HALover9000
New Member
Hello Guys.
My engine oil Dipstick!
I have a VT Supercharged. About 4 years ago I came here and made a post on this topic and here I am back again making the same post because this problem just keeps happening.
The problem: Every mechanic I take my car to "overfills" the engine oil by about an inch on the dipstick. Every time I get my car serviced I take it to a new mechanic hoping to find somebody who can fill to the line and everytime the same thing happens. Ive been through like 5 mechanics now.
Below a generous picture, its actually a bit higher but it ran down.
Of course I enquire about why this happens and get various explanations such as: (I dont totally disagree with these explanations i just ...)
1. We measure the oil out first. These engines take 4.3 litres.
2. Its not hitting the crank else it would foam up.
3. We wont charge you for the extra oil
4. You have the wrong dipstick this isnt marked correctly
5. Holden decided to lower the full/add mark mid production run because the engines burn so much oil, so its ok but the dipstick is wrong.
When I had the Rocker cover gaskets done they leaked out after like 2 or 3 years again, I noticed this shortly after a service where the oil was way over the full mark. Im not that good with car mechanics but its my assumption that overfilling might not help the gaskets that much.
Anyway. Today after being told again I must have the wrong dipstick I did a little searching. I found this picture on these Just commodores forums right here.
https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/attachments/two-jpg.188885/
Picture from this thread here: https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/dip-stick-mystery.261556/
So I called up Holden Service Centre. After telling them my cars VIN they were able to tell me thats a VT super charged and its oil dipstick is serial number 92063934 (middle of picture). Well this happens to be the serial number on the dipstick I have also. The claims I have the wrong dipstick seem incorrect.
If I had the top of those 3 pictured dipsticks then I almost wouldnt have any problem, but as I found out from Holden thats not the case I have the right one.
Another weird thing is that I have a Haynes service manual for commodore 1997 thru 2002 inc supercharged and all it says is V6 = 4.3 litre fill. This seems to backup the mechanics who all say they just measure out the right amount and poor it in. BUT THEN WHY do holden have all these different dipstick lengths!?
So if you read this far, the question im really asking to you guys based on that oil covered dipstick picture. Should I:
A. Go back to the mechanic and demand the oil lowered to the full mark (as holden confirms I have the correct dipstick)
B. Listen to just about every mechanic Ive ever met and just concede the Add/Full mark is to be ignored and that holden really had no idea where they were putting these little lines anyway.
My engine oil Dipstick!
I have a VT Supercharged. About 4 years ago I came here and made a post on this topic and here I am back again making the same post because this problem just keeps happening.
The problem: Every mechanic I take my car to "overfills" the engine oil by about an inch on the dipstick. Every time I get my car serviced I take it to a new mechanic hoping to find somebody who can fill to the line and everytime the same thing happens. Ive been through like 5 mechanics now.
Below a generous picture, its actually a bit higher but it ran down.
Of course I enquire about why this happens and get various explanations such as: (I dont totally disagree with these explanations i just ...)
1. We measure the oil out first. These engines take 4.3 litres.
2. Its not hitting the crank else it would foam up.
3. We wont charge you for the extra oil
4. You have the wrong dipstick this isnt marked correctly
5. Holden decided to lower the full/add mark mid production run because the engines burn so much oil, so its ok but the dipstick is wrong.
When I had the Rocker cover gaskets done they leaked out after like 2 or 3 years again, I noticed this shortly after a service where the oil was way over the full mark. Im not that good with car mechanics but its my assumption that overfilling might not help the gaskets that much.
Anyway. Today after being told again I must have the wrong dipstick I did a little searching. I found this picture on these Just commodores forums right here.
https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/attachments/two-jpg.188885/
Picture from this thread here: https://forums.justcommodores.com.au/threads/dip-stick-mystery.261556/
So I called up Holden Service Centre. After telling them my cars VIN they were able to tell me thats a VT super charged and its oil dipstick is serial number 92063934 (middle of picture). Well this happens to be the serial number on the dipstick I have also. The claims I have the wrong dipstick seem incorrect.
If I had the top of those 3 pictured dipsticks then I almost wouldnt have any problem, but as I found out from Holden thats not the case I have the right one.
Another weird thing is that I have a Haynes service manual for commodore 1997 thru 2002 inc supercharged and all it says is V6 = 4.3 litre fill. This seems to backup the mechanics who all say they just measure out the right amount and poor it in. BUT THEN WHY do holden have all these different dipstick lengths!?
So if you read this far, the question im really asking to you guys based on that oil covered dipstick picture. Should I:
A. Go back to the mechanic and demand the oil lowered to the full mark (as holden confirms I have the correct dipstick)
B. Listen to just about every mechanic Ive ever met and just concede the Add/Full mark is to be ignored and that holden really had no idea where they were putting these little lines anyway.
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