TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:19 pm

Below are three pictures of a couple oil dipsticks I'm confused about. They are different lengths yet in all other ways appear the same.

Which dipstick goes with which engine or car? The shorter one is just a hair over 6 inches long from the bottom of the little cap that goes over the open oil tube to the bottom of the dipstick. The longer dipstick is 7 inches exactly on that same dimension. Which dipstick goes with which engine?[/img]

Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:29 pm

kevnic7 wrote:

Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:23 am

Regarding the pictures, thanks, Bruce. What step did I miss? Kevin

Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:26 am

kevnic7 wrote: Regarding the pictures, thanks, Bruce. What step did I miss? Kevin

you didnt close the tags right, the one on the end needs to look like this [/img].

Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:34 am

I have the shorter dipstick on my 40hp 1200 engine in my 64, and the longer one in the 1600 engine in my 73 Thing.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:17 am

Then I wonder which one is correct for my 1300 engine? (maybe neither) I always thought they were all identical... but obviously I'm on a learning curve here. Anyone know whether either of these is the correct dipstick for the 1300 engine?

Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:21 am

a 1300 has more in common with a 1500/1600 then it does a 1200, so im going to guess and say the one for a 1600 is what you want.

try a simple test to see which one reads correctly when you have the right amount of oil in the case.

Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:29 am

You have a 36hp dipstick .......... 12,13,15,1600 all the same

Jim-

Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:40 am

So the SHORT one is the 36 HP... the longer one fits 40hp and up.... is that correct?

Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:47 am

Wolfsburg West lists the same dipstick for 40hp-1600 engines:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113115611

I need to check my 40hp dipstick to make sure I the right one too. Sorry about the wrong post above... :oops:

Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:02 am

Well now, it's seems that I do have the shorter dipstick in my 40hp engine! So, this means that I've been filling it with too much oil... I've noticed that the engine leaks a little, but then stops. And at each oil change I've been a 1/2 qt low. I'm wondering if the "extra" oil is what's leaking out? I don't see any signs that I'm burning any oil either.

Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:30 am

Also...the '60 dipstick is a one-year item, originally with a red painted handle.

It will have different markings for full than the others also. 8)

Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:37 am

can overfilling the oil cause excessive case pressure ?

Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:12 pm

I will have to check tomorrow. I have 36hp, 40hp, and 1600 dipsitcks still in their engines.
I can see which is which.

Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:15 pm

Tonight I measured the dipstick in the Thing with the 1600 engine. It is the same length as the one in my Beetle's 1200 engine! (The handle on the Thing dipstick is larger, not the length) Therefore, in your case, you want to use the SHORTER dipstick!

The new mystery is what is the longer dipstick for?

Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:47 pm

CASON wrote: can overfilling the oil cause excessive case pressure ?
No. That's a myth.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:16 pm

Zundfolge1432 wrote: You have a 36hp dipstick .......... 12,13,15,1600 all the same

Jim-

I have all three dipsticks here. 36hp, 40hp, and 1600AE. I just pulled them out of the engines. The marks all line up. The finger loops are the only difference. 36hp and 40 have the smaller loop.

Dont know what the deal is on the above pictures.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:28 pm

Russ - if all 3 have the same level marks, are they 6 or 7 inch long?

Tue May 20, 2008 2:35 pm

Ok, I think this thread needs some resolution. Especially since I have a 6" long dipstick in my 1776 engine (new engine block), and I don't know which length dipstick I should have. I don't have any other engines handy to compare to, nor do I know my dipstick's history. What engines are the 7" dipsticks for? What engines are the 6" dipsticks for?

Tue May 20, 2008 3:30 pm

Isn't the T3 dipstick position different because it's a pancake configuration? Maybe that could account for a different length dipstick.

I don't know this to be true....just offering this as a possible explaination.