RE: [BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil
Gill, Either punch marks or file notches at the full and add symbols on the dip-stick. If it is one of those plastic dip-sticks filing would be your best option. -Original Message- From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gil Laster Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 3:13 PM To: Post to Blind Handyman Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil Does anyone have a method or device for checking automobile engine oil level without sighted help? - Gil Laster Charlotte, NC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/JAWS/handyman/ Visit the archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com/ If you would like to join the JAWS Users List, then visit the following address for more information: http://www.jaws-users.com/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links -- BEGIN-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS -- Teach InfoWest Spam Trap if this mail (ID 155807942) is spam: Spam: https://spamtrap.infowest.com/canit/b.php?i=155807942m=3ba40ad30b44c=s Not spam: https://spamtrap.infowest.com/canit/b.php?i=155807942m=3ba40ad30b44c=n Forget vote: https://spamtrap.infowest.com/canit/b.php?i=155807942m=3ba40ad30b44c=f -- END-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS
[BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil
Does anyone have a method or device for checking automobile engine oil level without sighted help? - Gil Laster Charlotte, NC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil
I've tried feeling the oil levels on a gas and diesel marine engine and can't accurately feel it either. And I read braille regularly. Not accusing anybody of inaccuracy, some may be able to feel it, maybe has to do with variations in skin type and oiliness. Two ideas, neither new, one I think was Dale's? 1. get a straw and run it down into the hole where the dipstick goes blowing gently on it. when you feel resistance to your air, it's hit the oil. Have to mark the straw with tape or maybe wire ties if they'll fit to show the appropriate lines. Doesn't need to be a straw, could be a piece of rigid tubing to fit in the hole and any length of flexible tubing to get up to where your mouth is. You could even probably use a rubber bulb instead of your lungs if you don't want to put something in your mouth, you should be able to feel the increased pressure on the bulb as you press and release it when the bottom of the tube hits the oil. 2. If the hole for the dip stick is big enough make a stick with a cork or other float on the bottom of it. Put it in the oil and let it float on the oil. Mark it so the marks line up with the top edge of the open hole. this one might not work if the dip stick goes in at an angle so the floating stick won't float freely as it rides on the angled housing. this may be what Lou was describing with the cork, not sure. tom Net-Tamer V 1.13 Beta - Registered
Re: [BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil
lets get this straight if using a tube to check from fill point to surface of oil it does not give a true readout and I should know. not wishing to pee on anyone's flames here but using a depth rod or dip Stick tells you your average oil load from the base of the engine to point of fill requirement. you would need to find out this anyway as sometimes engine oil can go off or become affected by water etc or even to determine other issues like too much fuel mixing etc on certain engines. your senses tell you more than you think they do. a petrol mower of mine is a big beast. its a ransomes autocertes. the engine on it is a briggs and stratton vanguard engine as an enhancement. the engine has an intake from fuel to the piston relay and the decompression chamber on it and it has been known on older vanguard engines that fuel can show in the oil and cause cracking in the aluminium casing of the engine block and warping of the piston head and shaft. also damage to the pivot seal and flywheel seal to the magneto circuit. I'm thankful that my machine has not had that problem and I always check the oil for noticeable impurities and irregularities. I will say this now and once. engine maintenance for blind and visually impaired persons is tricky and complicated if you don't know what you are doing and the specification of engines concerned. get to know the engine by feel, listen for obvious signs that are not normal and really inspect it before even servicing. there are courses for engine restoration work and are worth looking at so to speak. lew [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[BlindHandyMan] Checking Engine Oil
Hi blind handymen and handywomen. I am a relatively new member to this list and this is my first post to the group. My vision has gotten progressively worse for all of my life, and I am now totally blind. During my lifetime I have had to check the engine oil on a regular basis in agricultural equipment, excavating equipment, trucks and small engines that I have owned at various times. Every time that I have checked the oil in any of these units, I have had to depend on a sighted person to read the dip stick. Sometimes this can create problems. its not always a popular suggestion to invite your wife to interrupt her Saturday morning cake baking to step out to the storage shed, in the poring rain to look at the dip stick in the generator, or what do you do when your 5 year old twin grand children disagree whether the oil in the tractor is on the full line or the add line. Finally my question is, has anyone come up with any ideas for checking engine oil without sighted help? I enjoy this list vary much and I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or ideas from list members. Paul Franklin
