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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: benzwagon on October 05, 2011, 09:48:35 am

Title: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: benzwagon on October 05, 2011, 09:48:35 am

Recently did an oil/filter change on my car (79 rabbit/ 1.6 12mm out of 85 golf). I filled the new filter with oil before replacing. Added 3 liters of oil. No oil on the dipstick. Waited. No oil on the dipstick. YES, i remembered to put the oil drain plug back in ;). I added another quarter liter and found just a bit of oil on the bottom of the dipstick. I am assuming this to mean I have the wrong dipstick.  My Bentley (for the rabbit) says the motor should take 3 liters, 3.5 with filter change and now I am at 3.75 and just barely on the stick.

Can someone provide me with the correct dipstick-to-dipstick tube length difference for this motor? Or suggest another fault?

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: BigVWman on October 05, 2011, 12:20:50 pm

iirc 4.7 us qts with oil filter replacement!

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: bajacalal on October 05, 2011, 12:36:08 pm

I have an '85 1.6 TD engine. It takes 4.7 quarts/4.5 liters with the correct oil filter for the diesel engine. I put a full 5 quarts in. That fills it just to the top of "full" on the dipstick. On my car, it only takes it being a little more than a half-quart low for the oil to not even reach the dipstick tip at all (I think the dipstick may be bent, I'm not sure)...

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on October 05, 2011, 01:49:05 pm

my engine takes the better part of 5 quarts..

i buy 5 quarts, change the oil, dump in a little over 4.5 quarts, then i set the left over half quart in the rain tray for when it needs 2 cups of oil in 2k miles..

gotta remember, you have almost a quart, if you are running the proper diesel oil filter.. and the pan, it holds right at 4 qts..

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: ORCoaster on October 05, 2011, 06:44:14 pm

I do like R.O.R.  Fill and save the rest back for later.

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: BigVWman on October 05, 2011, 06:56:40 pm

Now i do have to say just to unnecessarily complicate things- we all assume you have the oil pan from the 85! There was a smaller oil pan way back when, my 77 had one when i first got it!about 4 qts with filter maybe a little less.

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on October 06, 2011, 12:19:32 pm

yea, but the early little oil pan was very sloped in the bottom portion. the newer style pan is about flat across the bottom..

ive only seen a few small sump pans in my life, and most were on old gasser rabbits..

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: vanagonturbo on October 06, 2011, 12:42:36 pm

All rabbits and sciroccos up to 1980 had 4qt pans. Gas and Diesel. 1981 was the introduction of the 5qt pan. It is very likely the OP has a later pan or engine or both.

Title: Re: Oil Change - wrong dip stick?
Post by: 8v-of-fury on October 14, 2011, 08:30:14 am

Even with a 4 qt pan, doesn't the filter hold almost 1 qt on its own?

The only way to figure this out is to for sure know what pan the OP has, an go from there.