'57 3.0si Oil Check - What's Going On?

S

SpaceCoyote

Member
Just before I went away on holiday, I backed my Zed (3.0si Sport Roadster - October 2007 with about 8,000 miles) into my garage which has a fairly steep drive and I got the message to add 1l of oil - so I made a mental note to buy some oil when I came back and left it.

Got back on Saturday and took it out of the garage to park it back on the drive and went to get some oil.

Before adding the oil, I thought I'd check the level again after getting it warm and it is reading full and 'OK' so I left it.

Drove to work this morning and checked the oil again on the way and now it's at half and 'OK'.

What's going on?
 
Assuming your last two recent measurements were both on level ground and that you are not losing/burning oil at a rate of knots it sounds like a faulty sensor.

The dealer has the ability to dip the oil level manually and compare it to the readout. If it were me i would wait a few more trips to see if it continues to inconsistent and then take it to the dealer.
 
To my knowledge you are not meant to check the oil whilst driving the car. The car is meant to be stationary to get an accurate reading. Your post indicates that you may have been driving the car when you checked it the second time.

My advice would be to check again when the car is warmed up and on a level surface.

The last time this happened to me, the indicator told me the oil was low, I added 1/3 of a litre of oil and the light went away. :thumbsup:
 
I check mine while driving all the time. The car has to be up to operating temperature and I'm driving on relatively flat roads. You said your drive was "fairly steep". That would be enough to fool the sensor.

Check oil (even with a dipstick) when the car is at operating temperature and level.
 
Surely the first measurement is just void as you note that it was on a steep slope. a couple of prior posters have already pointed to this

Generally oil levels are taken with the engine warm, on level ground, 5 minutes or so after it stops running. Check the handbook as each model and generation has slight variations.
 
He has the roadster version of my coupe (if I read those plate numbers correctly). Since there is no dipstick, you can check the oil level at any time (I believe the manual says while running, but I would have to check) and it won't check if the temperature isn't correct (you get a clock face icon and the bars march along without stopping). I would be careful, however, if you are moving while checking the oil level to make sure you're going down a relatively level and straight road at the time. For those engines with dipsticks, I've always checked engine oil with engine OFF after warming up.
 
Ah, found a manual online:
___________________________________

Checking the oil level
Your car is equipped with an electronic oil-level
monitor.
For a precise measurement and display of the
oil level, it is necessary that the engine be at
operating temperature, i.e. after uninterrupted
driving for at least approx. 6.5 miles/10 km. You
can have the oil level displayed while you are
driving, or while the vehicle is at a standstill on a
level surface and the engine is running.
 
Dont think you will find dealer can determine level other than by draining the oil, that's what they told me anyway as my gauge sometimes gives false readings and I reported it, but it happens so rarely I couldnt be bothered to get it sorted (no garuantee dealer could fix anyway with intermittent fault)
 
I was checking the oil while on the motorway and it was showing 1/2.

I did try checking it a number of times after a run with the engine up to temperature on a flat surface and I got varying results of either 1/4 or 1/2.

I haven't tried checking it on my drive, it was just the intial "add 1l of oil" message that was displayed while I was reversing into my garage.

I think I will add a small amount and see if it makes a difference to the level.
 
If the results are that variable, you should get that sensor checked. Mine never varies. First time I had the oil changed, it did the half-full "OK" thing, but that was driving away from the dealer, so I'm sure the oil hadn't completely circulated. Never done it again.
 
Hi Spacecoyote, as smokin says get the sensor checked out if under warranty.

My dealer tells me they have a way of checking the oil manually without draining, last time they even told me how many ml the engine had used.
 
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