Yellow Dipstick

[Stmar]

Polaris and Kubota must have gotten a good deal on Yellow plastic, they both use it for Dipsticks. I saw a YT vid where the guy used a black marker (Permanent/Magic) to paint the dipstick so that it would be easier to see. He got the suggestion from an experienced mechanic but he said he did not know if it would come off or react with the fluids. Has anyone used this method? Not really a big deal but interesting how people deal with issues.

 

[mcfarmall]

I find it hard to believe that a microns-thin coating of ink on a dipstick could cause any adverse effects on your oil or engine.

 

[retired farmer]

Kubota painted the oil dipstick on my L3301 the same black/gray body color, also it looks like they tried to hide it.
rr

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

With the glossy plastic, I don't know if the color matters. It's hard to see. I don't think using a Sharpie or similar would harm anything or make it easier to see.
Paint is probably just as harmful or harmless as a Sharpie, but paint chips in a bearing can't be good.

 

[mcfarmall]

With the glossy plastic, I don't know if the color matters. It's hard to see. I don't think using a Sharpie or similar would harm anything or make it easier to see.
Paint is probably just as harmful or harmless as a Sharpie, but paint chips in a bearing can't be good.

Sump to pump to filter to bearings correct? Kubota OEM filter should trap paint chips.

 

[jkrubi12]

If you do color it or paint it, only try one side for now, see if it helps; It may help you see the oil on the still-yellow side better.

 

[Lug66]

I used a black Sharpie on 1/3 of each dipstick. It provides enough contrast to see the oil level.

 

[jaxs]

I could see why oil in gasoline engines might be difficult to see on yellow background but since oil quickly turns black in diesels yellow makes oil easy to see. I've relied on reflected light for over 60 years so dipstick color isn't high on my list.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

Usually one wipes a dipstick so while you’re at it, hold a flat piece of white paper towel and lay the side of the dipper down on the towel. The wet oil mark on the towel can be your visualizer.

 

[DeepWoods]

I had the same problem with not being able to see the fluid on the yellow stick. Another member on this site recommended scuffing the end of the dipstick with sandpaper. Problem solved. Did it to both the transmission and front axle dipsticks.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

A simple spring steel dipstick works. It has since we neeeded dipsticks to check oil levels in machines.
Manufacturers are finding ways to save money, and producing a more difficult and deficient product for the consumer.

 

[jaxs]

A simple spring steel dipstick works. It has since we neeeded dipsticks to check oil levels in machines.
Manufacturers are finding ways to save money, and producing a more difficult and deficient product for the consumer.

They evidently listen to their artificial intelligence rather than customers about these things.

 

[PaulL]

Why use artificial intelligence to give you bad advice when you can get perfectly bad advice from the average human intelligence far more cheaply?

 

[mikester]

You can blue the metal end of a dipstick with a torch...

 

[BAP]

You can blue the metal end of a dipstick with a torch...

Not the plastic hydraulic oil dipstick which is yellow and probably the one that the OP is referring to.

 

[PaulL]

Not the plastic hydraulic oil dipstick which is yellow and probably the one that the OP is referring to.

Sure you can. It'll go very blue. It just won't be useful as a dipstick afterwards.

 

[DustyRusty]

Drill a 1/16" hole at the full mark on the plastic dipstick. If the oil fills the hole, it has enough oil in the system. If not, add oil til it does.