Checking the oil level in a 500TA is problematical due to the light brown plastic dipstick showing the level of light brown oil.

I know the dodges: white tissue, using a clean finger etc.

Is there a way of coating the bottom end of the dipstick with something white for instance? I wouldn't want to paint it, but what about some heatshrink or a tightly-fitted plastic sleeve?

Any thoughts?
Mick.

I've thought about cutting a few cross hatch grooves in mine, at least that way the oil will be more visible like it is on a normal dipstick.

It is a total pain trying to get an accurate reading from the OE dipstick, at least the wife's 1.2 has a normal dipstick with cross hatchings on it.

I'd be concerned about heatshrink or something sliding off or being eaten away at.

Funny it's plastic. I've a base spec 500 and it's a metal one.

Could always fashion a dipstick out of a bit of metal. And just make sure it's the same length. Mark and notch accordingly?

Noxide said:

Could always fashion a dipstick out of a bit of metal. And just make sure it's the same length. Mark and notch accordingly?

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That sounds like a good idea. I love a challenge!

I'll pull ours out and have a study to see how it's put together. Maybe the long plastic stick could be replaced with a steel one.

Welding rod maybe?

Thanks,
Mick

Mick F said:

That sounds like a good idea. I love a challenge!

I'll pull ours out and have a study to see how it's put together. Maybe the long plastic stick could be replaced with a steel one.

Welding rod maybe?

Thanks,
Mick

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Possibly. We've got thin rods of steel laying around because.. well. I couldn't possibly tell you!


You could just use a bit of metal, and make sure when you dangle it in it's the appropriate length. Very little manufacturing on your part, and very crude. I'd take the old one out. Lay the original alongside the metal, notch the new in line with the one, then put a kink or something in the metal where the other one stops (turns into the lid & handle) so it's the same length and you're set!

You wouldn't even need to make it a permanent replacement! Keep the old one in there as it's all sealed nicely, etc and just use yours as and when.

Yes, I considered that, but meanwhile, I had a brainwave.
(Frightening, I know!)

I took the 'stick out, and gave it a coat of looking at and considered the problem. We bought our 500TA secondhand at 3years old and it's our first, so I don't know what these 'sticks look like brand spanking new, and wondered if ours had "tarnished" somewhat.

I thought that maybe the oil wasn't visible because the 'stick is shiny somehow, so took a Brillo Pad to the bottom end of it and scrubbed for a few minutes. The results are self evident.

When I put the 'stick back in and took it out again, I could actually SEE the oil level.

First photo is of the dipstick after scrubbing the end. Compare the colour along the length to the end bit. The darker colour along the shaft was how it was before scrubbing.

Second photo is of the end of the dipstick where you can clearly see the oil level.

I wonder if this is the problem?
The plastic gets "varnished" and "tarnished" by the oil and needs a scrub from time-to-time.

Regards,
Mick

PS:
The oil level isn't at the max mark, I know. It is really, but the car is parked facing downhill and the dipstick is to the rear of the sump so it comes out low.

Checking the oil level is a waste of time if you don't park the car on level ground. So why bother to scrub the dipstick?

AGH1965 said:

Checking the oil level is a waste of time if you don't park the car on level ground. So why bother to scrub the dipstick?

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So I can see the reading easily.

I don't know how you check your oil level, but I'm happy to check ours on our drive knowing it reads low.

However, when going to Lidl's in Tavistock, the carpark is dead level so I have checked the oil before driving away many times.

If the level is correct at Lidl's, and I drive the 5miles home and park on the drive, I can note the new reading. I can assure you that the level you can see in my photograph equates to a max reading on the flat.

Simple.

Done the same for all the cars I've ever owned.
Know what the reading is on the flat, and check again after getting home and note the difference.

Regards,
Mick.

