Hi 
basics of using the Dipstick to check oil level ON ANY ENGINE
LOCATION
Often the Dipstick will have a coloured handle and be level in height with the engine cover
RED and Yellow are common..
TWINAIR are different ;-)
The Big YELLOW cap is where you ADD OIL
Traditionally the Dipstick will have a hook- crook handle and be at the top of a metal tube
Reading the dipstick :
You will want a CLEAN... and expendable.. piece of paper or cloth
With engine OFF and sat on relatively level ground
Withdraw the dipstick.. it will be OILY ;-)
HAVE A QUICK LOOK at the end furthest from the handle.. it may have an XXX crosshatching detail to hold oil
The oil should be visible on the cross hatched area.. there will almost certainly be a blob - drip of oil on the end
Take a 'mental note' of where the oil has covered.. and where it has not
Ok.. time for a more accurate reading !!
Wipe all the oil from that end of the dipstick.. then carefully insert it back in to get a reading of the oil level
My technique :
The dipstick is designed to be fully inserted..and when inserted fully it creates a seal ( keeps out dirt)
When sliding it in 'dry' ready for a reading of level
Stop 1inch - 25mm before the end of it
And slide it back out.. Look at the Hatching.. any oil ?
A drip on the end may not indicate the proper level.. but an oily mark up to a line in the hatching might ;-)
Slide it in now @ 10mm 1cm or 3/8" has a level appeared on the Hatched area..??
Ideally there will be SOME on the bottom edge
Now time for the 'By the Manual' method
With the dipstick wiped clean
Now carefully insert fully.. up to the seal..
Then withdraw
The oily mark should extend most of the way up the hatching.. BUT NOT BEYOND !
Twinair shown here ( its Beige colour plastic dipstick can be tricky to 'read' so I use Kitchen Towel.. and lay the dipstick along it.. the oil leaves a Brown mark on the white towel)
So : with an engine that has been standing for 10+ minutes..and on level ground
The level should show on the flattened / hatched area
If it doesnt appear..add 200ml of the correct oil at a time until it appears in your 5 minute interval dipstick checks
IF the level appears BEFORE the 10mm 3/8 short insertion point THIS COULD BE BAD
overfilled with ANY fluid isnt good
But in a DPF equipped diesel this could be an early warning of Big Problems
(Post on the Forum)
TWINAIR SPECIFIC INFO:
the twinairs have a combined oil filler cap and Dipstick
It is a Black cap..centre left of the main engine cover
It unscrews in a conventional way.. think of it as a 'bottle top'
Once unscrewed ..
CAFEFULLY lift the cap upwards
The plastic dipstick will slide out of the engine
Wipe it clean..and dip as above..
My Twinairs dont lose / use oil.. so show a level at 10mm short (SAT ON TOP) of engine.,
and nearly Full level when cap is SCREWED BACK INTO the engine
Caution:
1, The oilcap on the twinair can get really tight (forum members have broken theirs.) Just tighten it down 'snug'.. it needs no more to work
2, the dipstick can get brittle.. treat carefully
I sometimes feel it 'snag' as I lower it back into the engine.. I raise it up halfway and carefully lower it again
Once it goes in ok you can then tighten the cap
basics of using the Dipstick to check oil level ON ANY ENGINE
LOCATION
Often the Dipstick will have a coloured handle and be level in height with the engine cover
RED and Yellow are common..
TWINAIR are different ;-)
The Big YELLOW cap is where you ADD OIL
Traditionally the Dipstick will have a hook- crook handle and be at the top of a metal tube
Reading the dipstick :
You will want a CLEAN... and expendable.. piece of paper or cloth
With engine OFF and sat on relatively level ground
Withdraw the dipstick.. it will be OILY ;-)
HAVE A QUICK LOOK at the end furthest from the handle.. it may have an XXX crosshatching detail to hold oil
The oil should be visible on the cross hatched area.. there will almost certainly be a blob - drip of oil on the end
Take a 'mental note' of where the oil has covered.. and where it has not
Ok.. time for a more accurate reading !!
Wipe all the oil from that end of the dipstick.. then carefully insert it back in to get a reading of the oil level
My technique :
The dipstick is designed to be fully inserted..and when inserted fully it creates a seal ( keeps out dirt)
When sliding it in 'dry' ready for a reading of level
Stop 1inch - 25mm before the end of it
And slide it back out.. Look at the Hatching.. any oil ?
A drip on the end may not indicate the proper level.. but an oily mark up to a line in the hatching might ;-)
Slide it in now @ 10mm 1cm or 3/8" has a level appeared on the Hatched area..??
Ideally there will be SOME on the bottom edge
Now time for the 'By the Manual' method
With the dipstick wiped clean
Now carefully insert fully.. up to the seal..
Then withdraw
The oily mark should extend most of the way up the hatching.. BUT NOT BEYOND !
Twinair shown here ( its Beige colour plastic dipstick can be tricky to 'read' so I use Kitchen Towel.. and lay the dipstick along it.. the oil leaves a Brown mark on the white towel)
So : with an engine that has been standing for 10+ minutes..and on level ground
The level should show on the flattened / hatched area
If it doesnt appear..add 200ml of the correct oil at a time until it appears in your 5 minute interval dipstick checks
IF the level appears BEFORE the 10mm 3/8 short insertion point THIS COULD BE BAD
overfilled with ANY fluid isnt good
But in a DPF equipped diesel this could be an early warning of Big Problems
(Post on the Forum)
TWINAIR SPECIFIC INFO:
the twinairs have a combined oil filler cap and Dipstick
It is a Black cap..centre left of the main engine cover
It unscrews in a conventional way.. think of it as a 'bottle top'
Once unscrewed ..
CAFEFULLY lift the cap upwards
The plastic dipstick will slide out of the engine
Wipe it clean..and dip as above..
My Twinairs dont lose / use oil.. so show a level at 10mm short (SAT ON TOP) of engine.,
and nearly Full level when cap is SCREWED BACK INTO the engine
Caution:
1, The oilcap on the twinair can get really tight (forum members have broken theirs.) Just tighten it down 'snug'.. it needs no more to work
2, the dipstick can get brittle.. treat carefully
I sometimes feel it 'snag' as I lower it back into the engine.. I raise it up halfway and carefully lower it again
Once it goes in ok you can then tighten the cap
