[VTEC Nation]

(Edit: I'm just trying to share a simple information that might help someone. It's disappointing that the first reply is condescending and rude.)

I agree with other posts that the combination of clean oil and a water-like viscosity can make reading the oil level on the dipstick difficult.

Here's a trick.

• Fold a paper towel.
• Pull out dipstick and whipe it with a different towel.
• Reinsert dipstick and pull it out again.
• Put dipstick in the crease of paper towel and squeeze it.
• Look at oil stain on paper towel next to dipstick. That's your oil level.

Note: I marked the the oil level on the towel with a Sharpie, but it bleed. Still you can see my oil level is about half way(ish) between full and needing to add a quart.

 

[Flyboy]

Why not use the old fashioned method
1. Pull out dip stick and wipe off oil with a paper towel.
2. Insert dip stick and remove again.
3. Look for oil between the two marks. If it's hard to see the oil use a flashlight to illuminate the dipstick or move the dip stick to a brightly illuminated area like the outside.
4. Wipe off oil with paper towel and insert dipstick.

It's not rocket science.

 

[Gator_CR2]

Why not use the old fashioned method
1. Pull out dip stick and wipe off oil with a paper towel.
2. Insert dip stick and remove again.
3. Look for oil between the two marks. If it's hard to see the oil use a flashlight to illuminate the dipstick or move the dip stick to a brightly illuminated area like the outside.
4. Wipe off oil with paper towel and insert dipstick.

It's not rocket science.

Why do you wipe off the oil after you take the reading? :dunno:

 

[okiescot]

Why do you wipe off the oil after you take the reading? :dunno:

I would guess to keep the oil from dripping where you don't want it.

 

[ObsidianEX-L]

Why not use the old fashioned method
1. Pull out dip stick and wipe off oil with a paper towel.
2. Insert dip stick and remove again.
3. Look for oil between the two marks. If it's hard to see the oil use a flashlight to illuminate the dipstick or move the dip stick to a brightly illuminated area like the outside.
4. Wipe off oil with paper towel and insert dipstick.

It's not rocket science.

I've always done it this way, that's how my mom taught me to do it.

 

[VTEC Nation]

Why are so many posters obnoxious and rude on this forum? See below for an example

Why not use the old fashioned method
1. Pull out dip stick and wipe off oil with a paper towel.
2. Insert dip stick and remove again.
3. Look for oil between the two marks. If it's hard to see the oil use a flashlight to illuminate the dipstick or move the dip stick to a brightly illuminated area like the outside.
4. Wipe off oil with paper towel and insert dipstick.

It's not rocket science.

The answer to your question is in the first line of my post.

"I agree with other posts that the combination of clean oil and a water-like viscosity can make reading the oil level on the dipstick difficult."​

Why do you feel it's necessary to insult me?

I though this forum was about helping others, not putting them down and getting thanked by others for it. This was only presented as an alternative method. For some people there may be value. For others there is no value. If so, you don't need to be rude.

 

[berrnard]

Why do you wipe off the oil after you take the reading? :dunno:

how my dad taught me, he is a mechanic. something about keeping everything clean. in case you bumped the stick on a dirty spot pulling it out or whatever. said to wipe it off right as youre placing the dipstick back in. guess its more of a, just in case thing.

 

[Flyboy]

The answer to your question is in the first line of my post.

"I agree with other posts that the combination of clean oil and a water-like viscosity can make reading the oil level on the dipstick difficult."​

Why do you feel it's necessary to insult me?

I though this forum was about helping others, not putting them down and getting thanked by others for it. This was only presented as an alternative method. For some people there may be value. For others there is no value. If so, you don't need to be rude.

I didn't intend to insult you and if I did I apologize. I have been checking oil in cars and airplanes since 1965 and never experienced your problem. In the 1970s all jet engines were running on 100% synthetic oil. We used Mobiljet 1 and that oil never gets dirty because the oil never is exposed to the combustion process. I never had an issue seeing the clean oil on the dipstick in either jet or piston engine. In airplanes we check the oil dipstick before or after every flight.

 

[1998jza80]

Have you ever dipped the corner of a paper towel into a liquid? It wicks up about 2" all by itself. Once the oil touches the paper towel it will flow out probably an eighth inch or more in all directions.. I'd say this is a very inaccurate way of doing it.... Innovative though.

 

[Metal Metalic]

There is a problem I have with doing such a method.

Oil will go where ever the paper is touching it. The oil absorption of the paper may be an issue. Not all papers are the same, and smearing along with how you do the procedure can make a low oil condition appear full.

Yes, it helps with seeing but it is not accurate with the masses.

Leaving the oil unmolested on the dipstick is the best way to visually inspect oil level.

 

[Wrenchspinner]

I actually like this idea. If I check the oil at night, this would work well

 

[HondaBob]

Seeing the oil on the dipstick has not been too much of a problem with me. My problem is generally determining where it is if I try to check it after gassing up. Even following Honda's recommendation to wait a few minutes, it is still smeared all over. I usually check first thing in the morning before the engine has been started, in my garage where I know the pavement is suitably level.

 

[okiescot]

The paper does wick the oil, but if you look at his illustration I think it is readily apparent where the oil level is. It may not be pin point accurate, but for old eyes like mine it certainly does help. Good idea, VTEC.

 

[Allez]

I often have a hard time seeing the oil level also - I'll give this a try. Thanks.

 

[MartyV6]

I've found it a little challenging sometimes but usually one side of the hash marks will not have picked up any schmutz on its way up the tube (you always pull it first, wipe the whole thing down, then reinsert for your measurement). Sometimes you need to look closely to see what part of the hash marks are still "dry" but it always seems to work for me. Can't hurt to have different methods though if they work better for someone else

 

[drowned12]

If the 9G has the same dip stick as the 8G (the stupid one with 2 dots instead of hash marks), you can tell the exact oil level by wiping the stick clean, sticking it in, pulling it back out, and looking closely with a flashlight. You'll see a dry part of the stick and a wet part that's shiny.