Goodbye Engine Oil Dipsticks

Arunmor

400ixl said:

I can read the oil level from dashboard which is far more convenient than having to open the bonnet. I can if I so wish buy a dipstick and fit it, the ability to do this is still there for many cars.

But why would I want to stay in the 90's?

As they now read it with sensors so that it can be read in real time and relayed to the mothership as needed, there is little point in adding an analogue system as well.

The world moves on, some people don't.

Well that's all fine and dandy until the day it isn't!

daivid

In reality I only check mine after replacing the oil, and again after a run out - this could be replaced by measuring and putting in the exact amount stated in the book rather than a reasonable estimate then dipstick checking. My car will tell me when the oil is low and this has been so reliable I've given up periodical checks - perhaps I do one offs before particularly long journeys.

Iceweasel

BMWs still have dip-sticks.
As well as an on-screen display and a low oil-level warning.

Aretnap

I think the rot set in when they replaced the handle at the front that you could wind yourself with an expensive starter motor that's just one more thing to go wrong.

Hell, come to think of it, replacing the horse at the front with an engine was just a money making scam wasn't it? I mean, you could feed the horse grass from your lawn, now you're at the mercy of oil companies whenever you want to go anywhere.

400ixl

MouldyOldDough said:

400ixl said:

I can read the oil level from dashboard which is far more convenient than having to open the bonnet. I can if I so wish buy a dipstick and fit it, the ability to do this is still there for many cars.

But why would I want to stay in the 90's?

As they now read it with sensors so that it can be read in real time and relayed to the mothership as needed, there is little point in adding an analogue system as well.

The world moves on, some people don't.

Where would you fit your aftermarket stick?

It wouldn't be aftermarket and it would go into the dipstick tube which is still present but just capped.

MouldyOldDough

molerat said:

My current car tells me "Oil level OK" every time I start from cold (not sure how it figures out when to display that message, just know it is not every start) but still has a dip stick.

My 1985 car had a sensor on the end of the dip stick.

Oil level or Oil PRESSURE? 

Ditzy_Mitzy

EssexExile said:

It's great, I haven't opened the bonnet in years.

How do you refill the windscreen wash bottle?  

I agree that electronic measurement of oil levels is nothing new.  Years ago I had a Citroen equipped with such a feature: a light on the dashboard would flash on start-up if it thought there wasn't enough semi-synthetic in the sump.  Unfortunately, however, the light had a habit of flashing whenever it felt like it, regardless of how much oil was actually present.  The dipstick, therefore, was necessary to verify whether the capricious little light was deciding to tell the truth or lie (usually the latter).  

I don't see the benefit of removing the old-fashioned dipstick!  Airliners still use them, for example...  

born_again

MouldyOldDough said:

Who would have thought that engine oil dipsticks would go the way of transmission dipsticks ??

Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and some Ford, Cadillac, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Mazda models, plus others, have eliminated the dipsticks from their vehicles......

Why would they do this - except for financial reasons - ie) To ensure that we, as customers are forced to take our vehicles to dealers/garages to get oil levels checked ?

EV's don't have oil in the motor 🤣

Only oil is in reduction gearbox, which tend  to be sealed.

In many cases, the only dipstick is sat behind the steering wheel 😶‍🌫️

molerat

Iceweasel said:

BMWs still have dip-sticks.
As well as an on-screen display and a low oil-level warning.

But they don't have indicators so a bit of a trade off

molerat

MouldyOldDough said:

molerat said:

My current car tells me "Oil level OK" every time I start from cold (not sure how it figures out when to display that message, just know it is not every start) but still has a dip stick.

My 1985 car had a sensor on the end of the dip stick.

Oil level or Oil PRESSURE? 

Oil level.