Tips for reading the oil dipstick?
 

I have 20/20 vision and have the hardest time reading the oil dipstick. Am I the only one? Does anyone have any tips or tricks that make seeing the oil on it any easier? The electronic gauge is nice for day to day monitoring, but I prefer to periodically get a dip reading if possible. If I get the light just right and hold it at the right angle and really close to my eyes, I can kind of see it. Yes, there is enough oil in my car and it is registering on the stick. I think I may have finally found something on my Chevy that I prefer to the Porsche.

Benjamin

I thought my eye sight was fine until I got my first pair of reading glasses. Man, what a difference!

Having pristine virtually clear oil in your engine is a good thing but does make it hard to see.

like you discovered you have to angle it to the light just right to see it.

the only other thing I can think of, is to blow some flour on it and see where it sticks.

then you have to clean the dipstick though.

good point Timco, a magnifying glass would be good idea.

take a blue shop towel and lay the dip stick flat on the towel.
it will leave a 'fingerprint' of the dip stick.
Then take the dip stick and place it directly below the fingerprint.
You'll see if you're at hash mark or below it.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. The oil is not only new, it was still hot from running 20 miles, so maybe I will have a little better luck with cold oil. I also had the bright idea to wrap some blue painters tape around the end and dip with that, figuring it would show up better. Thankfully I abandoned that idea because with my luck the tape would come off in the engine or tube and I'd be in a lot worse shape.

Is there any type of white paint/coating that would live in the oil and hold up to the heat ?

OP, I know what you mean lol

The tip of the stick is matte finish. If you just wave a light source (e.g. mobile phone backlight), that will create reflections where there is oil. It gets really obvious

The flashing trick doesn't work well under bright sunlight tho. In-garage or dark days only

I also remove it, dry it, dip it, check it.

(The oil dipstick....)

:-) I almost spitted my coffee.
I do the same here and I do it twice to make sure.

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I use the same technique!

What is this dip stick thingy you are referring to?

New oil is the hardest. After a few months, I can see on the dip stick.
The lay on paper towel method works. You just have to make sure your steady. I roll so you can see the stain in relation to the measure points
Definitely pull, clean, reinsert and then check

MY 2004 and earlier were supplied with a dipstick to measure oil level.

MY 2005 and later just has the dashboard monitor for oil level.

Do the new cars really not have a dip stick, cfos or anyone with a 981 I am actually curious about engine access on them if anyone would like to share, pics are welcome.


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Sorry, there isn't an imoticon for tongue in cheek or I would have included it in my comment.

Yes BJake, no dipstick starting with the 987. All electronic.