There ought to be a (dipstick) law

[Rick in PA]

Yeah, I know we need more laws like we need a hole in the head, but, manufacturers should be required to put three small holes in the dipstick (low, mid and full). I just did the first oil change on a Kia we just got. The dipstick had two dimples (low and full). That must not have been good enough because the dipstick was also burnished at the end to make it easier to read. I still couldn't read it. I ended up drilling the holes myself. I've done this on most of the gas engine dipsticks I have, you need to use a carbide drill. Why, oh why, don't they just punch the holes in the dipsticks when they manufacture them?

Do all Fords have two holes in the dipstick? I know our '98 Windstar had them.

Any other manufacturers do this?

 

[DemoFly]

I have never had a problem reading any dipstick.

I will say that the Ecotec in the Saturn VUE has easily the best designed dip stick I have ever used.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5syve0Eny2BAASgc6-m1K9WNqx4UNY0bXCmnOheNwRNVXJGMdgmjLK8rI

 

[GumbyJarvis]

My Ford has 3?

 

[Lead Shoes]

All Honda motors I have seen come with a dipstick with 2 holes on it and nothing more.

 

[Virtuoso]

Our '98 Windstar doesn't have any.. but it's crosshatched pretty well and not hard to read.

The '99 Malibu has four holes.. and it does help make it easier to read in that case.

 

[sciphi]

Our Honda's is pretty good. The Cruze's is difficult to read. There are two cross-hatched areas at each end, and a blank area in the middle. I guess it's supposed to be in the middle of the blank area.

 

[Errtt]

My Toyota has no holes. It's a cross-hatch pattern.
Honda mower does too, but made of........ Plastic?
And my generator has one also of plastic

 

[Colt45ws]

You should see the stupid orange plastic ones in some newer vehicles. You cant even see oil on the thing.

 

[The motor guy]

I don't see the point of holes. I don't ever look at them. obviously if there is oil on the holes then you're ok but you don't know if you're just barely above the add mark by looking only at the holes.

 

[Thax]

My roommates 08 128i does not even have a dipstick , so feel good about yours lol

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I don't see the point of holes. I don't ever look at them. obviously if there is oil on the holes then you're ok but you don't know if you're just barely above the add mark by looking only at the holes.


That's why I like three holes. The hole at "full" assures me I filled it properly when I do the oil change. When it drops below the middle hole, I add a half quart. I like to keep oil in the upper range and not get a full quart low.

 

[Artem]

Don't change the oil so often (clear) and it will be easy to read (dark oil is easily visible on the dipstick)

 

[SLCraig]

My favorite dipstick so far has been my Saturns... Ironically they have to be good, because you are checking your oil often enough!

The Civic has the worst ever. That stupid orange thing, I just loathe it.

 

[wirelessF]

For some reason ATF dipsticks are black, making it impossible to read unless you shine it on a light.

Reason #231453 why auto mfgrs got rid of ATF dipsticks.

 

[Cutehumor]

full and low line is all I need. I thought this thread was gonna be about transmissions without dipsticks!

 

[supton]

It's nice having engine oil that is always black, as if by design! [My diesel VW that is.] Easy to see, even on a black dipstick. On mine, there is a hashed region where the oil is supposed to be; and a couple of bends, I guess to keep from scraping the tube as it comes out? Works well enough, although I basically only ever check after it has sat for several hours (and everything has drained down, including any oil on the dipstick).

The Camry's oil is starting to turn light brown towards the end of the service interval; and it shows up reasonably well on the silver dipstick now. For that the two holes work well enough.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
Yeah, I know we need more laws like we need a hole in the head, but, manufacturers should be required to put three small holes in the dipstick (low, mid and full). I just did the first oil change on a Kia we just got. The dipstick had two dimples (low and full). That must not have been good enough because the dipstick was also burnished at the end to make it easier to read. I still couldn't read it. I ended up drilling the holes myself. I've done this on most of the gas engine dipsticks I have, you need to use a carbide drill. Why, oh why, don't they just punch the holes in the dipsticks when they manufacture them?

Do all Fords have two holes in the dipstick? I know our '98 Windstar had them.

Any other manufacturers do this?

This is what I find hilarious;

I own a 2007 F150,4.2V6,and am a member on several Ford truck websites.Some members on the V6 forums come in there asking this q? all the time;
"I just did an oil change on my 4.2 V6 and the dipstick is reading low.Should I add more oil to bring it up to level?" BTW,it holds 6 qts. This is my reply;
"Of all the thousands of 4.2V6s Ford built,do you think they made a special oil pan mold just for your truck to hold more then 6 qts.?"
That always p****s them off real good!

 

[artificialist]

I think the reason modern dipsticks are badly designed is because few people ever read them anyway.

What bothers me is the dipstick and tube on VW engines. They keep falling apart!