Aftermarket Dipstick for K20C1?

[FL5CW]

In case you guys have not seen it yet, Wunderladen did add more detail about the markings on the website's product page:

Note for Type R/S sticks:​

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"we have the low mark set a bit lower so you can tell where it is if it's low."​

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You guys are smart at TSP. Tell me how this makes any sense? Your oil is lower than what the factory oil dipstick reads when low, so its low?

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[Rhorn]

Out of curiosity how are guys struggling to read the stock dipstick? I will agree its not perfect but I never had any really issues getting a reading, whenever I change my oil I add 5.7 quarts and thats enough. Its always better to do a slight overfill than underfill.

So since the Wunderladen Dipstick is bad, are there any other aftermarket solutions?

 

[FL5CW]

Out of curiosity how are guys struggling to read the stock dipstick? I will agree its not perfect but I never had any really issues getting a reading, whenever I change my oil I add 5.7 quarts and thats enough. Its always better to do a slight overfill than underfill.

So since the Wunderladen Dipstick is bad, are there any other aftermarket solutions?

Havent struggled with the OEM dipstick, but a metal dipstick is definitely easier to read when the oil is first changed/clean oil.

 

[Two Step Performance]

You guys are smart at TSP. Tell me how this makes any sense? Your oil is lower than what the factory oil dipstick reads when low, so its low?

I've gotta be honest, we never saw a full on pitchfork riot coming after such a well engineered solution that was years in the making. Essentially what Wunderladen has done is measured the depth of the oil pan and all other relevant items such as the baffling, oil pickup, etc and given us a dipstick that is further optimized than the simplified orange factory dipstick. Is Wunderladen qualified to make such distinctions? Absolutely, they have a verified background in automotive engineering working directly for a major automotive manufacturer. The lines are with purpose and each application they market for has a dipstick designed just for it - no one size fits all.

Here's a direct quote from Austin at Wunderladen addressing some of the FAQs. I'd encourage anyone with questions or concerns to feel free to contact them directly. ([email protected])

"Oil level is a not a pass/fail measurement. Just because your oil level is 1mm above the low mark does not mean your engine is safe from damage. If you drive the car hard on good tires being anywhere near the low mark (on any stick) is never a good idea and there absolutely is risk for engine damage. In addition, dipsticks do not measure the entire capacity of the oil pan, in most cases it's only the top 2-3 quarts. I don't remember the exact volume since it's been so long but I recall the extra space we have above the factory high mark is somewhere around a half quart, it's nothing revolutionary. Both the handles and the sticks are bespoke designs. Nothing is a universal fitment that we're "making fit" or anything like that. We use aluminum for the handles because titanium or stainless would have at least doubled the price. If you need to check your oil level when the engine is hot put a napkin/paper towel between your finger and the handle."

 

[ctechauto]

I've gotta be honest, we never saw a full on pitchfork riot coming after such a well engineered solution that was years in the making. Essentially what Wunderladen has done is measured the depth of the oil pan and all other relevant items such as the baffling, oil pickup, etc and given us a dipstick that is further optimized than the simplified orange factory dipstick. Is Wunderladen qualified to make such distinctions? Absolutely, they have a verified background in automotive engineering working directly for a major automotive manufacturer. The lines are with purpose and each application they market for has a dipstick designed just for it - no one size fits all.

Here's a direct quote from Austin at Wunderladen addressing some of the FAQs. I'd encourage anyone with questions or concerns to feel free to contact them directly. ([email protected])

"Oil level is a not a pass/fail measurement. Just because your oil level is 1mm above the low mark does not mean your engine is safe from damage. If you drive the car hard on good tires being anywhere near the low mark (on any stick) is never a good idea and there absolutely is risk for engine damage. In addition, dipsticks do not measure the entire capacity of the oil pan, in most cases it's only the top 2-3 quarts. I don't remember the exact volume since it's been so long but I recall the extra space we have above the factory high mark is somewhere around a half quart, it's nothing revolutionary. Both the handles and the sticks are bespoke designs. Nothing is a universal fitment that we're "making fit" or anything like that. We use aluminum for the handles because titanium or stainless would have at least doubled the price. If you need to check your oil level when the engine is hot put a napkin/paper towel between your finger and the handle."

Why is this not part of the product description? The pitchfork riot is that end users and shops (like myself) alike should be aware of the particular design characteristics of a product especially when it comes to something that we're expected to use as measurement devices. The same measurement device that differs from the factory part we're trying to replace. It's just baffling this explanation was missed.

