Dipstick question

[SizzlingPotato]

Got a 1.5 TSI and I'm looking at the dipstick to check the oil level. The dipstick doesn't look the same as the variants on the manual.

 

Does anyone know where the min and max point is pls? I drew a side profile in orange next to it to give a better idea. Thanks!

[OldKaroq]

If you turn the dipstick around, it should have a "crosshatch" imprint towards the bottom of the dipstick. (Well mine has anyway!)

If the oil level is anywhere in this area,  its ok. At the bottom end it will need topping up!

[SizzlingPotato]

1 minute ago, OldKaroq said:

If you turn the dipstick around, it should have a "crosshatch" imprint towards the bottom of the dipstick. (Well mine has anyway!)

If the oil level is anywhere in this area,  its ok. At the bottom end it will need topping up!

 

This is embarrassing. Didn't cross my mind to look on the other side! Thanks OldKaroq, I'll take a second look.

[Kenny R]

 

Edited 19 February, 2019 by Kenny R

[SizzlingPotato]

1 hour ago, Kenny R said:

 

I saw this in the manual too and it shows the crosshatch to be on the inner side of the stick - mine didn't have that pattern on the inner side I checked in the photo. So hopefully it is on the other side.

 

And it would be unusual to be on the outer side. The inner side has the advantage that it won't touch the walls as you pull it out.

Edited 19 February, 2019 by SizzlingPotato
More detail

[SizzlingPotato]

Another theory is the backside also has a protected sunken in area - which has to be the case Thanks all I'll check.

[shyVRS245]

Also good practice to check your level on level ground with a cold engine. Finally there is about 1 litre difference between minimum and maximum so best not to overfill as this can be much worse than not quite filling to the max. Put say 0.25 litre in and re-check. Better to be safe than sorry.

[SizzlingPotato]

15 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

Also good practice to check your level on level ground with a cold engine. Finally there is about 1 litre difference between minimum and maximum so best not to overfill as this can be much worse than not quite filling to the max. Put say 0.25 litre in and re-check. Better to be safe than sorry.

Good tip thanks. Can do without the hassle of needing to drain the oil later or rely on putting the dip stick in a few thousand times and wiping it with tissue

[VAGCF]

Some of the designs of dipsticks nowadays are a pain to read. They shouldn't be and you shouldn't have to refer to the owners manual!

 

My wife's Mini is a case in point.

[Luckypants]

On 19/02/2019 at 16:10, shyVRS245 said:

Also good practice to check your level on level ground with a cold engine. Finally there is about 1 litre difference between minimum and maximum so best not to overfill as this can be much worse than not quite filling to the max. Put say 0.25 litre in and re-check. Better to be safe than sorry.

Not with a cold engine. The below text quoted from the manual, with relevant section in bold (see page 267)

 

"Depending on the driving style and operating conditions, the engine uses some
oil (up to 0.5 l / 1 000 km). Consumption may be slightly higher than this during
the first 5 000 km.
Have the oil change carried out by a specialist garage during the inspection.
Check the oil under the following conditions and refill.
The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine operating temperature is reached.
The engine is turned off.
Checking the level
›Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil trough.
› Remove the dipstick and wipe with a clean cloth.
› Push the dipstick to the stop and pull out again.
› Read the oil level and push in the dipstick.

[shyVRS245]

50 minutes ago, Luckypants said:

Not with a cold engine. The below text quoted from the manual, with relevant section in bold (see page 267)

 

"Depending on the driving style and operating conditions, the engine uses some
oil (up to 0.5 l / 1 000 km). Consumption may be slightly higher than this during
the first 5 000 km.
Have the oil change carried out by a specialist garage during the inspection.
Check the oil under the following conditions and refill.
The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine operating temperature is reached.
The engine is turned off.
Checking the level
›Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil trough.
› Remove the dipstick and wipe with a clean cloth.
› Push the dipstick to the stop and pull out again.
› Read the oil level and push in the dipstick.

Well don't believe everything you read in the manual. My present car has used 1.25 litres of engine oil in almost 32,000 miles despite being a very high performance car (168bhp per litre). The manual states that it could use 0.5 litre per 1,000km so by now I could have used 16litres to top it up but clearly I haven't so the manual is not always a good guide. Also in 36 years driving I have never had a car with an engine issue despite driving at least 12,000 miles per year including mant track days. See plenty of experts on the side of the motorway who may or may not have read the manual but find their car has broken down/blown up.

[TheRobinK]

Well, I've always checked the oil with the engine warm. If I did it cold then I'd only end up checking it when it was warm to make sure I didn't overfill. Just seems easier and less prone to making a mistake.

 

My Skoda 1.6d has been fine though - never needed a drop over the last 38,000 miles. 

[Panther_uk]

Who needs to check it ? surely that's what the oil warning light is for

[shyVRS245]

18 minutes ago, Panther_uk said:

Who needs to check it ? surely that's what the oil warning light is for

That's what the hardshoulder on the motorway is for also.

[xman]

17 minutes ago, Panther_uk said:

Who needs to check it ? surely that's what the oil warning light is for

 

Note to myself.......do not buy 2nd hand Karoq off this guy........

[shyVRS245]

8 minutes ago, xman said:

 

Note to myself.......do not buy 2nd hand Karoq off this guy........

When I worked at Toyota Parts warehouse in Lutterworth (Magna Park), a lady driving a Rav 4 was emitting a lot of smoke from her car's exhaust.We checked the dipstick and it was bone dry. 3 litres of Toyota's finest oil got it to the right level. How the engine hadn't seized will always remain a mystery to me. Perhaps she ignored that irrating light on the dash or the car simply didn't have a warning light.

[Breezy_Pete]

I can top that.

My boss had his oil light come on in a big Volvo he had at the time.  He bought some oil to top it up, and told me he'd put all of it in. 

I said, "Oh, so you bought a litre then?"

"No - 5 litres", he replied. 

[Panther_uk]

Remember my annoyance at having to buy oil to top up my Octavia just 500 miles before the service was due.

[shyVRS245]

19 minutes ago, Panther_uk said:

Remember my annoyance at having to buy oil to top up my Octavia just 500 miles before the service was due.

Was that after 8,900 or 18,000 miles though? Answer please required just to calm down xman and his love of all things mechanical (particularly sympathetic reasons).

[Panther_uk]

was at 18K  oil light came on just before the service 

[SizzlingPotato]

Alright case closed for me. The criss cross etching was on the other side of the stick! 

[shyVRS245]

7 minutes ago, SizzlingPotato said:

Alright case closed for me. The criss cross etching was on the other side of the stick! 

You've just solved a lifetime mystery for me. Always wondered why it was called a Dip-Stick.

[SizzlingPotato]

6 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

You've just solved a lifetime mystery for me. Always wondered why it was called a Dip-Stick.

 

Must be a simply clever way for Skoda to work out who they can overcharge next time