Engine oil measuring.

[KennyN]

Long story short -

Our present home was bought by my grandparents in the 30`s and there is one remaining local resident that knew them when they moved to the area around the 60`s. I still talk to this woman if i see her when i am walking the dog and for someone who must be in their mid eighties she certainly is living life to the full.

Last week i noticed the bonnet was up on her 16 plate Juke but a the car was facing away from me i couldn`t see if there was anyone working on it , as i approached the car i noticed it was the woman herself under the bonnet whilst wearing a brown dustcoat and holding a dipstick , i felt obliged to assist and offered my services but was told that she was going on a Scottish roadtrip with her daughter and was just checking the vehicle fluids before she left - what an inspiration.

I work with time served mechanical engineers that would struggle with that.

K

 

[Trickythemerc]

Time served means that you have turned up as required. Doesn't mean that you learned anything as is often confirmed in the workplace and scrap bins.

 

[colinallcars]

It's not just MB; mine's a 3 Series BMW

Same on our X1 and 2 Series. A pain when it comes to oil change time.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Space and cost will be factors but I suspect that car manufacturers have concluded that most drivers don’t check the oil level regardless of whether it has a dispatch or not.

The average modern engine doesn’t burn much oil between services and doesn’t leak, which would condition the average driver that there is no need to check oil levels.

Some might argue that the will and ability of the average driver to check the oil level correctly and then top-up (if necessary) without overfilling is sadly diminishing over time.

Some others might argue that the will and ability is diminishing because there isn’t a dipstick to allow drivers to develop that will and ability in the first place.

However on the balance of probabilities i’d say that trend is more about society than it is dipsticks, the same applies to car repairs, home DIY, repairing clothes, cooking, and so on.

Convenience is more important to the average person now and car manufacturers are simply reacting to that, just like Findus with the crispy pancake and McCain with the oven chip.

Car manufacturers probably concluded that it’s better for the life of the average engine to rely on a sensor rather than a human to regularly and correctly check engine oil.

 

[Petrol Pete]

The M113 V8 engine in my C55 has two sump plugs , one for each sump , it's actually a pain in the a$$ as its the only vehicle I own that I can't use my vacuum oil extractor , a few days ago I changed the oil (3.5 litres ) on the 'run around' Toyota Yaris , sucked out through the dipstick hole it literally took minutes !

Don't get me started on the lack of drain plug on the Torque converter in my AMG , when one used to exist on some 722.6 transmissions.

Some numb nut accountant deleted it , I say bean counter because I can not imagine an engineer thinking deleting it was a step forward.

Mild rant over.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Car manufacturers probably concluded that it’s better for the life of the average engine to rely on a sensor rather than a human to regularly and correctly check engine oil.

Why not both?....like my car....and the one before. If I was stupid enough not to check it and it got a bit low....THEN it would tell me. No real justification for removing the dipstick IMO......and absolutely no way I by a car with no sump plug.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Why not both?....like my car....and the one before. If I was stupid enough not to check it and it got a bit low....THEN it would tell me. No real justification for removing the dipstick IMO......and absolutely no way I by a car with no sump plug.

Because the number of new car buyers who want both is tiny. The’s cost of having both. If car buyers don’t value it - and won’t pay more for it - then there is no reason for having it.

In isolation having both a dipstick and sensors will cost a few Euros and a few grams, but there are thousands of 9”other things which would do the same but add up to a lot.

 

[Justintyme]

Then the engine wouldn't be as efficient, and/or wouldn't fit into the car.
Designers try to eliminate things, not add them on, this produces cost!
Agreed the sump drain plug is common to MOST engines, but most main dealers don't use them for oil changes.
It's vacuumed out through a dipstick tube, if one is fitted!
Smart cars , for one(MB),just don't have sump plugs.

I've had 3 MBs to date, all E class, different years. 2010, 2014 and the present one, 2018. The first 2 had dip sticks, but not the 3rd (present one) Neither can I find the location of one. But maybe someone else on the forum has found one? While siphoning out the oil, it may be increasing in popularity, I'm old school and prefer using the drain stud method...no doubt about it, you do get a better oil drain.
As for checking the level electronically, finally, I got a reading on the dash, and now know that if it reads on the minimum line, and you put in 250 ml. the oil level rises by 2mm or 1/8". But the next day, after driving it 15 Klms,, I stop and check, and the level reads 100%. But even as I watched, the level dropped back down to the halfway mark. So now, I do not think that I will add any more oil., at least not until I do a few more level checks, over time and get a reliable average. Bloody mess of a system.