There should be 2 lines on the stick, below the twist. The proper oil
level is between the 2 lines. When checking the oil, it is important for
the van to be level, front/rear and side to side, the engine warm, and
allow a few minutes for the oil to drain into the sump.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of The Shaws
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 10:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Oil Dip stick level indicator

I hope this is taken seriously, I just checked the oil in my 87 2.1L and
there was no oil on the dipstick, yikes.. so I am looking at the
dipstick
and there is no real indicator of where the oil should be.

The dipstick has a slight twist about an inch from the bottom and I
assumed
that at the top of the twist was the full mark. So I put in a quart of
oil
and it shows up on the dipstick about an inch above the twist. Too much
oil
is a bad thing but what to do?

Yikes, so I look at my other engine and the dipstick is different and
comes
in at an angle instead of almost straight down. No help there.

So, do I drain the oil and add the recommended amount of oil and see
where
it comes to? I was hoping to hit the road bright and early in the am.

Thanks,

peter