SEMA - IntelliStick - Not your average dipstick

The IntelliStick, introduced at SEMA this year, promises a distinct advantage over the conventional oil dipsticks it's meant to replace. By using a low-voltage current across sensors that continuously monitor oil condition, the IntelliStick is designed to advise when to change your oil rather than using a preset schedule. Its manufacturer says the device can detect impurities, including fuel or coolant leaking into the oil, and sense oxidation and acid buildup. Information from the IntelliStick can be displayed on a PDA, Smart Phone, or laptop computer. A company press release reads like the IntelliStick is targeted for fleet operators, who stand to benefit most from savings in downtime and avoiding the expense of changing oil more often than necessary. And with a price of around $500, fleet owners might be the ones who benefit the most by investing in it. For consumers, this remains an expensive novelty that may speak to increasingly accurate maintenance indicators in the future. For now, periodically checking your oil and sticking with the manufacturer's recommended interval is the best medicine.

--Jim Travers

Learn how to make your car go 200,000 miles.

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