Analog Temp Dipstick

KeystoneMedical said:

I have the temp gauge dipstick from the previous owner on my 2004. I dont have the factory plastic stick and cant seem to find any info as to how to read the correct oil level on the stick. There is two scribed lines maybe a half inch apart at the bottom and then a indentation maybe a inch and three quarters further up the stick. Does anyone know which one is the full line and which one is the add ?

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First off the prick is hard to see. Second, it will fall apart eventually and or read incorrectly. Thirdly, the oil temp follows coolant temp so the gauge is pointless. Mine lasted two years only until slop in the mechanism gave wrong readings. What I did was spray the stem with etching grey primer to make it visible. While I had the OEM for reference, the easiest way is to do a full oil change with filter and add the 5 quarts of oil. Run for 30 seconds and let it sit for 30 minutes. While on the stand, pull the dipstick and clean it so you can get a good reading. Mark the stem for the full mark and another 1/2" below that. This can be your on the stand, cold oil level check. If you are a purist and go by the book, hot upright can be done the same. To me, that process is nonsense. On the OEM dip stick, I found where the oil level was while on the stand, cold, and marked it.
Ron

Thanks for the reply on this. I didnt have a OEM stick to go off of. The shop I bought it from claimed they changed the oil and filter, which I think they did since the oil is clean and the filter housing looks brand new. I checked the level cold last night with the bike as upright as possible and it seems really high on that stick to me, but, I dont know what the marks mean on it. I ordered a OEM that I found used on Ebay. I didnt want to waste oil and a filter just to get a accurate reading on a poorly thought out aftermarket stick. I thought maybe someone on here has the stick and did what you said to get accurate readings.

stever975 said:

I posted the attached picture in December of 2017 in this thread.

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Huge Thanks for this. I sort of figured that those two has marks were the Full / Add marks. I just didnt have a OEM stick to go by.

i have the same temp stick for 16 yrs - 60,000 miles & works perfect, but , it's useless as a dipstick - i kept the plastic stick, so, i use that when i check the oil level in the garage

andy b said:

i have the same temp stick for 16 yrs - 60,000 miles & works perfect, but , it's useless as a dipstick - i kept the plastic stick, so, i use that when i check the oil level in the garage

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I just went back to the stock dipstick. Damn Taiwan shit, no two read the same in the boiling water test, some as far off as 30*. In mine, the mechanism developed slop and would be off 50* from new.
Ron