Dipstick

At the risk of looking like a dipstick does anyone else have problems reading their oil level?

The alloy of the dipstick is a very dark grey and a light synthetic oil barely shows against that background.

Any great tips/techniques for resolving this?

Take the dipstick out, clean it and get it inside again. Then out and have a look.

Gorsh this sounds so...

Precisely what I do (is there any other way) but its still light oil against a dark grey background which is hard to spot.

Why not feel it with your finger, starting from the top and gently moving down?


Just realised the above can be seriously misinterpreted

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Just realised the above can be seriously misinterpreted

Only if your weiner crazed

Gorsh BF, you're gonna be banned for that.

Originally Posted by GD

weiner

Who's Weiner? Friend of yours?

Its like Swiss Tony from the fast show ...

Checking your oil is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman.

Let her cool down for 5 minutes then clean your dipstick.

Starting from the top feel down with your finger .......

Originally Posted by THROTTLEMAN

Gorsh BF, you're gonna be banned for that.

I know, sooner or later ...

Originally Posted by gwales

Its like Swiss Tony from the fast show ...

Checking your oil is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman.

Let her cool down for 5 minutes then clean your dipstick.

Starting from the top feel down with your finger .......

OMG, what have I started?!

Originally Posted by BigFoot

I know, sooner or later ...

Originally Posted by BigFoot

OMG, what have I started?!

A new show.

Hmm, I should charge an entrance fee for that!

But you'll make it free for friends.

Yep, that's why you're paying

Na... I like the real Swiss Tony, not a cheap copy.

G Wales, never mind that banter, try this, piece of ordinairy soft blackboard chalk, wipe the dipstick dry, rub the flatside of the chalk in the area where the level marks are, dip it, you should see the oil against the matt white of the chalk. Posted this on the assumption it was a genuine question.zf

Thanks Zulu Ferret, its a genuine question.

I had thought of getting a white background on there but obviously want to avoid putting any contamination into the oil. I suspect any attempt to make the dipstick white permanently would come off during longer term use and end up clogging the oil filter.

I'll try the chalk as I can make sure the dipstick is clean before putting it back.

Chalk will do no harm whatsoever. In the past it was used as a fine polishing agent for fine siver, precious metals and so on, no problems have used it many times through the ages, which have been quite a few!