While our 2010 Chevrolet Camaro has an oil-life indicator (it's showing 75 percent of life left, if you're interested), you still have to check the oil level the old-fashioned way via a dipstick. Not that I really mind. I actually feel more comfortable with an eyeball look than a in-car digital readout that just says "Oil Level OK."
But some cars are easier to check than others. The Camaro is one of the less-easy ones. The access point is fine, but the dipstick is long and twisted and has to be shoved down a long and angled tube; it feels like you're using a Roto-Rooter when you're trying to pull and push the thing. And when you're jiggling the dipstick so much to get it in and out, it makes it trickier to get a clean oil level mark.
Incidentally, there's an uncommon roominess in the Camaro's engine bay. You can't really see this in the photos, but it's almost old-school in the way there's space around the exhaust manifolds, spark plugs, drive pulleys and accessories.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 12,751 miles
roadburner says:
11:18 AM, 02/22/10
Underhood accessibility is a big plus in my book. It's hard to beat a longitudinal engine configuration for ease of servicing.
stoppre75 says:
11:22 AM, 02/22/10
Take off the plastic coverings for a better picture of the roominess??
desmolicious says:
01:21 PM, 02/22/10
What is the point of plastic covers? This is addressed to all mfgs.
People who care about motors i.e. those who will pop the hood, want to see motor not plastic.
Those, who I assume the plastic covers are for, who do not care to look at a 'messy' motor will only pop the hood if they mistook the release for the trunk release.
So it caters to those who won't ever see the motor, and bugs those who do want to see the motor.
oachalon says:
03:14 PM, 02/22/10
Please tell me they didnt just make a post that checking the oil is difficult in this car. Its easy as every car. You grab the dipstick, pull it out wipe it off, slide back in, pull out, read it, put it back in. No difficulty, it just slides in and out.
I can teach my 4 year old cousin to do it. Is the dipstick long, yes, so what. This is nothing different than every car that has been around for the past 100 years.
Who the hell is jiggling a dipstick. In and out.
oachalon says:
03:18 PM, 02/22/10
All i want to know is why does the camaro dipstick get a complaint, when the corvette dipstick or the g8 dipstick doesnt.
firstwagon says:
04:04 PM, 02/22/10
"You grab the dipstick, pull it out wipe it off, slide back in, pull out, read it, put it back in. No difficulty, it just slides in and out. "
You need to check the oil on more cars. Some just slide in and out and some most certainly do NOT.
I haven't tried the Camaro but after reading the article it sounds like one of the latter.
As for the engine still being in the plastic box it came in, it looks stupid. This is a muscle car not a high priced Euro status symbol. When you show your buddy the car the first thing he'll want to see is that monster of an engine.
Nobody wants to hear ... cool plastic engine!!!!
oachalon says:
04:59 PM, 02/22/10
Wagon,
98% of the cars out there the dipstick slides in and out, and from my own experience so does the camaro as i own one. It takes maybe 50 seconds to check the oil, and that includes trying to find a rag.
My plastic engine cover will be replaced soon with an edelbrock e-force supercharger.
gearhead1977 says:
05:54 AM, 02/23/10
Oachalon,
I think the point being made is that the dipstick is really long and can be a PITA to use for the uninitiated. Most of us are familiar with transverse mounted V6 or I4 engine, where the dipstick doesn't need to be very long. But due to Camaros packaging, it's a necessity.
Complaint worthy? No, because it's needed. But it would be a challenge to use the first time out, especially if you aren't expecting it!
I agree with the "Less plastic in the engine bay " thinking