The Muc-Off Hey Dipstick! has been greatly improved for 2026, with a black finish that now clearly shows sealant levels. It’s still a premium product where the functionality can be emulated by a black zip-tie for almost zero cost, but if you like a bit of workshop bling and have a tenner burning a hole in your pocket, it’s a good shout to get accurate, repeatable measurements of your remaining sealant.
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago I gave the original Hey Dipstick! 3/10. This was largely because the shiny stainless steel finish meant it was nigh-on impossible to assess the actual sealant level because of the brightness of the metal matching the light-coloured sealant, and because the slipperiness of stainless steel meant the sealant would wick away down the stick.
However, Muc-Off listened, and while this new version is still made of metal, it’s been treated with a black coating that allows an accurate assessment of sealant level, first time.
It’s really not rocket science: spin valve to the bottom, core out, dipstick in, read. It takes longer to type than to do – and this time, it works.
> The 8 essentials to take with you when you use tubeless tyres
If you run tubeless, keeping on top of sealant levels is critical – especially as the weather warms up and evaporation becomes more likely. Whether you’re using a bespoke tool like the Hey Dipstick!, a black zip-tie, or one of the included dipsticks from brands like Orange Seal, you need to be checking at least every two months. If you’ve had a puncture that’s sealed, you should also be checking after that ride. Note, if you are using a zip tie, make sure it’s not bending over once inserted, as this will give you a false reading and suggest you have more sealant than you actually do.
As mentioned in the last review, the Hey Dipstick! is made from ‘aircraft-grade’ 6063 aluminium with a knurled grippy top and 20 (count ’em) gradients etched into the bottom of the stick. This means you can set up your desired amount of sealant, do a measurement and note it down some place (e.g. ‘3oz = 15 bars’ or suchlike).
Again, not rocket science (or even really aircraft science). Would it matter if the material was 3000-grade aluminium like your frying pan is made of? No. I will however go out on a high-tensile MIL-spec limb and say that Muc-Off has engineered the finest example of an optically-assessed longitudinal-measurement tubeless sealant system in the world.
Yes, £10 for a metal stick is a decent amount – notably when you can buy a pack of five plastic ones from Orange Seal for £2-4 that do pretty much exactly the same job. But what price knowing your sealant level is exactly what it needs to be? Or, how much would you pay *not* to be standing at the side of a road or trail with a flat tubeless tyre that couldn’t seal for want of an ounce or so of sealant?
Verdict
It accurately shows you your remaining sealant levels. And it’s pink
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Muc-Off Hey Dipstick!
Size tested: One
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
It’s for people wanting to accurately and easily measure their tyre sealant levels through the valve body.
Muc-Off says: “Running tubeless tyres with free-flowing sealant is crucial for preventing flats and maintaining riding performance. With the ‘Hey Dipstick!’ the job just got a tonne easier, so you can focus more on enjoying your ride and less on maintenance.
“Easily check your sealant level and optimise your tubeless performance with the precision machined ‘Hey Dipstick!’
“Engineered to glide seamlessly inside the stem of the valve, this latest innovation from the Muc-Off Dev Lab allows you to easily check the health of your sealant inside the tyre, without needing to break the bead or remove the tyre!
“Make the ‘Hey Dipstick!’ part of your workshop toolkit – Stay ahead of pesky punctures and ride uninterrupted.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Aircraft grade CNC machined 6063 aluminium
Knurled handle gripper
Durable 304 Stainless Steel dipstick with machined sealant level indicator grooves
Lightweight
If you get one, it will be the last you ever buy (assuming you don’t lose it).
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Can’t really fault it.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Easy to read.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It costs far more (10 times more) than the Orange Seal eqivalent.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes-ish
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but with caveats.
Use this box to explain your overall score
The only thing to mark down here is price – but then it’s not that much to have 100% confidence in your sealant levels.
About the tester
Age: 52 Height: 183cm Weight: 80kg
I usually ride: Sonder Camino Gravelaxe My best bike is: Nah bro that’s it
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, general fitness riding, mtb, G-R-A-V-E-L
