Dipstick Details

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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Edwin Ek
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Dipstick Details

#1 Post by Edwin Ek »

My mechanic has quite a collection of dipsticks he has collected over 45 + years. We pulled out his stash today to find a cherry one for my engine. There were some differences. (These were all the later style.) Some were completely straight, others had a bend close to the handle. Also, some had a different measurement (length) between the two lines. Can anyone offer guidance about what is correct? Engine is an early 1962.
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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Dipstick Details

#2 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Any bent ones were owner-installing-the-engine-and-not-paying-attention. Straighten them. I'm not aware of different dimensions between the lines, unless they are early, or VW?

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Re: Dipstick Details

#3 Post by Edwin Ek »

Thanks Vic!
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Tom Keating
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Re: Dipstick Details

#4 Post by Tom Keating »

parts book has 2 lengths 539 070 71 225mm. 616 070 70 315mm total length. Don't forget rubber grommet inside the little bell shape. Tom
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Juha Vane
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Re: Dipstick Details

#5 Post by Juha Vane »

The dipstick in my engine is 224mm long, measured with tape so I seem to be 1mm off.

What is the correct length so that the oil level is correct in engine?
Is this dipstick correct?
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C J Murray
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Re: Dipstick Details

#6 Post by C J Murray »

If you use a VW dipstick you will overfill your engine by a couple of quarts and bad things will happen. When you change your oil put in the amount of oil the factory says is correct and then see where the oil is on the stick. If you aren't close to the full mark you have a problem. A Porsche dipstick is longer than a VW dipstick.
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Craig Richter
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Re: Dipstick Details

#7 Post by Craig Richter »

Cliff's method works perfect. Back in the day, I even found a few "turkyized" guide tubes in the case the wrong length. Properly fill motor with oil, start motor to get oil circulated, turn off and wait a minute so things settle, then check where the oil is on the dipstick. Normally it's close, but if a remote full-flow oil filter has been added, you may have to add more oil to keep the sump full. Hard cornering throws the oil away from the pick-up... don't want that.
 

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Alan Hall
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Re: Dipstick Details

#8 Post by Alan Hall »

Do all the VW dipsticks have a circular finger hold versus the relatively rectangular shape of a 3-pc case 356 dipstick?

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Juha Vane
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Re: Dipstick Details

#9 Post by Juha Vane »

I have a remote HP1 oil filter with AN8 hoses, so Cliff's method leave a small amount
of possible error. I know I'm splitting hairs here, but I would like to know for sure.

Craig, you are absolutely right, the length of the tube should also be known together
with the dipstick itself. Then one can know how deep in the sump the dipstick sink.

Would it be possible that someone measure how long the tube is from block and how
long the dipstick itself is and how the markings are located?
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Juha Vane
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Dave Whittick
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Re: Dipstick Details

#10 Post by Dave Whittick »

Alan Hall wrote:Do all the VW dipsticks have a circular finger hold versus the relatively rectangular shape of a 3-pc case 356 dipstick?
Yes. VW have a round finger pull. They look completely different.

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James Rowe
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Re: Dipstick Details

#11 Post by James Rowe »

Juha Vane wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:07 am The dipstick in my engine is 224mm long, measured with tape so I seem to be 1mm off.

What is the correct length so that the oil level is correct in engine?
Is this dipstick correct?
Juan, the lines on the dipstick are at the correct level. I owned that dipstick and had it chrome plated when I restored the car in early 90’s. I modified a second dipstick, marked the correct markings on the original, and kept the original in my spare parts in case I wanted to show the car in shows as original. So the level of the markings are accurate for the original engine that I sold the car with.

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