this may be a slightly baked idea apollogies inadvance if it is,

it is my experiance that the dipsticks in many vehicles are designed in such a way that either the oil doesn't show up as with my current car that has a yellow plastic end to the dipstick, or else the routeing of the pipe work to the sump means you are smearing any old oil over the dipstick,

therefore i propose a system of diposable dipstick covers, that fit over the end of the dipstick providing better contrast. This would be used with a bore cleaning patch, similar to those used on firearms to ensure that the oil depth in the sump is checked rather than any oil/greasey buildup in the tube to the sump is measured.
-- engineer1, Feb 13 2004

Prior Art http://www.halfbake...a/White_20dipsticks
[kbecker, Oct 05 2004]

See (link) for something very similar. Wouldn't the cover generate additional oil soaked hazardous waste?
-- kbecker, Feb 13 2004


another problem is having little bits that could come undone and now you've got doodads in your oil sump. I like the white dipsticks better.
-- DadManWalking, Feb 14 2004


who would that be Zanzibar?
-- engineer1, Jun 09 2004



random, halfbakery