What's with the dipstick?

[Beatlelvr]

So I'm on a road trip through Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Beautiful fall colors! All of a sudden my 2015 Outback has no oil. I had the car serviced before the trip. My car does not go through alot of oil. My feeling is, they forgot the oil change. So I put a quart in, I check every morning, and everything's fine. Question: why is the dipstick the color of oil? Why isn't it white, or yellow or something reasonable? Have wondered this for years.

[MichMan]

1. Most all the cars I've had have metal dipsticks. You wouldn't want paint on them getting into the engine somehow.

I have driven Volkswagens for decades. Seems like I had at least one that was a type of cable with a plastic end that was colored. Can't remember the car.

FYI, I worked for a company that manufactured them. The official name was "Fluid Level Indicator" or FLI.

[marble falls]

2. I had to quit getting my oil changed at Walmart. They charged me for and did not do the last two oil changes ...

... I have a great running older high mileage car that I change oil in every 3,000 with Ford recommended oil. My regular mechanic caught it.

Before I started going that mechanic, I've had the drainplug installed only hand tight. And once someone else did not turn the filter all way in.

It's good you're paying attention!

[brush]

3. Should be the color of oil. Be happy it's not black.

Then you've have problems.

[MichMan]

4. All oil turns dark over time.

That shows it's doing it's job

[brush]

5. Should change it regulary. Oil colored to dark brown is normal...'

if change regularly.

Black, not so good.

[Old Crank]

6. All the ones I've had are metal also.

Usually the oil tends to be darker than the Fluid Level indicator.
You pull out the stick after a short wait, on level ground, if the engine has been running, wipe it off, then reinsert it. Pull it out and the reading should be easy to see.

My two 67's were different from each other. The LandCruiser had a 7 quart sump plus 1.5 for the filter and hoses.
The Porsche had a dry sump mounted tot he right side of the rear fender and took 4 and the Fluid level Indicating device was in the filler cap.

[cloudbase]

7. Pretty soon you won't have to worry about it.

The dipstick is going the way of the manual transmission, slowly but steadily being replaced by electronic level monitors.

[usonian]

9. I Hate Sensors.

My Forester's windshield washer level light goes on at random times. It resets when I restart the auto.
It's would probably cost hundreds to replace, even if it is dead simple.

I live with it, and carry a jug of fluid with me.
Oil is a bit more critical.

[JohnnyRingo]

8. Good point!

Even when oil is fresh it's nearly transparent and hard to see on the dark spring metal of the dipstick, and still invisible with dirty oil.
I don't suggest painting it as it would just flake off, but powder coating it in white would be helpful. The only problem being that it has to flex down the access tube.

[Best_man23]

11. THIS is the reason dipsticks are the color of metal

You do NOT want a painted part inside an engine. Over time, the acids from combustion and those present in fluids like oil will break down paint, then you have flecks of paint inside the engine, which can then possibly block oil passages.

[marked50]

10. A suggestion that may help (assuming you might not know already)

Most new ( don't know when this started ) dipsticks come with small holes on them marking the "low" mark and "full" mark. When you pull out the dipstick and wipe it clean make sure the small holes have no residual oil in them. Re-insert the dip stick, give a slight twist, and carefuly (somewhat slowly) pull it out. If the hole at the top is holding oil, then it's full. If the hole at the bottom is not holding oil any oil, then it is low and needs oil. If the lower hole is holding oil and the top hole is not then you still need some oil. This is where you have be able to see the actual oil level between the oils. If not then just be aware you need to add oil but you are most probably not in an emergency situation because the low to full holes usually show a quart variance. This is my experience with the process. So if the level apears about 1/2 way between the holes I just add about a 1/2 quart. If the "low" hole is empty then I'll add 1 quart and recheck.


edited to add the "new" dipsticks comment