil, and 2 to prevent compromising the stick (a 1/8 hole obviously could result in the tip of the stick remaining in the engine someday, and would not hold the oil).
Oh, one other alternative is to put dark dye in the oil, or just run dirty oil--
Drilling a hole is a good idea. I used the edge of a file and marked the full level with a line across the width of the blade so I could see it easily. I suppose you could notch the dipstick blade too.
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Originally Posted By: Georgiadave
Drill a small hole in the dipstick at the top and bottom marks. You can see the oil in the holes when you read the stick.
I gotta tell my dad that one... Thanks for posting it...
My Hyundai has indentations for the Full/Low marks... Otherwise I would be in the same boat with y'all because new oil is so clean it is barely visible and I have decent eyes...
You got it, Stevie, indentations ( dimples ) are the way to go. No drilling, plus you can put them on both sides. All you need are small dimples, just enough to cause the light to bend so your eye can pick it up.
Originally Posted By: Georgiadave
Drill a small hole in the dipstick at the top and bottom marks. You can see the oil in the holes when you read the stick.
I gotta tell my dad that one... Thanks for posting it...
My Hyundai has indentations for the Full/Low marks... Otherwise I would be in the same boat with y'all because new oil is so clean it is barely visible and I have decent eyes...
You got it, Stevie, indentations ( dimples ) are the way to go. No drilling, plus you can put them on both sides. All you need are small dimples, just enough to cause the light to bend so your eye can pick it up.
Originally Posted By: hate2work
I wouldn't use anything that might contaminate the oil, such as paint of any kind.
If your dipstick is metal, simply put a series of dimples along it with a center punch, that will let you see the level easily.
This is the best idea IMO. Great suggestion.
I wouldn't use anything that might contaminate the oil, such as paint of any kind.
If your dipstick is metal, simply put a series of dimples along it with a center punch, that will let you see the level easily.
This is the best idea IMO. Great suggestion.
If you have a machine shop hand have them knurl the dipstic. TO clen you do not wipe rather pat it as the knurled area will eat up a paper towel but it traps the oil and reflects the light in different directions making it easy to see. Old dip sticks had fine knurling on them and it really helped to get a good reading but today they leave the knurling off it must save $.03 a dipe stic....Luckily for me my Toyota still has that knurling on it. The wifes Buick does not!
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