Help- hard to tell where oil is on dip stick

[gotrocks]

Hello Dear TBNers,

My 2910 has a yellow dip stick for the tran. The oil is still so clean I have trouble telling where it is on the stick.

Have been using paper towel and laying stick on it's side and see where towel soaks.

I don't always have towel when I check.
Any other suggestions?
Beside take a towel.


Thank you.

 

[rekees4300]

Hold the stick in sunlight. The reflection will show where the oil is.

 

[Gator6x4]

When confronted with what you describe I look at both sides of the dip stick. One side will usually give a fairly accurate indication.

 

[bikerdib]

This has been discussed before. With the metal dipstick lots of people have heated the metal till it turns blue and that helps but with the plastic, no one has found a solution that I know of. I tried cleaning the plastic dipstick and using a black permanent marker to darken the end. That helped a little but it is still too shiny in lots of lighting situations. I thought about cleaning it again and using flat black paint to darken the end. The most common solution that seems to work is finding a dye for hydraulic oil that JD is supposed to sell. The dealer I went to didn't know anything about the dye. Your thread reminded me of the dye so I did a search and found this:

JD part no.: MT3668
Description: Fluid, Hydraulic Oil Dye

 

[SGBotsford]

How about roughing up the dipstick with sandpaper?

 

[lreops]

After reading this, a first thought that popped into my head would to maybe get a small dowel that would fit into the tube. Take measurements from dip stick and mark dowel. Being wood, it might show up better. Wipe it clean and it should be ready for the next oil check.

Ron

 

[Cpjlube]

I'm glad the oil is that clean! That always makes you feel good seeing that. My technique is to quickly hold it sideways and slide my clean, oil free thumb down the stick. You can usually see oil start to "pile up" on your thumb right at the level where it is on the stick.


Some of the modern tractors and cars have those smooth plastic dipsticks that are near impossible to read. Or the dipstick runs down to the pan in one of the oil galleries. Then you have to let it sit forever in order to get an accurate level.

Chuck

 

[jpinca]

I've drilled small holes at the "Full" and "Add" marks. The surface tension of the oil will generally cause it to stay in the hole and give an easy indication of the level.

 

[Deano]

:confused2rain clean fluid and refill with dirty fluid! :confused3::confused2:

 

[Notforhire]

:confused2rain clean fluid and refill with dirty fluid! :confused3::confused2:

WHAT? That's a bad idea. Think of the work involved. It would be much easier just to add dirt.:thumbsup: