Agreed. After arguing back and forth about the value I personally get from using RUclips, I realized I should support more of these content creators. Can't do it for all but I have started "donating" to some of their channels. The truth is the value I get from so many different areas is just top notch. We tip fast food restaurants these days and they are only selling you their product, no real service yet we tip them. As you said, these people take the time to create informative videos that have probably saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars for some people... yea I'm happy to start donating a small amount that I can handle and fit into my budget. It's well deserved. Great video btw lolol.
From personal experience this works great the first time you take out the dipstick. Once you try to re-check the level, oil gets coated in the dipstick tube when dipstick was initially pulled out and when you reinsert/recheck the dipstick again you get oil marks above the full line on the paper towel even though its spotted oil marks on the dipstick itself. Checking which way the dipstick tube curves helps to determine which side to look at as mentioned on other comments. The struggles of thin oils. Once you put in a couple of miles on the engine oil it will get a shade darker and easier to read.
That has been my problem as well. I have found that I need to wait another 3 minutes or so before taking my next reading or I have oil from the dipstick tube giving me false high readings. Thanks for your input!
Was having this dipstick trouble just now. I thought, somebody out there must have thought of an idea for this. Came inside and a quick search brought me to this. It worked like a charm! Many thanks.
@@moemanm1202 first oil change in my car with 0w-20 can confirm. No joke I tried checking the reading on the dip stick over 5 times until I finally said f it Caus I know I put in around a 5.6 quarts so I should be good lol .... but tomorrow during the day I’ll follow this video and get a better idea where my oil is at!
Let Engine Sit 10 Minutes To Settle Oil. I Usually Check Oil First Thing In Morning That Way Oil Settles All Night. I Could Be Wrong I’m No Engine Expert. Hope This Helps
@@prospectormnisi1382I pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with some paper. That way oil left from driving is removed. Put the dipstick back and pull it out again, and check the oil level. Is that the way you do it too?
Thank you! Just had my oil changed...always check it when I leave the dealership....this time was puzzling...Seemed like I couldn’t get an accurate reading...never had a problem before. 2006 Tacoma 170,000 miles Will try this tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.👍
I like that idea. Also, here's something to try. I have to do this with automatic transmission fluid... Pull out the dipstick at moderate to slow speed & then hold it level. Slowly rotate the dipstick about 45 degrees and let gravity pull that thin ATF downward to the edge. The fluid is much more obvious and thicker when it is pooling at the edge instead of laying flat, which spreads it out. Also, with automatic transmissions, remove the dipstick before doing the reverse/drive cycle on flat ground and then leave it in park for 3+ minutes idling before inserting the dipstick, wait 3 seconds, then pull it out and eyeball it.
thank you so much. I was having a hard time reading my aunts dip stick today and so I looked this subject up. I am so shocked how easy this is and greatfull you shared this.
Our '22 RAV4 uses 0W-16 and it's so hard to read the dipstick. Even the dealership had a hard time when I told them they overfilled the oil, which is why I didn't complete their complimentary 2yr/25k ToyotaCare. With this tip, I check the stick multiple times and look for the area with the heaviest smear consistently. I also make sure not to put in the whole oil capacity of the engine. Example, 4.8qts with the filter, 4.4 without as per our manual, I only put in about 4.2qts and check from there, add as needed. So far I didn't need to add any more than that.
Excellent trick. So simple. I've been checking oil for the better part of 50 years and this was an awesome revelation. I bet my antique eyesight didn't help. This will make life easier. Thank you for sharing.
I have the hardest time reading the dipstick on my Tacoma. All the oil smears all over the dipstick and it reads different every time I check. I check about 5 times, wiping dry in between dips.
Same here, good thing to note tho is that my 4L V6 2014 Taco takes 5.5 quarts . So I buy a 5 quart and a 1 quart. Empty the 5 quart and then half of the 1quart bottle. Great way to know ur close to the money since the dipstick is difficult to read, especially with new oil.
My Jeep Wrangler has a a point that sticks out a bit right above the full line. It always has a little oil on it and because of that I can’t tell if it’s too full. It’s so damn hard to get a read.
Without the crosshatch on Toyota's dipsticks, it's not only hard to see it doesn't cling to the stick either. This method, along with a darker paper towel, is perfect!