Do you think Fiat manufactured the dip stick out of plastic just to save money or perhaps to save on weight?....

when we picked up our TA, we were given a leaflet about oil burn off. And advised to check oil more often. How often is often, and how much do they use. 1000 miles? 3000?

yostumpy said:

when we picked up our TA, we were given a leaflet about oil burn off. And advised to check oil more often. How often is often, and how much do they use. 1000 miles? 3000?

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When we bought ours in October last year - 13,800miles 3years old - the oil was about half way between Min and Max, so I bought the correct stuff and topped it up to the Max mark.

11months and 5,000miles later, the level hadn't changed at all, although the oil was darkish brown. I did an oil and filter change last month and put in exactly the correct amount of oil - 3.2ltrs.

The level is still correct as measured on the dipstick and I'll check it maybe every couple of weeks.

Regards,
Mick.

Just a quick hint for all of you dipstick checkers:

Modern oils are very free flowing; always keep the dipstick vertical when you remove it to take a reading. If you tilt it, or worse, move it to the horizontal, then the oil will likely flow back and give you a false result.

Mick, we've had ours from new and the oil level has always been a pain to read with clean oil. Your "abrading" looks a great idea, I'll do ours when I've got 5 minutes.
Yostumpy, ours seemed to use a tiny amount of oil when it was new, but the level doesn't drop between changes now (34,000 miles up), which I get done annually (about every 8000 miles). I still check it frequently, of course.

jrkitching said:

Just a quick hint for all of you dipstick checkers:

Modern oils are very free flowing; always keep the dipstick vertical when you remove it to take a reading. If you tilt it, or worse, move it to the horizontal, then the oil will likely flow back and give you a false result.

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TrevC said:

Your "abrading" looks a great idea, I'll do ours when I've got 5 minutes.

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Excellent!

I used a Brillo Pad, but whilst I was scrubbing away, I considered something coarser, maybe a Scotchbrite. Whatever happens, mine is a sort of matt finish now and the oil "sticks" to it and even if it were to run as JR suggests, there's a tell-tale residue there.

Maybe we should only check the oil level when the engine is cold?
I don't really know the answer to that, but I'll continue to check it now and again at the supermarket.

Cheers,
Mick.

Mick F said:

However, when going to Lidl's in Tavistock, the carpark is dead level so I have checked the oil before driving away many times.

If the level is correct at Lidl's, and I drive the 5miles home and park on the drive, I can note the new reading. I can assure you that the level you can see in my photograph equates to a max reading on the flat.

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Mick, I missed the part of doing checks at Lidl's. Without these the checks on your driveway would be useless.

AGH1965 said:

Mick, I missed the part of doing checks at Lidl's. Without these the checks on your driveway would be useless.

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That's ok!

We've lived at this address for a tad over 18years and had a few different cars, so I am rather experienced in assessing the oil level differences on the drive vs on the flat.

Some cars' dipsticks are at the rear of the engine, and some dipsticks are at the front, plus you can park a car facing either up or down a drive. It's just about learning to read the oil level differences.

Regards,
Mick.

Mick F said:

Maybe we should only check the oil level when the engine is cold?

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That's not necessary. The owner handbook says:

ENGINE OIL
Check the oil level a few minutes (about 5) after the engine has stopped, with the vehicle parked on level ground.
The oil level should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick.

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Just an idea - when confronted with a plastic dipstick in the past, I've found it helpful to make some light (but accurate) hacksaw cuts across it - a few millimetres apart. Then after wiping and inserting the dipstick, it is easier to see which of the grooves are filled with oil and which aren't.

Another idea - drill small holes - same idea really, but blow through them to clear before dipping.

-Alex

What an excellent idea!
I like the (junior) hacksaw cuts idea, maybe easier to do than drilling.

Thanks!

Mick F said:

What an excellent idea!
I like the (junior) hacksaw cuts idea, maybe easier to do than drilling.

Thanks!

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Just be careful not to do anything which could cause it to break off inside the engine, or it will be you that is feeling like a dipstick .