Maybe using this as part of the original product description would prevent this back and forth and trying to reach out to a particular person at the MFG. If I read this or something similar on the product page description I would be like "Oh, I see what they're doing." and go about my day.

To be honest most people are just looking for a dipstick you can quickly see the oil level. If you're going to make design changes, at least tell us the "why" in the product you're making.

 

[Two Step Performance]

Why is this not part of the product description? The pitchfork riot is that end users and shops (like myself) alike should be aware of the particular design characteristics of a product especially when it comes to something that we're expected to use as measurement devices. The same measurement device that differs from the factory part we're trying to replace. It's just baffling this explanation was missed.

Maybe using this as part of the original product description would prevent this back and forth and trying to reach out to a particular person at the MFG. If I read this or something similar on the product page description I would be like "Oh, I see what they're doing." and go about my day.

To be honest most people are just looking for a dipstick you can quickly see the oil level. If you're going to make design changes, at least tell us the "why" in the product you're making.

Given the number of questions I am sure they will elaborate further, but this is currently on their product detail page:

 

[ctechauto]

Given the number of questions I am sure they will elaborate further, but this is currently on their product detail page:

I admit I havent gone onto their site directly in a while so I dont know if this is a new update to the description (likely it was, uses the same language and verbiage from this post). But yes, this is a step in the right direction. Would be even better if they tell you exactly what the high/low marks are with oil volume though.

 

[AspecR]

Respectfully Imma need you guys to keep the back and forth going, the oil weight threads have been dead lately. This will do until someone in one of those threads starts touting the greatness of 0W-40 oil versus everything else.

 

[TypeRD]

To be honest most people are just looking for a dipstick you can quickly see the oil level. If you're going to make design changes, at least tell us the "why" in the product you're making.

This is exactly the problem. Their website is not exactly clear and comprehensive when it comes to the important details that we enthusiasts would want to know!

Taking a closer look at their pics, the H marking for the Type R/S is higher than on the 1.5t. So, they are indeed different dipsticks and not just one-size-fits-all “rebranded” with R/S. My bad on that, but I’m obviously not the only one who thought they made a one-size-fits-all dipstick given how the info is lumped together and presented to us on their website.

 

[Brittania]

Slightly off topic but is anyone noticing their FL5 burning oil. I'm at 25k miles and I check obsessively due to my last car going through about a qt every 1k miles. I measure the oil coming out during oil changes and it's always dead on 5.5 qts, so I refill with 5.5 qts which always put me perfect. I'm just curious.

 

[TypeRD]

Slightly off topic but is anyone noticing their FL5 burning oil. I'm at 25k miles and I check obsessively due to my last car going through about a qt every 1k miles. I measure the oil coming out during oil changes and it's always dead on 5.5 qts, so I refill with 5.5 qts which always put me perfect. I'm just curious.

All cars will consume a little oil especially with age/miles. Turbo engines tend to do it a bit moreso. What was your last car? A qt every 1k miles sounds like the behavior of a high mileage engine…maybe German too.

 

[AspecR]

Slightly off topic but is anyone noticing their FL5 burning oil. I'm at 25k miles and I check obsessively due to my last car going through about a qt every 1k miles. I measure the oil coming out during oil changes and it's always dead on 5.5 qts, so I refill with 5.5 qts which always put me perfect. I'm just curious.

Some oil consumption is normal. You should be putting in 5.75 quarts on your oil changes, 6 quarts if your car is heavily modified and tuned

 

[Two Step Performance]

Some oil consumption is normal. You should be putting in 5.75 quarts on your oil changes, 6 quarts if your car is heavily modified and tuned

Something to also keep in mind... many FL5 owners have installed aftermarket oil coolers. Anyone that fits that description needs to keep in mind that additional oil is required in that case. Starting with the factory 5.75 quarts is a good place but always check the dipstick to top it up as needed from there.

 

[Brittania]

All cars will consume a little oil especially with age/miles. Turbo engines tend to do it a bit moreso. What was your last car? A qt every 1k miles sounds like the behavior of a high mileage engine…maybe German too.

It was a high mileage camry and extreme oil consumption was a known issue with them. I'm not fancy enough for a German car

 

[Brittania]

Some oil consumption is normal. You should be putting in 5.75 quarts on your oil changes, 6 quarts if your car is heavily modified and tuned

My average OCI is about 2250 miles but I might start adding an extra an extra 8 oz since it can't hurt.

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