I was actually laughing at how easy this was, and why I didn’t think of it 😂😂😂 Don’t ever remember having this issue before, but today I had my car serviced, which funnily enough is a Toyota like the car in the video! But the oil was so clean, it’s like putting water on a clean piece of metal, can’t see anything! I was holding it up in the air, pointing it towards the sun to try and catch some glare off the oil, looking under my glasses! I put a piece of paper towel on the upper part of the dipstick to try to see how far up the oil goes, I could just about see a clean line where I put the paper at the top, so I was happy with my reading in the end, but this method is so much easier and more accurate 👍🏻
I had to add fluid to the transmission but was unable to determine what I was reading on the stick. Must have checked it 15 times getting different readings all the time. One side will show fluid 10 inches up the stick, the other side shows sort of what I expect to see. Will try your tip, great idea well presented. Thanks.
Thanks, I thought I was losing my mind. I put 4.7 qts. of Mobile 1 in my Prius 3 and could not see any oil on my dipstick.They really need to fix this problem. The paper towel trick worked.
Another method I read is to pull dipstick and wipe with rubbing alcohol or Windex to remove oil residue, then insert. This helps the oil to stick better.
Wow i have been so worried after helping a friend change the oil. The oil was so shinny and clean I even went and bought a new dip stick to see if i could read it better!
Thank you for posting this as it may seem like common sense but when you have been able to see the oil when I was younger you never thought of when you can't see it when your older lol!
My 1998 c280 mercedes has a cable dipstick with a red plastic tip that's almost impossible to read accurately. I have owned everything from muscle cars to MG's, Triumphs, Lexus, and Infinity's and have never had problems getting an accurate reading. I will try your "method" and hopefully I'll FINALLY be able to determine what my true oil level is. Thanks for the info!
Thank You, Thank You for posting this! I've been having trouble reading the dip stick for years, and had to ask the guys at the gas station to do it. Now I have an accurate reading anytime.
i was checking the hydraulic fluid on an old John Deere and it is so clear that you cannot get a reading. I made a cardboard dipstick which worked great. Your idea is easier
Neat trick. My '02 Chevy Trailblazer has a poor dipstick design. It's hard to read even with used oil in the engine. I'm going to give this method a try.
That is a excellent idea. If your oil is clear it is nearly impossible to read as you say. I used to run my finger down dip stick but your tip is the dogs. Thanks.
Thx was having trouble seeing my automatic transmission fluid on the dipstick i thought it was right but was a little high thx a lot really helped me out
This is good method, but I defy you to use it on a VW Passat 3C (also called B6) diesel dipstick. The dipstick is black (not good for diesel oil, which is always black) and it has several misleading parts. It is far too complex.
What a very cool solution to an annoying and common problem I have had for years. The iternet is for way more than Facebook and Twitter. :-) Thank you!
the oil from my toyota 4runner dip stick runs and smears a trail up pretty far so i cant get a good reading. how do i fix it leaving a trail? there is no clear stop or start point
Tee Rule of thumb I use is go by the lower portion of it that is completely covered. Say you have an inch of the bottom of the stick that is completely covered and then the last half inch to an inch is splotches or only on one half side of the stick. The part that isn’t completely covered is residual oil from your tube and wasn’t submerged into the oil in the drain pan. Always check twice too if you are getting crappy readings. Nissan trucks are bad about it too.
thanks for the tip. In Highlander V6, 2011. The dip stick stays in curved tube. When you pull it out the oil level is smeerer that causes wrong reading even using your method. It just catches some oil from the walls of the tube. Any advise. Thx
I would suggest, let the oil "settle" by leaving the engine off for at least 10 minutes before checking your oil level. Pull the dipstick straight out once, take your reading. Be sure to wipe the engine oil off your dipstick "before putting it back in. Repeat your check a couple times always wiping the dipstick off before putting it back in. You'll get an accurate reading. Yes, some of these dipsticks are quite difficult to read, but that method should help you.
+Mysimplefix Thanks you for your reply. A good method that I got it from someone is to pull the dipstick and wait for 5-10 mins till the oil drop from the dipstick tube back to the oil pan. After that put back the dipstick then pull out and read. To help reading I used your method to get the correct level. Thanks a lot
Just saw this. My comment would be 4 1/2 years late - But, when you're good - the compliments won't stop :) If you do see this comment - What is your opinion about 2 colours on the dipstick? The lower part dirtier & heavier? Cleaner, higher part, lighter? Seems dispersants can only do so much? Also, dark marks left on tissue reveal the amount of dirt in the oil? Especially auto trans? Black in the pink?
