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bobbber
P4
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 2162
Location: The Greatest Town on Earth - Swadlincote, UK
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 Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 4:51 pm Post subject: Dipstick reading |
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Hello!
I've sorted out an oil change over the weekend, and although I have one of those "whizz bang" electronic dip sticks, I'm having problems reading the correct oil level.
I pull the dip stick out, wipe the oil off, put it back in, and then try to read the level off. Problem is, oil is found along the entire length of the stick!
Is this normal?!?!? I'm sure the car has slightly less oil than it should have... but how can I really tell?!?!?
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport |
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Guest
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| find one from a non alfa control if you wanna check for sure. Otherwise let it stand and drip out for an hour and return so the stick-pipe has dripped dry |
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Rob (not ALFA ARNA)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:22 am Post subject: |
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Forget about trying to read the oil level on the whizz-bang dipstick!
Take a wire coathanger and spend 5 minutes bending it into a shape with small offsets corresponding to the MIN and MAX levels, and a big offset at the correct height to give the dipstick the right penetration into the sump. Just keep it loose along with an oil rag in the scuttle compartment beneath the windscreen.
Works a treat, and your new dipstick can even be used in an emergency to open someone else's car when they lock their keys inside, but that's another saga!
Cheers,
Rob |
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bobbber
P4
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 2162
Location: The Greatest Town on Earth - Swadlincote, UK
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Cheerz guys... I'll try those things, sounds ACE!
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport |
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Ben_nz
Gold Cloverleaf
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 575
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:04 am Post subject: |
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| If you've only got the whizz-bang dipstick (which you can't read the oil level on), how do you know whereabouts the minimum and maximum levels should be marked on your coathanger dipstick? |
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RFlower
Alfa 33
Joined: 17 Feb 2004
Posts: 432
Location: S of France
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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My whizzbang dipstick has the sensor missing, just 2 wires shorted together. But it does have a MAX mark stamped on. MIN mark should be 32mm below this, according to my Sprint dipstick.
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Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for breaking) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '73 NSU Ro80 (F), '99 Fiat Seicento (F) |
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Rob (Perth)
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| Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:37 am Post subject: |
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The problem with the whizz-bang dipstick is that the oil doesn't show up well on it, not that you can't see the MAX & MIN markings (at least, that's the case with mine). With the coat hanger hi-tech job, the oil level shows up clearly.
Now if only I could get my coolant level sensor to work properly (not enough bouyancy in the float, & can't find any suitable non-absorbent, temperature resistant material to make a new float out of)...
Cheers,
Rob |
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