Hitchcocks Forum

EVer had a problem reading the oil level especially after an oil change when the oil is nice and clear? I shrunk a length of shrink cable cover on to my dipstick and it sure makes it easy to read, JUst cut a piece to length between the high and low marks and shrink it on. I use the smallest guage that will fit comfortably on the dipstick so when you heat the cover it fits really tight. PS Black seems to give the clearest result

Hi Old Fella. I agree it's difficult to read the oil level when the oil is clean - but that doesn't last long in my 1996 RE and I agree that shrink tubing is a great idea too on the face of it. But I would be very wary of adding this into any oil system because, should it slip off the dipstick, it could block the main oil feed aperture. I've found that shrink tubing can loosen its grip if heated too high, and being continually immersed in oil that could reach 80degC in summer traffic is a risk I wouldn't be prepared to take. I wonder if the dipstick could be roughened up so that the surface is matt not glossy thus (a) holding the oil film in place longer and (b) making the oil film unmistakeable.
Cheers, ChrisD

Midge, you obviously have Specsavers there as well, they use the same catchphrase here

Or just paint the dipstick black?

Hi old fella,might I suggest that you heat treat the end of the dipstick,ie blue it ,heat to just below red heat and quench,this will be perminent,better than having shrink wrap in oil tank!

Hello old fella,

I use a folded up paper towel, wipe the dipstick clean first, then place it on the paper towel and make a pencil mark where the end of dipstick comes, then another where the low level is, then one more for the high level mark. next time you remove the dipstick lie it straight on to the paper towel and bingo oil level!!
Cheers Howzie.

More than one way of skinning a cat. Thanks for the ideas.

Try reading the dipstick on a Meteor, it is a piece of wire