Hi, and thank you for the kind comment! Yes, I do read these comments. I am a licensed Automotive Service Technician (Mechanic) in Canada, so this question I can definitely help you with. If your question regarding 2 colours as you described on the dipstick is specifically for an "Automatic" transmission, then I would say that this is a common occurrence on vehicles that have been driven for more than a year or two (typical city/highway driving conditions). There likely is no need to be concerned unless the fluid smells burn't! Small amounts of Automatic transmission clutch and band frictional material do slowly wear, eventually ending up in the fluid, and, on the end of the dipstick. If you have many miles or kilometres on your vehicle, you might choose to replace your fluid and pickup filter (if equipped) as per the maintenance schedule found in your owners manual. Just a note on fluid colours.... Newer fluids tend to go darker faster than fluids found in vehicles of the past that used Dextron 3 or equivalents and earlier. I hope this helps.
@@mysimplefix Thankyou for your prompt response & explanation :) My question was about both: engine & auto trans oils. For auto trans oil, my observation is that the colours don't separate as much on the dipstick as on the tissue, cos trans oil is checked with idling engine? For engine oil, the colour is 2 tone, on the dipstick, checked after standing, stopped a while. The tissue would also indicate the separation, by your method. I am one of those who does used oil lab analysis at every oil change & ponders over every ppm. Expensive hobby? Some would tell me - Just buy a new car & Get a Life? :)
same probs in my xtype trying to read level off black plastic stick..cleaned stick with white spirit painted the end white and bingo good readings for 2.5yrs now
seriously I have respect for people who bother to make videos like this, without any potential reward :)
I felt that
Agreed. After arguing back and forth about the value I personally get from using RUclips, I realized I should support more of these content creators. Can't do it for all but I have started "donating" to some of their channels. The truth is the value I get from so many different areas is just top notch. We tip fast food restaurants these days and they are only selling you their product, no real service yet we tip them. As you said, these people take the time to create informative videos that have probably saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars for some people... yea I'm happy to start donating a small amount that I can handle and fit into my budget. It's well deserved. Great video btw lolol.
From personal experience this works great the first time you take out the dipstick. Once you try to re-check the level, oil gets coated in the dipstick tube when dipstick was initially pulled out and when you reinsert/recheck the dipstick again you get oil marks above the full line on the paper towel even though its spotted oil marks on the dipstick itself. Checking which way the dipstick tube curves helps to determine which side to look at as mentioned on other comments. The struggles of thin oils. Once you put in a couple of miles on the engine oil it will get a shade darker and easier to read.
That has been my problem as well. I have found that I need to wait another 3 minutes or so before taking my next reading or I have oil from the dipstick tube giving me false high readings. Thanks for your input!
That's exactly what I'm having problems with
What a generous act to be offering such tips, no doubt primarily or exclusively as a public service. Thank you! Oh, and this is a great tip!
Ditto!
Love seeing comments like this. 7rs ago was a different time. God bless
Was having this dipstick trouble just now. I thought, somebody out there must have thought of an idea for this. Came inside and a quick search brought me to this. It worked like a charm! Many thanks.
Glad this helped you! Thanks.
Genius! Saves me checking it half a dozen times (and still not being sure). Thank you 😊
I have felt the same way for the last week after helping my room ate change his oil.
I USE 5W-20W OIL , VERY HARD TO SEE--THANK YOU A MILLION FOR A EASY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM
Try 0w-20. Even harder to see
@@moemanm1202 first oil change in my car with 0w-20 can confirm. No joke I tried checking the reading on the dip stick over 5 times until I finally said f it Caus I know I put in around a 5.6 quarts so I should be good lol .... but tomorrow during the day I’ll follow this video and get a better idea where my oil is at!
But how to read a dipstick with oil streaks all over it
Let oil settle before checking
Yeah i feel like sometimes the tub that houses the dipstick is coated in oil so when i pull it out the whole thing is covered.
Let Engine Sit 10 Minutes To Settle Oil. I Usually Check Oil First Thing In Morning That Way Oil Settles All Night. I Could Be Wrong I’m No Engine Expert. Hope This Helps
@JohnW-b5j even even the car can settle the entire night, it still has some oil streaks all over it.
How then do you see the true readings?
@@prospectormnisi1382I pull out the dipstick and wipe it off with some paper. That way oil left from driving is removed. Put the dipstick back and pull it out again, and check the oil level. Is that the way you do it too?
Thank you! Just had my oil changed...always check it when I leave the dealership....this time was puzzling...Seemed like I couldn’t get an accurate reading...never had a problem before. 2006 Tacoma 170,000 miles Will try this tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.👍
I like that idea. Also, here's something to try. I have to do this with automatic transmission fluid...
