[Closed] Can’t get a reading from my vans dipstick.

I have the same issue on my car, try wiping clean then inserting to above the max point on the gauge and repeat until it's clean when withdrawn. Then any reading would be only the oil in the pan. You can also read it cold, the oil will smear less, but check in the manual if that's the true measure for your car -some should be done when hot.

Use a fresh paper towel to clean it dry.

There is often not much difference in quantity between max and min on the dipstick, it’s might be as little as one litre so by randonmy adding some just in case you can risk over filling which can cause damage in itself.

That’s what I thought.

Maybe I’ll just have to hope my low oil level sensor is working and presume that if it doesn’t come on it’s ok?

Cant believe the rubbish design of the dipstick tbh.

Bloody French vans!

Rubbish dipstick was the only thing I didn't like on my Saab 900.

If it’s Renault, you can check electronically. I can’t remember the procedure but it has to be 8n the manual.

We used to have a Yaris with a polished dip stick which the oil would not cling to.

The best one was my old Mini.

Straight tube....in out....perfect reading.

It can’t be that hard to design surely?

Its a Peugeot van. Had to change the battery the other day and they’ve designed it so the bolt holding the battery in, is wedged down the side so you can’t get a socket on it. WHY NOT PUT IT ON THE FRONT WHERE NOTHING IS IN THE WAY??!!

Didn’t mini dip sticks blow out on highly tuned engines? I was advised to get a crank case breather to prevent this.

Which cars need oil checked hot ?

My Fabia is meant to be done after a run, you wait 2 mins for the oil to drain down then read the dipstick.  Someone on the Briskoda forum worked out that the cold reading is 2mm off the top mark when it's cold, easy to judge by eye but I've made a little mark on mine anyway.

Which cars need oil checked hot ?

BMW manual says to check at normal operating temperature, but after the engine's been stopped for a few minutes to let it drain down. IIRC it reads higher when hot, so you risk over filling if you base it on a cold reading, but the manual also says not to top up unless the car prompts you to do so. which makes checking the dipstick redundant anyway.

Is the tube likely to be gunked up? The only thing I’d possibly consider putting down it would be a camelback tube brush. And even then, only one I had 100% confidence that it wouldn’t come apart on. I’d do it in my own engine, but never on anyone else’s

you can usually remove the tubes with one or perhaps two bolts (one holds it into the block, the other would stabilise it against the head).

Ok . Prompted by the above as I'm about to change the oil on my car  I've just read my manual on the 2015 pug and found it's a cold check on the level thankfully.

How ever I do know that on dv6 the engine oil must be at 50deg c before draining it. That is defined as engine At 90 and the fan kicked in once as per the Buliten released due to premature turbo failure.

My 2013 Nissan (Renault) van tells you the oil level every time you start up on the dashboard display  It appears fir about 30secs.

My 2013 Nissan (Renault) van tells you the oil level every time you start up on the dashboard display  It appears fir about 30secs.

Most modern cars do.... But of course like all sensors it relies on the sensor being fully functional

Well two things happened during servicing my car.

1 is . Evans halshaw weren't pulling my pisser when they said they services the car before I bought it.....all the manufacturing stamps on the filters matched what id expect.

2. Peugeot really have upped their came in making things designed to be serviceable. Easy to access stuff and things bolted together rather than clipped (always breaks long before year 10)

Nice work pug.

My 2013 Nissan (Renault) van tells you the oil level every time you start up on the dashboard display

Mabey thats what I was thinking of, been 10 years since mrs Sims had her Clio. It was 1.6 but as most of that shape were 1.2, it would startle people when required. Only way to tell was the door badges.

Nobody suggested a longer dip stick yet?

Nobody suggested a longer dip stick yet?

Dont even joke,  there will be 5 pages discussing penetrated baffles and fouled cranks!

The dipstick on my Passat is black plastic.  Being a diesel, the oil is black.  It's nearly impossible to read.

They are orange when new!

Someone else got the answer, keep inserting and cleaning the dipstick but stop clear of the oil level, so 3 or 5cm from full insertion.  I used to get this on my old van, the dipstick was formed from a coiled spring and could pull quite a bit of oil up with it, and modern van engines are quite low in the bay so need a long dipstick tube, mine had a big S bend in it.  Just need to clear the dipstick tube without smearing more oil up from the sump.

A few insertions to less than full length before shoving it in to maximum depth is advice that works in several applications.

Bath water temperature and a toe, for example.

My BMW doesn't have a dip stick.

I spent about 10 minutes inspecting the engine so I could check the oil level the first time I topped the washer bottle up before resorting to Google.

I try not to think about what will happen if the electronic level measurement system fails dangerous.