Plastic tipped dipstick

[Ragnar]

A number of complaints on these, would like to know.....is there a purpose behind the plastic tip?

 

[Suburbazine]

A number of complaints on these, would like to know.....is there a purpose behind the plastic tip?

It allows for a textured capture surface that won't smear on the way up the tube. Easier to read accurately.

 

[Ragnar]

Thank you for the quick reply, guess that makes sense! Though wouldn’t it be easier to simply put striations in the tip of a all metal dipstick?

 

[Suburbazine]

Thank you for the quick reply, guess that makes sense! Though wouldn’t it be easier to simply put striations in the tip of a all metal dipstick?

Well, if you think it wouldn't be smeared on the tube coming out, you can try it.

The Genesis tubes are bent too many directions.

 

[carguy75]

A number of complaints on these, would like to know.....is there a purpose behind the plastic tip?

Cheaper than metal and easier to manufacturer would be my guess. The problem is that the plastic become brittle with age due to the heat from the hot motor oil.

 

[EdP]

Cheaper than metal and easier to manufacturer would be my guess. The problem is that the plastic become brittle with age due to the heat from the hot motor oil.

Not just Hyundai. Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Mercedes that I know of have plastic tips. They break too.

 

[carguy75]

Not just Hyundai. Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Mercedes that I know of have plastic tips. They break too.

I am not surprised that many other automaker are using plastic tip dip sticks as well. Some have been using plastic tip dipstick for years. I think my old 2011 Mercedes had a plastic dip stick tip, but the plastic was a thicker rounded design than my Genesis dipstick if I remembered correctly. However, the 2011 Mercedes dipstick tip was not known to break as frequently as the 2015-2016 Genesis dipstick tips. I do not know about the newer Mercedes models.

My 2006 Cadillac Escalade have a full metal dipstick.

 

[EdP]

I am not surprised that many other automaker are using plastic tip dip sticks as well. Some have been using plastic tip dipstick for years. I think my old 2011 Mercedes had a plastic dip stick tip, but the plastic was a thicker rounded design than my Genesis dipstick if I remembered correctly. However, the 2011 Mercedes dipstick tip was not known to break as frequently as the 2015-2016 Genesis dipstick tips. I do not know about the newer Mercedes models.

My 2006 Cadillac Escalade have a full metal dipstick.

Only reason I can think of is easier to read. I don't see it being cheaper than just stamping a piece of metal two inches longer. Adding a secondary piece and having to attach the two would have to cost more.

 

[pmckechnie]

My other car is a 1984 500SEL Mercedes. The oil stick is a solid piece of metal with a notch on each side for full and notches on each side for the add oil indicator. No other marks, letters, or anything else. It is the easiest dip stick to read I have ever seen.
My G80 3.8 V6 on the other hand is almost impossible to read without a very bright light.

Now, the G80 stick is made from a piece of steel cable with the plastic tip. The cable makes several bends in different directions. The MB stick is flat steel that changes direction 2 times but they are 180 deg apart turns.

I am going to tell you something that most people don't know. The cars made by Mercedes were designed by the engineering departments. The results were sent to the finance department and they set the price. Later somewhere in the 90's it changed over gradually where the finance department designed the car and told the engineering what to build. The quality went away. I may be wrong but I have read that the MSRP was in the $80,000 range for my 84 model. By the way, my MB is 37 years old (antique), has 309,900 miles, is all original except a few bump ups, and it runs great. MPG is not great but is consistent. It is not perfect, but does it's job. It is not a "trailer queen " , it is a ready to go car.
I can only hope my G80 will last 1/2 as long.

 

[Ragnar]

Guess the simple fix would be to just replace the dipstick every 5 years or so.

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[carguy75]

Guess the simple fix would be to just replace the dipstick every 5 years or so.

The dip stick is only a $20 part so swapping it out every 4-5 years to avoid a broken tip is not an expensive option.

 

[carguy75]

Only reason I can think of is easier to read. I don't see it being cheaper than just stamping a piece of metal two inches longer. Adding a secondary piece and having to attach the two would have to cost more.

Hell, I do not make dipsticks for a living so I do not know what one version cost to make over the another.

However, those last inches of plastic used in place of metal may save the company a few cents x thousands of units compared to making full length all metal dipsticks.