Technical Car/Motor Issues > Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Victorbox Replies: 6
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New Thu 6 Mar 14 17:55 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - Victorbox
In preparation for my daughter's new Corsa D using some oil during the "running in" period I have read the Owner's Manual! I was surprised to read the following:
Pull out dipstick, wipe it clean, insert to the stop on the handle, pull out and read engine oil level. Insert dipstick to stop on handle and make half a turn.
All straight forward stuff, but having owned several Vauxhalls I've never seen an instruction in the manual to make half a turn when replacing the dipstick. I can't imagine it's threaded as they say just pull it straight out to start and every dipstick I've encountered just has a bung on it with a couple or rubber o-rings so I can't work out the benefit of making half a turn and I feel it's more likely to snap the dipstick off in the tube it fits in. Any thoughts?




Last edited by: Victorbox on Thu 6 Mar 14 at 17:59
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New Thu 6 Mar 14 18:06 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - Robin O'Reliant
Mrs O'Reliant's Corsa ('01 1.2) has the same instruction in her manual and I think my Astra has too. I've noticed that after giving the half turn on both cars the level reads a few mm higher than with a straight dip. Don't ask me why, though.
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New Thu 6 Mar 14 19:38 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - Number_Cruncher
So, the half turn is only when you put the dipstick back after you've finished?

Is this dipstick one with a blade, or is there a cable between the plastic top and the tip?

If a cable, I can imagine the case where upon finally replacing the dipstick there's some residual "spring" force acting to push the dipstick out of the top of the tube. The half turn twist would allow any residual compression on the cable to relax, and help to keep the dipstick in its correct place while the engine is running.

As the crankcase is directly connected to the inlet manifold, the dipstick coming out of the top of the tube would result in the engine drawing in un-metered un-filtered air. The first sign of this would be rough low speed running.
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New Thu 6 Mar 14 20:16 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - carmalade
Who or what makes half a turn ,the dipstick or you.Is that to the left or right?I will need to read my own Corsa D handbook.!
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New Fri 7 Mar 14 01:52 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - VxFan
That's a new on on me too.

I also thought it was daft when they said to check the oil level after the engine has reached its correct operating temperature (leave 5 mins after switching off before checking)

What if the engine oil level is low while you're waiting for the engine to warm up?

Since Vauxhall first recommended this method for checking the oil level, checking it with the engine stone cold, or warmed up (and waiting 5 mins) has always given the same result on the dipstick.

Personally I prefer checking it before starting the engine.
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New Fri 7 Mar 14 08:03 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - Victorbox
>> So, the half turn is only when you put the dipstick back after you've finished?

Yes, that's what is really confusing as the first pull out is a straight pull as is the one after you've wiped the dipstick and pull it out to read the level. Only the final insertion mentions half a turn and no mention of to the left or right!
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New Fri 7 Mar 14 11:13 
 Vauxhall Corsa D - 14 1.2 Checking Oil - Robin O'Reliant
To answer NC, my dipstick is a rigid blade.
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