How do you read your dipstick?

[BruceWard]

My dipstick is yellow, the hydraulic fluid is clear. When I pull the stick there is fluid on the end but I cant see how high the fluid goes up the stick since it is clear. Does anyone have a trick?

What would happen if I added too much fluid?

 

[greenmule]

Maybe take a wire stiff enough to not wad up on you and verify with it. Maybe you could file lines in dipstick or something along those lines? or,maybe alls you got in it is what it shows on dipstick.

 

[MarkLeininger]

I shine a flashlight across it to see the fluid level. And I curse at the guy who designed that dipstick every time.

 

[KennyV]

If the yellow is a coating, remove it on the back, Then darken it with cold gun blue. That will darken the metal and oil, even dark oil will show up on the stick.
If you don't want to do that just lay the stick on a piece of paper when you removed it will wet the paper and you will see the level. KennyV

 

[RickB]

Pull the stick, wipe it with a clean paper towel. Pull it again and lay it on a clean part of the towel without sliding. The oil depth on the stick will show easily on the towel.

 

[LBrown59]

And if the level is low keep it on the paper towel a little longer and the fluid will soon bleed up to the right level!

Just why why I don't trust that method.

 

[Chris86303]

My dipstick is yellow, the hydraulic fluid is clear. When I pull the stick there is fluid on the end but I cant see how high the fluid goes up the stick since it is clear. Does anyone have a trick?

What would happen if I added too much fluid?

I had a 02 Chevy Tahoe that had a tranny dipstick where the last 3 inches was copper (don't know why) and the tranny fluid was red.. trying to read that dipsitck was impossible no matter what method was used.

I bought a 07 Ford Expedition and it has NO tranny dipstick, it is sealed for life.. this one I can deal with..

 

[aczlan]

My dipstick is yellow, the hydraulic fluid is clear. When I pull the stick there is fluid on the end but I cant see how high the fluid goes up the stick since it is clear. Does anyone have a trick?

Carefully drill 2-3 small holes at the max and min lines, then one in the middle, that way you can see if the hole is filled or not.

Aaron Z

 

[coveredbridge]

I had the same problem. I put a pair of reading glasses in the garage. Problem solved.

 

[RickB]

Just why why I don't trust that method.

It actually works very well. I use this method often, and recommend it to customers who struggle with reading clear hydraulic oil on a dipstick. I offer it as one solution; if it doesn't suit you, that's fine too.