Ok first real newbie question!

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:07 pm

Quick question as i've not got round to buying the relevant manuals yet!

Oil level on the dipstick, on my 356 it's just got one line, is this the max or the minimum level? I'm used to vw ones with both a min and a max level!

Cheers
John

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:22 am

It should have two lines like a normal dipstick.

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:27 am

hmmm strange. I'll go back and double check , but i was convinced there was just the one. I'll take a photo of it to make sure its an original.

cheers
john

vwretrosteve · Post by **vwretrosteve** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:29 am

the dipstick should have 2 marks -the higher is approx 1" up from the lower mark -which is approx 3/4" from the bottom of the dipstick
(which incedentally is about 9" from the bottom to the 'capping' then the handle bit etc - if that helps ?)

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:33 pm

Nice one, i'll get my tape measure out!

Cheers
John

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:36 pm

It gets curious!

It definitely only has one mark, but examining the whole thing it looks a little 'handmade' or at best converted from something else!

The length of the dipstick from the bottom end to the underside of the capping bit is 8 1/4" the single line is about an inch up from the bottom!

So by my reckoning, (based on a bit of technical drawing) the bottom of my dipstick is about where the lower line should be on a proper dipstick and the line on mine is about where the upper limit should be.

This might explain a bit, current the oil level is about 3/4" above the line ie a fair bit overful. Perhaps this is a contributing factor to oil smoke out of the breather and a general film of fresh oil over everything!

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:16 am

I would say that a previous owner has shortened your original (someone did this to me also). The extra oil pressure won't do your gaskets much good. Best drain the oil and fill up to the mark on you dipstick and then see where you're at with the various oil leaks.

356 Newbie · Post by **356 Newbie** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:34 am

Yep I'm hoping its the cause of a few things

I'll drop the oil and refil with the correct amount, keeping an eye on the dipstick level.

Fingers crossed!