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Mon May 17, 2021 2:52 pm

Hey guys. I lost my dipstick (:|) and need a replacement. I don't know of anybody who sells the diesel dipstick so I was going to make my own, Can somebody get me some measurements for key features? Thanks in advance!

Mon May 17, 2021 2:53 pm

is this different than your old one?
https://www.vancafe.com/068115611N-p/068115611n.htm

Mon May 17, 2021 2:58 pm

If you have a filler neck dip stick the van cafe one is not correct. I would do an oil and filter change short one qt. Fabricate your dipstick to just read that level. Make a mark. Then add the last qt and make your full mark. I can measure the one in my 82, but don’t think that will help you.

Mon May 17, 2021 4:10 pm

valvecovergasket wrote: is this different than your old one?
https://www.vancafe.com/068115611N-p/068115611n.htm

Yeah, mine uses the oil filler tube...

Mon May 17, 2021 4:11 pm

MarkWard wrote: If you have a filler neck dip stick the van cafe one is not correct. I would do an oil and filter change short one qt. Fabricate your dipstick to just read that level. Make a mark. Then add the last qt and make your full mark. I can measure the one in my 82, but don’t think that will help you.

That's a good idea... Is the dipstick in your '82 not the factory one?

Mon May 17, 2021 4:51 pm

No it’s factory, but would be a little difficult to precisely replicate so the actual measurement won’t be of much help. Most think it’s unreliable. I usually change the oil before a major road trip and it doesn’t really use much oil. In fact, it seems to like being down a half qt. When I check, it’s just to be sure some is still touching the stick.

Mon May 17, 2021 5:17 pm

The dipstick in the filler tube is wildly sensitive to parking angle. Someone sitting in the passenger seat or not is probably enough to skew the reading significantly. I would consider this a prime opportunity to upgrade to the dipstick from Van-Cafe and fab up a dipstick tube to match the stock '83+ vans. Easy to do and MUCH more accurate when reading from the very center of the sump rather than the extreme corner.

Mon May 17, 2021 5:34 pm

MarkWard wrote: If you have a filler neck dip stick the van cafe one is not correct. I would do an oil and filter change short one qt. Fabricate your dipstick to just read that level. Make a mark. Then add the last qt and make your full mark. I can measure the one in my 82, but don’t think that will help you.
Waldo's suggestion is best, but barring that ...

If fabbing your own new dipstick as described above, it should perhaps go without saying, but after changing the oil & filter, remember to REFILL that new empty filter by starting-idling-driving the van for a bit. Shut down the engine, let the oil settle in the pan, THEN measure and mark your new dipstick.

Then add the final quart and mark again.

Mon May 17, 2021 6:34 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=688864
Measurements in this thread, and JeffreyLee posted some good links.

Mon May 17, 2021 7:46 pm

On my 82 diesel, the plastic filler cap/dip stick also went south. I found a dipstick from an automatic stick shift, and made a new steel filler, complete with telescoping brass tube, so that I can still fill from the outside.

Roland