MTFCA Forum

It turns out my 22 is a magnet for accessories. A moto meter, ruxtel, hasslers, stop and tail lights, a side spare tire holder, a running board tool box and luggage rack, and an ooogah hand horn are already on the car and I am keeping my eye out for a Speedo setup and an aermore whistle (so my son can make noise). I was looking at the Akuret oil gauge as a possible addition. I can see the value of being able to check the oil easily without laying in the street or dribbling oil and I like that it’s a period piece. But, Texas Ts no longer has them so I would have to get one second hand. Before I go to the trouble, I would like to hear from people using them to see if there are issues and if they are worth the trouble.

The only issue is drilling the hole in the splash panel in the correct spot. The whole thing is a really good idea. I love mine.

Allan from down under.

I cringe at the thought of making a hole in the apron but I also hate getting down and under to check the oil. For me the solution was the Rajo oil check accessory . I have to open the hood to turn on the gas at the carburetor anyway and there it is in plain sight showing my oil level. Wound up with one on all my T's.

I have the Akuret oil level checker on my T. It's really handy! If I had an '09 with original splash shields, I wouldn't want to drill holes in them. Since mine are repops, no problem.

I scored an older version of the dipstick Lang's carries. No hole in the splash apron. http://www.modeltford.com/item/3079DS.aspx

I liked the idea, but, didnt want to carve a hole in a splash apron.
I built a few with a bit shorter tube. One comes up thru the floor board close to the body frame rail. The top sits about 1/2" above the floor mat.
Its far enough right that it doesnt irritate a passenger's foot.

Important to find out if the full mark is same level as the upper petcock. If not, be sure to mark the correct level.
I can open the petcocks without crawling under. I get on my knees and face the front of the car and reach under with my left hand. to turn them. Another popular gauge is the glass one. However it is easy to have it turn from vibrations or to get bumped and broken. Then the oil runs out as you drive, so I don't use that type.
Norm

I prefer an actual dipstick. I purchased an "Advantage Dipstick" from the folks at Antique Auto Ranch in Spokane that replaces the oil pan drain plug with a fitting that allows you to read oil level down to zero....popular with the Montana 500 crowd. No new holes required. After seeing mine, several guys in my club bought them as well.

AAR is scaling back and are only open the first Tuesday of the month, which makes it difficult to contact them if you're in a hurry. 509-535-7789

I avoid crawling under by using my homemade version of this T era accessory.



My oil sight gauge is a short bit of plastic tubing. If the level goes below half full I add a quart.

Thanks for the feedback. I would like to stick with a period style accessory and I don’t mind drilling a hole. I have a glass sight gauge but wouldn’t want it to vibrate out. I had not seen the Rajo gauge before. That looks like a good way to go since it attaches firmly with no drilling required. I think I will have to get one to go with the Rajo BB head on my 26 speedster project. They don’t look like they are currently available though.

Morgan, I mapped the position for the hole on my wide body roadster by making a template from the original badly rusted splash apron. How could that go wrong? Easily as it turns out, due to differences in the angle of the thread in the pan and the brass fitting on the dipstick. DO NOT try to bend the brass fitting to align the tube with the hole! Don't ask how I found this to be a bad idea.
The solution I found was to use two right angle unions at the base of the tube. This allows any difference in orientation to be corrected by adjusting one or both of the unions to align the tube.
Being an original accessory, often sold by Duncan and Fraser, I had no qualms about drilling the hole to refit item.

Allan from down under.

I have one on my 1924 Model TT Truck, works great and you do not need to drill ant holes.

here is a post about Tom's kit. I bought one and got prompt delivery.


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John