Dip Stick

[straightcut]

I have an A+ 1275 in my Mini its got what i would call an aftermarket dip stick which i think came from Minispares, question where would the correct oil level be as it has 4 marks on it and i do not have the original dip stick to compare with.

[Charlynsane]

Buy the KAD one you can make your own oil level

[surfblue63]

Next time you fill the engine with oil measure out 4.5 litres of oil and put that in. Allow to settle and then note where the level is. This will be your minimum level. Then put in another 0.5 litres, allow to settle and then recheck stick. This will be your max level.

If you have an oil cooler then you will need to allow for the capacity of that when filling.

[Andrew1967]

Good idea Stu, but the safest way is to borrow a dipstick and mark yours accordingly

[Polarsilver]

Agree with Surf .. because if the Dipstick Tube is somehow different in height or the taper slide in part in relation to Dipstick some how differs .. then there is then a need to calibrate the Dipstick to suit .. been there & done that

[Peter Laidler]

That's a very interesting question - in a nerdy sort of way for a nerdy sort of person to investigate! That's because there are several variables, such as whether the correct dipstick is used as the datum or whether the tube has been changed etc etc. So, ever the nerd, I've been out to my car for a while and this is what I say. I stand to be corrected as ever.

1275S with oil cooler and so far as I can tell, has the original dip stick and tube fitted. Oil level on the dip stick reads exactly to the top 'FULL' line. I put down the tube a length of that flexible, white plastic covered narrow spring coiled curtain wire until it hits the bottom of the sump. Draw it out cleanly several times. The oil mark reads EXACTLY 3" from the bottom of the wire. On that basis, the engine/sump oil level is full when it is 3" high in the sump.

If you are starting again with a new dip stick or tube then fill the horizontally level sump until it is 3" deep. Insert the new dipstick and mark that line as FULL.

[surfblue63]

If you are starting again with a new dip stick or tube then fill the horizontally level sump until it is 3" deep. Insert the new dipstick and mark that line as FULL.

Unless you've got X-Ray Specs how will you know when you have 3" of oil in the sump?

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, yes......, you dip the plastic covered curtain wire down the down the dip stick tube until it bottoms out - and see how far the oil comes up. If oil is a bit low, top it up a bit until it reads 3" and it's full. Knowing that, put dipstick down hole, see where oil level comes to and that's FULL

[IslandBlue]

Ah, yes......, you dip the plastic covered curtain wire down the down the dip stick tube until it bottoms out - and see how far the oil comes up. If oil is a bit low, top it up a bit until it reads 3" and it's full. Knowing that, put dipstick down hole, see where oil level comes to and that's FULL

This is very interesting as I'm in the process of refilling a recently rebuilt engine with what is probably a hybrid arrangement of dipstick and tube. On the first fill I used oil from two tins and simply filled to between min and max.

I've now tipped in most of a new 5 litre tin of oil and I'm still 5mm below minimum on the dip

All my previous experience tells me that after a fill up there's a few 100ml left in the tin to be decanted for later top up purposes. There's no puddle underneath the car so I'm assuming the dip needs to be recalibrated - unless Millers are serving short measures these days!

Was there any logic to using the curtain wire or was it just the most suitable (not too) flexible rod to hand? How flexible does it need to be?

Thanks

[surfblue63]

As I wrote earlier in the post you are best off recalibrating you stick. If you put a known amount of oil in you know that were it is on the stick is correct for that amount. I'm not a fan of the bendy wire method as you do not know if you have come to rest at the same place each time you dip. If your stick and tube are not moving you know that your stick penetrates (stop sniggering at the back) the same each time.

[Terence]

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