A serious question

lorriman · 12-05-2009,10:13 AM

No don't laugh, but can anyone tell me how to read the oil level in the Passat TDI?

Okay, I know all about the dipstick and the marks at the end that the oil level should be between, but I can't for the life of me see the black oil against the black dipstick.

It seems to me that whenever I pull the stick out (after having wiped it dry and then re-inserted it) the whole stick comes out covered in oil.

And yes I have warmed up the engine and let it sit for several minutes.

I've never had any problems reading the oil on any other car I've owned since 1979.

I know with every passing year I get more useless, but I can't believe anyone would design a black dipstick against which to read the level of black oil (the service isn't due for another 5k).

Any advice (and go ahead, take the mick if you wish) would be appreciated.

Thanks.

**DSGboy** · 12-05-2009,10:35 AM

Nobody else can read this either.

**james_tiger_woo** · 12-05-2009,11:01 AM

You could try it with a cold engine - As difficult as I found it, I usually managed to (just about) get a reading from that.

As a random question - Mick taking welcome - Would it be feasible to take the dipstick out, paint the tip with white Hammerite and let it dry overnight - or would the hammerite flake off?

**gamichea** · 12-05-2009,11:08 AM

The most practical suggestion made on here is instead of trying to see the oil level on the dipstick lay the dipstick on a clean tissue and read the stain it leaves.

It does not help that the dipstick material is shiny as well as black.

The contrast between this bit of crass misdesign and the usefulness of the dipstick in my wife's Qashqai is enormous. For the Qashqai the dipstick is not only flat and cross hatched in the crucial area, the whole thing is made of yellow plastic so the contrast between even slightly soiled oil and the stick is glaringly obvious.

lorriman · 12-05-2009,12:24 PM

Originally Posted by gamichea

The most practical suggestion made on here is instead of trying to see the oil level on the dipstick lay the dipstick on a clean tissue and read the stain it leaves.

There speaks a man of intelligence. I never tried that. Great suggestion.

God, does that sound patronising? It wasn't meant to.

**gamichea** · 12-05-2009,01:43 PM

Originally Posted by lorriman

There speaks a man of intelligence. I never tried that. Great suggestion

I make no claim to be the originator of this idea. Think it might be one of Quatrelle's gems.

PeterPassat · 12-05-2009,01:53 PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles with VAG 'technology'!

My Touran had exactly the same dipstick and hence exactly the same problem!

lorriman · 12-05-2009,03:40 PM

Maybe VW are the originators of the phrase "You dipstick". Or is it only supplied in black to the UK market so we have something to complain about? That's after the weather, the government, other road users, callcentres, the size of wagon wheels etc etc.

**Spudrig** · 12-05-2009,04:54 PM

Originally Posted by lorriman

Maybe VW are the originators of the phrase "You dipstick". Or is it only supplied in black to the UK market so we have something to complain about? That's after the weather, the government, other road users, callcentres, the size of wagon wheels etc etc.

**Quatrelle** · 12-05-2009,07:22 PM

It's quite bizarre - the Passat has all the fancy electronic gizmos, like so many modern cars. Yet, for as long as I can remember, Renaults have had a temperature gauge in the form of a quarter dial (12 round to 3pm so to speak), which doubles as an oil level indicator.

Switch on, and for about the first 10 seconds it indicates the level of oil in the sump. Brilliant! I can't remember the last time I looked at the dipstick, but I do remember that it's easy to read, even though it is redundant.

I wonder why no one has ever made a replacement, easy to read, dipstick for the Passat, like that on the Qashqai. They'd make a fortune.