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Easier way to tell the level of oil besides the oddly shaped dipstick...?

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Old 12-11-2009, 01:37 PM
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the_dood
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Default Easier way to tell the level of oil besides the oddly shaped dipstick...?

Does anyone know a trick on an easier way to check the oil level besides using the poorly designed dip stick? i find it very frustrating to figure out the oil level since the dip stick is oddly shaped.
Old 12-11-2009, 01:54 PM
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DB350
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Open up the head
Old 12-11-2009, 02:11 PM
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davidv
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I don't know how to answer this.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:11 PM
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Z1 Performance
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Originally Posted by DB350
Open up the head
lol that wouldn't work

the dipstick is the only way, short of draining all the oil and measuring it, and then pouring it back in
Old 12-11-2009, 02:13 PM
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Motormouth
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I always just had some friends shake the car back and fourth while sliding underneath the car and listening for sloshing.

a 'gooshing' sound meant the oil level was just right while a sloshing sound meant it was low.

alternatively you could just drain all the oil, measure it and then refill it back into the filler, using the appropriate amount of oil and be done with it. Just note: if you find the engine created excess oil, you could reserve it for use at a later date.

Last edited by Motormouth; 12-11-2009 at 02:14 PM.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:18 PM
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Lee R
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Not recommended to drain and put back in but I have done it. Make sure you have a brand spankin new pan to catch the oil. You don't want to pour the oil back in with any other contaminates or old dirty oil.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:20 PM
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Motormouth
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The pan I use is a multipurpose baking dish from my mom's kitchen so I usually pour the oil back in through a sock before I do laundry
Old 12-11-2009, 02:23 PM
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urbancamoM7
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use the oil sight window on the side of the engine. it's easy.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:25 PM
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Motormouth
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don't be silly. you can't see the window when the engine is installed.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:31 PM
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urbancamoM7
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Originally Posted by Motormouth
don't be silly. you can't see the window when the engine is installed.
exactly. to be able to view the oil sight window you need to remove the front bumper and radiator. unless of course your engine was installed with the sight window facing towards the rear of the car. it depends on the color of the car. daytona blue has the sight window facing backwards so you must pull the engine. op, what color is your car??
Old 12-11-2009, 02:31 PM
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JCat
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Electronic Dipstick.....monitor your level AND quality.

Link
Old 12-11-2009, 02:35 PM
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Motormouth
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^is that the rectally administered one? I've been meaning to get my oil checked but find it extremely uncomfortable at the Jiffy Lube.
Old 12-11-2009, 02:37 PM
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urbancamoM7
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LOL. I thought for sure that link was fake.

so i clicked on it...
Old 12-11-2009, 07:15 PM
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Flo-ridaZ33
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Originally Posted by urbancamoM7
LOL. I thought for sure that link was fake.

so i clicked on it...
As did I..
Old 12-12-2009, 03:30 PM
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the_dood
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i now realize how dumb of a question i asked but i had just changed my oil and since the oil is till very transparent it was hard to tell what the level was and with the bottom of the dip stick having turns and bends in it, it was a little difficult to read.

anyway i hope you dudes got a little humor out of my dumba$$ question.
Old 12-12-2009, 03:38 PM
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Barnabas
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^^ just get the intelli stick
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