Pull out the dipstick at moderate to slow speed & then hold it level. Slowly rotate the dipstick about 45 degrees and let gravity pull that thin ATF downward to the edge. The fluid is much more obvious and thicker when it is pooling at the edge instead of laying flat, which spreads it out.
Also, with automatic transmissions, remove the dipstick before doing the reverse/drive cycle on flat ground and then leave it in park for 3+ minutes idling before inserting the dipstick, wait 3 seconds, then pull it out and eyeball it.
Thank you sir!! I really want to make sure I don’t overfill my Honda with the ATF.
thank you so much. I was having a hard time reading my aunts dip stick today and so I looked this subject up. I am so shocked how easy this is and greatfull you shared this.
Our '22 RAV4 uses 0W-16 and it's so hard to read the dipstick. Even the dealership had a hard time when I told them they overfilled the oil, which is why I didn't complete their complimentary 2yr/25k ToyotaCare. With this tip, I check the stick multiple times and look for the area with the heaviest smear consistently.
I also make sure not to put in the whole oil capacity of the engine. Example, 4.8qts with the filter, 4.4 without as per our manual, I only put in about 4.2qts and check from there, add as needed. So far I didn't need to add any more than that.
Excellent trick. So simple. I've been checking oil for the better part of 50 years and this was an awesome revelation. I bet my antique eyesight didn't help. This will make life easier. Thank you for sharing.
I have the hardest time reading the dipstick on my Tacoma. All the oil smears all over the dipstick and it reads different every time I check. I check about 5 times, wiping dry in between dips.
Sammmee. On my taco and rav4
Same on Hyundai Santa Fe sport
I have 95 t100 and my dipstick has a bend in it. It is hard to read also, oil at the low spot then blank then oil smear above the full.
Same here, good thing to note tho is that my 4L V6 2014 Taco takes 5.5 quarts . So I buy a 5 quart and a 1 quart. Empty the 5 quart and then half of the 1quart bottle. Great way to know ur close to the money since the dipstick is difficult to read, especially with new oil.
My Jeep Wrangler has a a point that sticks out a bit right above the full line. It always has a little oil on it and because of that I can’t tell if it’s too full. It’s so damn hard to get a read.
Without the crosshatch on Toyota's dipsticks, it's not only hard to see it doesn't cling to the stick either.
This method, along with a darker paper towel, is perfect!
Same problem with my Lexus. New synthetic oil is impossible to gauge. So I rough-sanded in a cross-hatch onto the dipstick. Really helps.
Almost ready to add dye to my oil but now no need! Great advice Mr. FIx! Also see Andy Craig's advice below.
Life changing.. literally. thank you for posting.
Great idea I’ve been doing the paper towel trick, but never thought to drag it down to get a better reading👍
I was actually laughing at how easy this was, and why I didn’t think of it 😂😂😂
Don’t ever remember having this issue before, but today I had my car serviced, which funnily enough is a Toyota like the car in the video! But the oil was so clean, it’s like putting water on a clean piece of metal, can’t see anything! I was holding it up in the air, pointing it towards the sun to try and catch some glare off the oil, looking under my glasses! I put a piece of paper towel on the upper part of the dipstick to try to see how far up the oil goes, I could just about see a clean line where I put the paper at the top, so I was happy with my reading in the end, but this method is so much easier and more accurate 👍🏻
I had to add fluid to the transmission but was unable to determine what I was reading on the stick. Must have checked it 15 times getting different readings all the time. One side will show fluid 10 inches up the stick, the other side shows sort of what I expect to see. Will try your tip, great idea well presented. Thanks.
Thanks, I thought I was losing my mind. I put 4.7 qts. of Mobile 1 in my Prius 3 and could not see any oil on my dipstick.They really need to fix this problem. The paper towel trick worked.
Thanks for keeping it simple and to the point.
very helpful.
Another method I read is to pull dipstick and wipe with rubbing alcohol or Windex to remove oil residue, then insert. This helps the oil to stick better.
Thank you for this video! It's very hard to read the oil level on these new cars using 0w-20 oil very very thin.
Ditto!
so true...and mine takes 0w-16. It's like water
Wow i have been so worried after helping a friend change the oil. The oil was so shinny and clean I even went and bought a new dip stick to see if i could read it better!
Thank you for posting this as it may seem like common sense but when you have been able to see the oil when I was younger you never thought of when you can't see it when your older lol!
I hear you! 👍
Appreciate you sharing your wisdom, thank you.
