General TwinAir Dipsticks .

[daquirm]

I have made a dipstick for my TA which hangs on the garage wall. A steel rod of the right length suitably marked allows easy oil checks. The supplied dipstick is pretty well useless as the new one very clearly demonstrates. Its very easy to either run on low oil or badly overfill. I have posted some details here somewhere. I just used a piece of wire suitably marked at the correct length and put a big loop, on top so it cannot fall into the engine. Its bent to sit on the engine top and sit at the right level The oil level revealed was nothing like the cars dipstick led me to expect!!!!!

Apologies for reviving this thread as well. I need to find a way to measure the oil level with a replacement dipstick since mine is broken (apparently, the shop broke it somehow during an engine maintenance and "forgot" to inform me — I just noticed today).

@The Panda Nut , could you possibly provide the dimensions and specifics of the dipstick? I couldn't find the details anywhere in the forum.

 

[daquirm]

However, as a workaround, if anyone can provide these measurements, I would be grateful:

 

[daquirm]

If anyone needs this in the future, I have provided the measurements (along with a photo) here:

TA Dipstick | FIAT Panda (2012+)

Replacement dipstick arrived today. The old one came apart - warning against screwing it in too tightly and wearing the plastic 'ratchet' out: Mixed feelings about the order - it took 16 days to arrive, with no communication at all, and the packaging was poor: But wahey they've changed the...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[Steveetee55]

I check mine every week as I've always done as my dad always did and in nearly 3000 miles not used a drop and it even has the common cam chain cover weep, it's done 43000 and I just love the quirky little twin air engine sound like a motorbike and everyone at work takes the rise out of it but the laugh turned round when they all got stuck in the snow and I didn't

 

[Brassick]

Hi,
Just bought a 4x4 TA myself from a woman in Rothbury- not so far from Kielder! Most info I've read has been from this site including oil. There seemed to be debate between 5w40 and OW30. The car parts place I work at suggested the former but the garage used the latter! Although the service schedule is every 2 years- and despite a stamp from last year - the oil was quite black when I checked it and the technician said the filter had all but disintegrated! Not good, especially as the oil should be kept clean on this engine. Took me a while to even find the dipstick! Loving the car though...it's as quirky as everyone said it was but a Classic Fiat drive. Mudflaps would be a great option.

Mudflaps on a Panda rip off in no time flat, After 3 sets in the first year I decided bugger it let the underside get filthy.

 

[varesecrazy]

I've seen several reports on "babied" TA's drinking a bit of oil..,
so once mine had 1000 miles under it's belt I started to do the "race-engine" bore bedding method of changing down a gear too low into corners to flick the rev's up briefly under decelleration, ( once all up to temperature)
Mines not appeared to have used a drop in it's 18K miles - on it's 3rd change now all at FIAT/Alfa specialists- as my Punto needs an ECU reset with oil changes,

Charlie - Oxford

Pleased to say at 85k, it still holds its oil level,

Been run on various "correct grade" oils over that time (its Euro5 and runs strongly)


Since added a Panda and Mito to the fleet, both on @40k, oil tight but lacking the punch of the Punto


Still yet to pay any VED since March 2013 though

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Totally agree on the colour of the dipstick - it's probably about 3 pence cheaper to make than a metal one. Very surprised by your oil consumption - my 4x4 TA's done over 24000 miles in just under two years, oil changes at 5000 and 15000 miles - due for one at about 26/27000 when we're back on Pudding Island - and frequent checks have seen no need to top up at all.

I'm sure it's been posted before but to check your dipstick level just touch the oily end on a clean piece of white paper held horizontally

 

[varesecrazy]

I'm sure it's been posted before but to check your dipstick level just touch the oily end on a clean piece of white paper held horizontally

Exactly Colin,

My twinairs all have Dipsticks I can read,
maybe later than 2013 got worse..?

Spotless new oil is a tad tricky
(where the paper comes in handy..) , but as soon as the engine has run, I don't have a problem