So, you are using the tube to clean the dipstick pipe?  You should YouTube the tube technique! 

(Sorry about that.)

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dan N
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 9:46 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: sharing a trick

*how to check oil level properly on vanagon...*

some of you don't have this problem but I do... any time I pull out the
dipstick the oil level is never right... quite hard to read, even to
guess...

here's the trick...

get a piece of plastic tubing about the same diameter as the dipstick and
twice as long at the hardware store - the kind they use for sprinkler or
ice machine in the refrigerator

- pull out the dipstick and clean it with a rag
- insert the plastic tube and take it out and clean it with a rag
- put back the dipstick in and take it out to read the oil level as you
used to do

and now you have a very clean oil level on the dipstick... and it cost less
and a buck to try...

:-)