Thread: 300tdi auto level confusion

Start your car on level ground (parked earlier), with engine and box cold run the gear lever a few times up and down the range, make sure handbrake is on, remove and wipe dipstick, put back in all the way down and remove immediatly, and check the level, if it is low just add small amounts till you get the level, good luck, Regards Frank.

P.S. it would be wise to look around for a white coloured header tank, the black one's have a tendency to split.

Thanks Tank, that's how I've been doing it. I've had a few issues so far, got the level perfect after the first drain, then checked it again after a long drive and level was well up the dipstick, did the second drain and got level perfect again.

It just seems odd to have one single mark on dipstick, every other dipstick I've seen has at least two marks/holes/hatched area

Originally Posted by Treesmudge

Thanks Tank, that's how I've been doing it. I've had a few issues so far, got the level perfect after the first drain, then checked it again after a long drive and level was well up the dipstick, did the second drain and got level perfect again.

It just seems odd to have one single mark on dipstick, every other dipstick I've seen has at least two marks/holes/hatched area

Oil expands from heat from the box, that's why LR says to check while cold, idling in neutral, I have a certain spot I park when I know I'm going to check the auto fluid level the next day, try to park in the same spot to get consistent readings, oil up the dipstick is from heat expansion and splash, that's why LR says not to Overfill.
I have actually taken a file to the bottom of my dipstick to help show up the new clean oil, I am going to get some oil based flat black and paint the bottom of the dipstick or even drill a few more holes below where your one is, mine doesn't have any holes,
Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

Start your car on level ground (parked earlier), with engine and box cold run the gear lever a few times up and down the range, make sure handbrake is on, remove and wipe dipstick, put back in all the way down and remove immediately, and check the level, if it is low just add small amounts till you get the level, good luck, Regards Frank.

P.S. it would be wise to look around for a white coloured header tank, the black one's have a tendency to split.

Sorry, but here's another "dumb" question regarding the above procedure - Do u leave the engine running while you check the dipstick level or do u turn off the engine?

Engine running.

Originally Posted by Treesmudge

Thanks Tank, that's how I've been doing it. I've had a few issues so far, got the level perfect after the first drain, then checked it again after a long drive and level was well up the dipstick, did the second drain and got level perfect again.

It just seems odd to have one single mark on dipstick, every other dipstick I've seen has at least two marks/holes/hatched area

Yours must have a piece broken off, mine is tapered at the end and pretty sure it has a hole for both hi and low.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Yours must have a piece broken off, mine is tapered at the end and pretty sure it has a hole for both hi and low.

I have seen at least a few different versions, holes, no holes, checker pattern, flat and tapered end, but all have the instructions as per Treesmudge's excellent pic.
To Robmacca yes as instructed on the dipstick while "idling", as I posted earlier I always hold the brake on and run the trans lever up and down the range P to R, N,3,2,1. then back up 1,2,3, N, R, P, then back to N to test level.
This is not necessary but I like to know that everywhere oil is is supposed to be is OK and when at idle the correct level should be on the dipstick, Regards Frank.

the single hole dipstick is the sole marker.

at normal cold idle on level ground the oil should just cover the hole, if the hole does not have oil in it you need to add a little.

I advise that you manually scribe a mark on it when you have the auto at full heat after you've confirmed the oil level when cold after first start as well as a mark for a cold before start.

This gives you the ability to add oil in the field to a hot trans or to a trans that is too low.