Dipstick may no longer exist

[duster1979]

I thought this thread was going to be about Enos from the Dukes of Hazzard.

[gotoptions]

My car has the electronic oil level sensor, telling the percent of oil remaining and I used check it often, and rely on it.
But once when I had the oil changed, the mechanic told me I shouldn't wait till the oil sensor alerted me, to change the oil. He said the sensor only kicks in when it already past due, very low on oil which is not good for the engine, so it's best to change it before that.
And how do you find that, by checking the dipstick.

[Bill c]

The more electronics the higher the operating expense.

[Annuvin]

Originally Posted by steel7

I didnt know until today that newer cars dont have dipsticks.

FWIW, our 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has a dipstick for both the engine oil and the transmission fluid.

[clutchrider]

I'm OK with the car telling me when the service is needed or "oil life". However I WANT a dipstick. I'm working on my car, changing the fluids and let's be clear you never drain EVERYTHING out of the engine anyway so it's nice to know if I am putting in 4 or 4.5 quarts or whatever without having to go and touch my door and keys and the interior of my car (menu buttons to get to the right screen) to see if I topped it off enough. Sorry but I like to drop the car once the filter is on, fill with just under the amount needed, check the stick. Then I cap it, clean my hands and run the motor for a minute then shut it off and check again. This way the fluid can work it's way around and I get a more accurate reading from the stick, top it off and call it a day.

[cdelena]

Electronics can malfunction, a dipstick cannot. I'm fine with an electronic indicator but still want a dipstick.