My 1998 c280 mercedes has a cable dipstick with a red plastic tip that's almost impossible to read accurately. I have owned everything from muscle cars to MG's, Triumphs, Lexus, and Infinity's and have never had problems getting an accurate reading. I will try your "method" and hopefully I'll FINALLY be able to determine what my true oil level is. Thanks for the info!
Great trick thanks 👍🏽 I was having trouble reading it with a fresh engine and these low viscosity oils
Some dipstick tubes hold oil on the sides when you pull the stick out, so you have to let the oil settle back down BEFORE you take a reading.
Wow this is truly amazing. I have been using flashlight but still fail to see the oil level. You sir is a genius. Thank you so much.
Glad it helped you.
My man, thank you very much. I had problems seeing my oil levels after a change. Simple and effective.
Thank You, Thank You for posting this! I've been having trouble reading the dip stick for years, and had to ask the guys at the gas station to do it. Now I have an accurate reading anytime.
Great idea! Thank you, i always getting difficult when checking new engine oil level. Now it looks easy. Will try it tomorrow morning.
MIND BLOWN! Dude thank you so much for this. I just got a new car with 5w20 and i seriously cant tell where the level is. Im sure this will help!
Excellent tip!!! I was just having trouble reading my transmission level on the dipstick. Thanks so much for the video!!
Thank you so much!
Thank you!!!! I’ve been having a hard time reading my dipstick for my 1998 Honda Accord! Now I shouldn’t have a problem at all
this video is just what i needed today. thank you for making it.
Thank you! Glad it helped you. 😊
What about when the oil sticks to the side of the oil tube so it ends up going all over the dip stick?
You are the man! Thank you for this!
Excellent! Thank you so much!!! Could not see a thing with regular visual inspection. You are genius!
THANK YOU! I have a Chevy Express van and the dipstick is so long the oil is smears all over and I just have to guess. This will be very helpful.
Thank you so much, your video is the only one that helped me. The synthetic oil I use is so thin compared to what I’m used to!
Gonna try this...Thank you!
Super smart, simple tip. Thanks!
Thanks! Great tip!
Anybody going to point out that the demo showed that the engine was over-filled? Just me?
i was checking the hydraulic fluid on an old John Deere and it is so clear that you cannot get a reading. I made a cardboard dipstick which worked great. Your idea is easier
Neat trick. My '02 Chevy Trailblazer has a poor dipstick design. It's hard to read even with used oil in the engine. I'm going to give this method a try.
That is a excellent idea. If your oil is clear it is nearly impossible to read as you say. I used to run my finger down dip stick but your tip is the dogs. Thanks.
Thx was having trouble seeing my automatic transmission fluid on the dipstick i thought it was right but was a little high thx a lot really helped me out
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for your time and effort. This is such a good idea.
Thank you so much!
Genius......thanks Mysimplefix! Simple easy solution. Works great. I will tell all my friends. 👍
Awesome. You never stop learning. THX for sharing.
holy shit thanks for this tip
Thanks at last a proper solution to a real problem!!
On behalf of those of us who are visually impaired, thank you for making life just a little easier.
So simple yet brilliant. Thanks for sharing!!!
im so going to try this!!
This is good method, but I defy you to use it on a VW Passat 3C (also called B6) diesel dipstick. The dipstick is black (not good for diesel oil, which is always black) and it has several misleading parts. It is far too complex.
thanks from a 59 year old female part time ,shade tree,mechanic, ,love it!
Great idea my truck has cable dip stick and I can never see it. Thanks for the tip!
yay - perfectly simple and concise. Thanks!
Genius outside of the box solution! Thanks!
😊
Excellent tip. Thank you!
You’re the boss! Thank you!
Brilliant idea because of it's simplicity.
Great tip
I'm going to have to try this as the dipstick in my 2009 Ford Escape is almost impossible to read.
Thank you!
Simple and brilliant. Thank you!!
Thank you so much, this has been driving me mad!
Thx, changed my oil and this was driving me crazy
Thank you sooooo much! U R the MAN 😊
What a very cool solution to an annoying and common problem I have had for years. The iternet is for way more than Facebook and Twitter. :-) Thank you!
Good tip! I wish I thought of that before I kept adding oil. Now it's over filled.
Neat trick!
the oil from my toyota 4runner dip stick runs and smears a trail up pretty far so i cant get a good reading. how do i fix it leaving a trail? there is no clear stop or start point
Tee
Rule of thumb I use is go by the lower portion of it that is completely covered. Say you have an inch of the bottom of the stick that is completely covered and then the last half inch to an inch is splotches or only on one half side of the stick. The part that isn’t completely covered is residual oil from your tube and wasn’t submerged into the oil in the drain pan. Always check twice too if you are getting crappy readings. Nissan trucks are bad about it too.
I have the same issue. I check it about 20 times after an oil change. This towel truck seems like a lifesaver.
Excellent tip.very ingenious
thanks for the tip. In Highlander V6, 2011. The dip stick stays in curved tube. When you pull it out the oil level is smeerer that causes wrong reading even using your method. It just catches some oil from the walls of the tube. Any advise. Thx
I would suggest, let the oil "settle" by leaving the engine off for at least 10 minutes before checking your oil level. Pull the dipstick straight out once, take your reading. Be sure to wipe the engine oil off your dipstick "before putting it back in. Repeat your check a couple times always wiping the dipstick off before putting it back in. You'll get an accurate reading. Yes, some of these dipsticks are quite difficult to read, but that method should help you.
+Mysimplefix Thanks you for your reply. A good method that I got it from someone is to pull the dipstick and wait for 5-10 mins till the oil drop from the dipstick tube back to the oil pan. After that put back the dipstick then pull out and read. To help reading I used your method to get the correct level. Thanks a lot
+zofa300 I'm glad it worked out for you! Thanks for posting.
Got an F150 with the 5.4 There's two good curves in that tube. The trailing makes it so hard get an exact line.
Good video, thanks for this. Any advice for spiral dipsticks?
Thanks a lot, that helped.
My dipstick is black and having a hard time checking oil level, I'll try this way thanks!
Saved my Day! Thank you so much🙏
Just saw this. My comment would be 4 1/2 years late - But, when you're good - the compliments won't stop :) If you do see this comment - What is your opinion about 2 colours on the dipstick? The lower part dirtier & heavier? Cleaner, higher part, lighter? Seems dispersants can only do so much? Also, dark marks left on tissue reveal the amount of dirt in the oil? Especially auto trans? Black in the pink?
Hi, and thank you for the kind comment! Yes, I do read these comments. I am a licensed Automotive Service Technician (Mechanic) in Canada, so this question I can definitely help you with. If your question regarding 2 colours as you described on the dipstick is specifically for an "Automatic" transmission, then I would say that this is a common occurrence on vehicles that have been driven for more than a year or two (typical city/highway driving conditions). There likely is no need to be concerned unless the fluid smells burn't! Small amounts of Automatic transmission clutch and band frictional material do slowly wear, eventually ending up in the fluid, and, on the end of the dipstick. If you have many miles or kilometres on your vehicle, you might choose to replace your fluid and pickup filter (if equipped) as per the maintenance schedule found in your owners manual. Just a note on fluid colours.... Newer fluids tend to go darker faster than fluids found in vehicles of the past that used Dextron 3 or equivalents and earlier.
I hope this helps.
@@mysimplefix Thankyou for your prompt response & explanation :) My question was about both: engine & auto trans oils. For auto trans oil, my observation is that the colours don't separate as much on the dipstick as on the tissue, cos trans oil is checked with idling engine? For engine oil, the colour is 2 tone, on the dipstick, checked after standing, stopped a while. The tissue would also indicate the separation, by your method. I am one of those who does used oil lab analysis at every oil change & ponders over every ppm.
Expensive hobby? Some would tell me - Just buy a new car & Get a Life? :)
same probs in my xtype trying to read level off black plastic stick..cleaned stick with white spirit painted the end white and bingo good readings for 2.5yrs now
Awesome tips.thank you
f-ing brilliant =) Thank you
The transmission fluid reaches the MAX full line, but has uneven amounts of fluid above the MINIMUM line is it Low or high??
It is sometimes normal to see what you are seeing. The highest level that appears on the dipstick is the "fill" level.
Any tips for the spirial dip stick? Hard to get an accurate reading with all the twists
Way better than the rough up the metal with a file trick!
give this man a raise or three
You can also hold the dipstick close to a light. The oily part will shine, making it stick out from the dry part of the dipstick.
Thank u so much❤
Hell yes. Why do they make cars with an oil colored plastic tip for a dipstick.
That just solved the problem!
2014 Camry with 0W-20 synthetic almost impossible to see THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So simple! So why didn't I think of this?
I use the five-minute-five-second trick. Take the stick out for five minutes and then put it back in for five seconds.
Very useful , saved alot of lives thanks 😅
Thanks been bothering me for years
You're a lifesaver! Thank you.