With various aspects of servicing, maintenance, including driver assisted features and vehicle monitoring. For our 1996 Rover 200 and the 04 ZR 120+
About features, and driver notifications on our MG-Rover Information Pages
Oil level dipsticks used in the 200 and ZR are not the best for a precise reading, plastic one for the 200, in most cases snap off leaving the tip of it floundering in the sump after many years of use. Wire one getting smeared while being withdrawn from out of the dipstick tube. So a 'correct' oil level reading will not always be possible.
To solve this problem, came up with the idea of using a semi rigid plastic tube, one from an old waxoyl kit was just ideal for this. After the tube has been marked up for a correct depth of insert, including each high and low oil level reading marks.
On a 'cold engine' with vehicle on level ground, the tube is inserted into dipstick tube, after a few seconds thumb pressure is then applied to hold a vacuum while being withdrawn to give a positive and much clearer view of the oil level reading as shown.
The MG does not use any oil between each of its yearly oil and filter changes, so will always show our own preference of a tad just below the maximum mark. Shown is for 'intermittent usage'taken on a cold engine. After checking for a correct oil level reading, the original dipstick can then be returned back.
Information is referenced only to our 1996 Rover 200 and 2004 ZR 120+