GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Skyered on 25 March 2025, 19:05
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Hello, first post so be kind! So the mk8.5 does not come with an oil dipstick even though it has the necessary pipe with a "dummy" yellow dipstick. Yes the car now has a sensor and I can see the level on the display but being old fashioned i miss the dipstick...anyone fitted one? Don't want to go down the aftermarket route as they seem expensive. Thx
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I’d probably try a main dealers. Give them a reg / VIN for a MK8 and they should be able to find the part number. I can’t imagine it’s too expensive.
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I was a little disappointed when I found there wasn’t a dipstick. It didn’t feel a very German thing to do.
If you have to top up, it’s nice to check against a dipstick to be happy.
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I was a little disappointed when I found there wasn’t a dipstick. It didn’t feel a very German thing to do.
If you have to top up, it’s nice to check against a dipstick to be happy.
Car before my GTI was a Discovery 4 with an electronic ‘dipstick’. I was delighted when I found my GTI had a proper one.
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BMW’s have been like this for years too.
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I’d have just been delighted not to have a Discovery anymore never mind a dipstick! :whistle:
Well, you learn something every day. I had no idea the 8.5 had been emasculated in such a way.
So, welcome aboard Skyered and as Joe suggests, find a mk8 with the closest related engine to your model on Autotrader or VW Approved Used and jot the registration plate down, then see what your local dealer can do as regards to supplying a dipstick and possibly a plastic guide thingy that may or may not be needed to locate the dipstick into the tube. Goes to show how long it’s been since I last lifted my bonnet…
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I’d have just been delighted not to have a Discovery anymore never mind a dipstick! :whistle:
Well, you learn something every day. I had no idea the 8.5 had been emasculated in such a way.
So, welcome aboard Skyered and as Joe suggests, find a mk8 with the closest related engine to your model on Autotrader or VW Approved Used and jot the registration plate down, then see what your local dealer can do as regards to supplying a dipstick and possibly a plastic guide thingy that may or may not be needed to locate the dipstick into the tube. Goes to show how long it’s been since I last lifted my bonnet…
I lift my car’s bonnet each time I clean the car to dry the underside bonnet edges, along the slam panel, the scuttle panel and top edges of the wings :smiley:. So the bonnet usually gets lifted every 10-14 days, and I also use that as an opportunity to check the under bonnet fluid levels.
I don’t think I’d feel comfortable if my car didn’t have a proper dipstick.
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I do actually open the bonnet to give it a clean most weeks.
I’ve just never paid too much attention to the dipstick fitting enough to remember whether it has a locating tube thingy.
DAF trucks and their three foot long dipsticks that you have to double dip, that’s another matter.
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I’d have just been delighted not to have a Discovery anymore never mind a dipstick! :whistle:
I had it for nearly 9 years from new, superbly comfortable on a long journey and a huge capability for lugging family and associated crap around. Unfortunately, also huge service costs with a top rate VED and mpg around town was about 17, so also hugely expensive to own. Sold it on when it was just me sat in it on short journeys and bought a car I’d wanted for ages and have never missed the D4 once. I never got the point of an electronic dip-stick, when it didn’t work (engine conditions not correct etc) you had to wait ages to check it. Engineers trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist IMO.
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I had a Renault megane coupe that had electronic oil level...
That was the 90's..not seen it since.
It was quite an important feature on that car as it drank oil like crazy (from new and it's a "feature" of that engine)
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Engineers trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist IMO.
Yes, there's a lot of that about in modern car design!
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Maybe slightly off topic, but I just checked the oil level from the infotainment system and it's reading about 50%.
I would like to top it up but was wondering which oil and grade to use.
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I never got the point of an electronic dip-stick, when it didn’t work (engine conditions not correct etc) you had to wait ages to check it. Engineers trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist IMO.
I'm with you here, didn't realise the 8.5 had this until I read this. I would be dubious about trusting a electronic sensor for oil levels too, always a doubt it might not be working correctly and reading wrong. At least with a dip stick you can see for yourself, definitely one to add if you have an 8.5!
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I never got the point of an electronic dip-stick, when it didn’t work (engine conditions not correct etc) you had to wait ages to check it. Engineers trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist IMO.
I'm with you here, didn't realise the 8.5 had this until I read this. I would be dubious about trusting a electronic sensor for oil levels too, always a doubt it might not be working correctly and reading wrong. At least with a dip stick you can see for yourself, definitely one to add if you have an 8.5!
