Oil Dipstick, hard to read...

[GreenChevelleSS]

I was thinking that since these things are so hard to read that maybe if you scuffed it up with some steel wool and then cleaned it real well if some paint prep then sprayed it with some flat black paint that it might be easier to tell where its wet then...
Think this would work?

 

[Nick M]

Uh, you dont want paint in your oil pan. Why cant you read the stocker?

 

[trydrew]

I think that there is a SOGI tip about putting deep grooves in it and then cleaning it up really good.

There might also be one like this... You can space measure the distance between the bottom of the tester thing and the Full line on it. Then measure that much on the top and stick it in all the way but that amount. This works because there is a little dimple on the bottom of the tester. If you dip it into where the top of the oil should be at full, the dimple will fill up with oil.
Ive kind of been skeptical about this method because you dont know if the dimple is picking up oil as it slides through the walls of the dipstick tube.

Anyway, I wouldnt paint it, but its pretty important that you find another way of reading your oil level. Also if you use steel wool, it will help a little, but clean all the wool off before you stick it back in.

-Drew

 

[GreenChevelleSS]

If you got it clean enough and used the right paint, the paint wouldnt come off.....
I thought about the Drilling holes thing but it doesnt seem like it would work as good tho...

 

[AGlobalThreat]

Just cut a small groove in it where the full mark is.

 

[jimi87-t]

What I did, is on the back side, the side with out the marks on it. I used a fine file to flatten about 75% of the face. Then I sanded it down just like you would do with paint. But worked though the grades until the final sand was done with 4 micron "grit". Same process I use to prep all my metal under the hood for polish. But I did not polish the dip. It leaves a smooth flat surface just like most dips are.

I originally tried scuffing the surface, but that was just as hard to read.

Also, to double check the stick, I use a "fish", basically a long flat flexible piece of metal, just like a normal dip stick, just more flexible (works very well).

 

[dbsupra90]

i just get a clean paper towel and lay the dipstick across it. you can easily see where the oil level is. the 91+ dipsticks are a diff design and easier to read if you wanted to swap it out. pretty cheap, even new from toyota.

 

[GrimJack]

Buy a new one from Toyota. They fixed the design, and the new ones work FAR better.

 

[modnar]

Buy a new one from Toyota. They fixed the design, and the new ones work FAR better.

When were they fixed? My car is a 91 and the thing is a pain to read. Were they actually worse then this, or did they fix it even later than that?



modnar

 

[Trixta6]

Just Bead Blast the tip. I do all my dip sticks that way at work. A Machine shop or metal shop would be able to do it for you for about 2 bucks.

 

[GrimJack]

I don't think they fixed it until years after the Mk3 was done. The difference is huge, believe me, and the new one only costs a few bucks.

 

[modnar]

I don't think they fixed it until years after the Mk3 was done. The difference is huge, believe me, and the new one only costs a few bucks.

It looks like a trip to the dealership is in order.... thanks.


modnar

 

[Suprastic]

Mine is a little hard to read, but that is just because my oil is always soo damn clean

 

[MKIIINA]

i did the sogi mod and it was a far cry better than the origional stocker. that said last year i got a new redesigned one form toyota ($15.xx from champion) and there was an even bigger difference. spend the money and get the new one.

 

[Twigger]

I bought a new one and I ca now read it. What I did that someone mentioned early is just roll it across a paper towel and you can easily see where the level is at.

 

[3p141592654]

Do you have the part number of the new one? There's a million numbers
in the EPC. My best guess is 15301-42012

i did the sogi mod and it was a far cry better than the origional stocker. that said last year i got a new redesigned one form toyota ($15.xx from champion) and there was an even bigger difference. spend the money and get the new one.

 

[suprarich]

Mine is a little hard to read, but that is just because my oil is always soo damn clean

There is the answer!! Just leave dirty oil in the motor and you will never have a problem reading the oil level!!:biglaugh:

 

[aye mate]

:withstupi