Dipsticks… or not?

[fastfredracing]

Its a horrible idea . I love the electronic readouts , but give me a damn dipstick for cryin' out loud.
Makes doing oil changes in the shop a total pain in the arse. I don't feel that I have completed the job, until, I have filled the oil, started the car , and re-checked the oil level, then reset the on board maintenance reminders .
BMW, Porsche, Audi etc, gotta warm them up/or drive, figure out the rube goldberg info system . You may think its easy on your own car, because you know how it works, but trying to keep up with all the different manufactures is madness .
I bet a lot of transmissions were destroyed, simply because the owners could not check the fluid levels and condition.

[porsche tech]

An effort to keep Harry Homeowner out from under the hood and get him in to the dealership to spend some money.

[rcooled]

My 11-year old BMW has no dipstick, and only has an electric air pump that also dispenses some kind of sealing gook instead of a spare tire. I'm more irritated about the lack of a spare than I am about not having a dipstick...although I don't like that either.

I was pleased to find that my '22 Audi A3 has both a dipstick AND a spare tire/jack/tools.

[rfuerst911sc]

My 99 996 C4 has a electronic oil level gauge and a dipstick . When we rebuilt the engine we installed a brand new oil level sensor . Guess what ? It doesn't work 😏 .

No problem I use the dipstick . Coming from military aircraft production I like redundancy. My 02 Boxster S also has both setups and the dash gauge is dead nuts on with the dipstick .

[astrochex]

I replaced the dipstick today on my 2006 MINI Cooper S. The dipstick had a notch in it (I have no idea how it got there) and it was starting to give at that location. Thanks to Pelican for having an oem replacement.

[Por_sha911]

The modern Porsche is based on a growing trend by other manufacturers (automotive and otherwise) to prevent the owner from actually being able to maintain (or even understand) their automobile.
Porsche doesn't want enthusiasts. They want "Platinum Credit Card Mechanics". They want people who drive a Porsche as a piece of jewelry or a status symbol.

THIS is the reason I will NEVER own a modern Pcar. The company that I grew to love and revere is gone! I don't want to read Excellence or join PCA so I can have dinner at wine and cheese events. If I ever get to the place were I can afford another sports car it will probably and 60's American muscle car.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

My 99 996 C4 has a electronic oil level gauge and a dipstick . When we rebuilt the engine we installed a brand new oil level sensor . Guess what ? It doesn't work 😏 .

No problem I use the dipstick . Coming from military aircraft production I like redundancy. My 02 Boxster S also has both setups and the dash gauge is dead nuts on with the dipstick .

That was the great thing about my old air-cooled 911. Any time I came to a stop at a stop light after a few secs of idling, I could tell the oil level at a glance, and the gauge was spot on. I rarely needed to use the dip stick in the old car (but I would check with the dipstick from time to time).


The new gauges require the car to have been running and now be off, and then based on temp, make you wait a period of time before they'll register a level. And the minimum period of time (if you just turned off the car) is 5 mins. It would be great to have a dip stick as an option in the new car.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by masraum

What I also miss is the old oil level gauge in my old '88 911 targa. That thing was right on the money all of the time. I understand why Porsche got rid of so many gauges, stupid people that don't understand gauges are probably a huge pain in the ass. But I want water/oil temp, oil pressure, and volts would be nice. Like I said, I also miss the old oil level gauge, but I don't believe that would work in the newer cars since they aren't true dry sump.

My Cayman S was similar. I found that if I did not park it the same place every time I'd get a different reading. I always kept it 1 bar above the middle.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Its a horrible idea . I love the electronic readouts , but give me a damn dipstick for cryin' out loud.
Makes doing oil changes in the shop a total pain in the arse. I don't feel that I have completed the job, until, I have filled the oil, started the car , and re-checked the oil level, then reset the on board maintenance reminders .
.

Thats another thing about the Cayman, had to have Durametric software to reset the oil change reminder. Never saw that message as I changed oil and did the reset every 5,000 miles. Most cars the reset is a button on the dash.

[flatbutt]

As an aside I loathe the oil level windows on many motorcycles. My Ducati has a window and the bike must be perfectly level to get a good read. My Harley still has the oil fill cover dip stick that I prefer.

[afterburn 549]

2024 Supra (BMW) no dipstick!
It's an operation to ck the oil~!
Have engine hot, be on a level place , push the correct menu buttons and Viola!
In 5 min one can get a reading.
Is it correct?
IDK.
It is one more part inside the oil pan that no doubt will quit at some point .

[masraum]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

2024 Supra (BMW) no dipstick!
It's an operation to ck the oil~!
Have engine hot, be on a level place , push the correct menu buttons and Viola!
In 5 min one can get a reading.
Is it correct?
IDK.
It is one more part inside the oil pan that no doubt will quit at some point .

Yep. Same as my boxster.

[afterburn 549]

If I had this car long enough (which will not happen ) the day the oil pan had to come off is the day a conversion kit would fabricated and installed.
At first I thought maybe the electric dipstick was used because of the turbo and blowby?
Nah. that cant be it....LOL
Engines with way more boost than this one engine run a dipstick.
Just another gizmo...

[WPOZZZ]

I dunno. On my 997, I turn the ignition on, but don't start the car and it automatically reads the oil level in 6 seconds. If I start it, then I have to wait. Same way it worked on my 996, 996tt and 987.

[Rapewta]

No dip-stick was a surprise. Got used to it. Porsche just says "check the oil level each time you stop for gas."
I never thought that a dry sump had any reason for getting rid of the mechanical check.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I dunno. On my 997, I turn the ignition on, but don't start the car and it automatically reads the oil level in 6 seconds. If I start it, then I have to wait. Same way it worked on my 996, 996tt and 987.

If the car has already been sitting a while yes. So, either cold (I don't like to check when it's cold) or I got home, have to wait 5 mins, and then go back out to the car.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

No dip-stick was a surprise. Got used to it. Porsche just says "check the oil level each time you stop for gas."
I never thought that a dry sump had any reason for getting rid of the mechanical check.

When I stop for gas, takes about 2-3 mins. Car says, "wait 5 mins".

The modern water cooled cars aren't exactly dry sump (like the old air-cooled cars were).

[fastfredracing]

[masraum]

Roscoe P Coltrane!

[jcwade]

2015 Volvo v60, no dipstick and no spare.

The worst of both worlds.