I agree, and something I looked into when I got my 8.5, but we’d need to know for sure that the dipstick is the correct length, and that there is no minor differences compare to the Mk8, VW are unlikely to advise of one that is suitable, due to there being no part to match against the mk8 on there system, this is something I wish to do, but only when I know which part is 100% correct.
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I do actually open the bonnet to give it a clean most weeks.
I’ve just never paid too much attention to the dipstick fitting enough to remember whether it has a locating tube thingy.
DAF trucks and their three foot long dipsticks that you have to double dip, that’s another matter.
The tube is still there, but it has a little cap clipped on top, should be easy t remove, but I’d want to confirm that the dipstick I put in it (from the MK8) is not too long. Or short for that matter!
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Maybe slightly off topic, but I just checked the oil level from the infotainment system and it's reading about 50%.
I would like to top it up but was wondering which oil and grade to use.
This is what the app says for my GTI and the oil types
(https://i.postimg.cc/8crz2DBb/Image-3.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
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Maybe slightly off topic, but I just checked the oil level from the infotainment system and it's reading about 50%.
I would like to top it up but was wondering which oil and grade to use.
This is what the app says for my GTI and the oil types
(https://i.postimg.cc/8crz2DBb/Image-3.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Many thanks for this info
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Maybe slightly off topic, but I just checked the oil level from the infotainment system and it's reading about 50%.
I would like to top it up but was wondering which oil and grade to use.
This is what the app says for my GTI and the oil types
(https://i.postimg.cc/8crz2DBb/Image-3.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Many thanks for this info
There should also be a sticker with the info you’re looking for on the first part of the air intake just above the grill.
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Thanks for your replies.
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I've just ordered a dipstick from the parts department at the dealership. There is one available that matches my 8.5 GTI VIN, £19.08p inc VAT. The tube is already there, so it’s just the actual dipstick that is needed.
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Be interested to know how easy you find removing the plug is. I've tried but it feels that it would take more force than it would to remove a dip stick.
It also has green witness marks that are aligned on the plug and tube, similar to the white witness marks on the oil filter housing; I think to indicate the filter housing has been torqued in the factory.
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Be interested to know how easy you find removing the plug is. I've tried but it feels that it would take more force than it would to remove a dip stick.
It also has green witness marks that are aligned on the plug and tube, similar to the white witness marks on the oil filter housing; I think to indicate the filter housing has been torqued in the factory.
I also tried to remove the cap a while ago, it’s actually clipped in place unlike the dipstick, I got the impression that the clips may break if I removed it, so left it alone, but now I have a dipstick I'll remove it, broken clips or not! Witness marks wouldn’t bother me tbh, as i bought the dipstick from the dealer parts department based on my VIN number, the parts guy said the exploded view he had on screen showed the cap and dipstick as separate available items.so presumably it is perfectly acceptable to have either in place.
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Did you give this a try carlosfandango? I don't think I'd be brave enough to break clips off on a new car like this :)
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Did you give this a try carlosfandango? I don't think I'd be brave enough to break clips off on a new car like this :)
Totally forgot to pick the dipstick up to be honest! Didn’t even remember I’d ordered it until I read your post :shocked: , I doubt the parts department is open on Friday though as it’s a bank holiday, so I’ll pick it up on Saturday and let you know.
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Did you give this a try carlosfandango? I don't think I'd be brave enough to break clips off on a new car like this :)
So.. I picked up the dipstick today, and put it in place, Turns out that the blanking cap is only held in place the same way as the dipstick itself, it’s just harder to pull on as it doesn’t have a ring to hold on to, so no clips were broken, i did however use a small screwdriver to pry at the plug, but in hindsight i could have just used some pliers and pulled straight upwards. 🙄.
The part number of the dipstick is 06K -115-611-AB. And after some checking and adding 250ml of oil, I can confirm that the electronic oil gauge on the infotainment, and the physical dipstick itself, match in terms of level displayed 👌. A simple and well worth it mod, if like me you like to be able to see for yourself that the level is correct.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hGP1FwHB/IMG-5121.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v4kVfPYq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/y6SXz0rk/IMG-5122.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/F1NJykv4)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZRWPnNbs/IMG-5123.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tZHnmYVF)
(https://i.postimg.cc/yx9FXzSF/IMG-5124.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RJS64ydF)
(https://i.postimg.cc/G26Fyp9L/IMG-5125.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ftjS4Dxp)