Needed 1L of oil, now I don't?!

R

RichIbizaSport

Member
 Hull
Hey guys,

In the recent cold snap, I did the usual dash check for the oil level. It said 1L needed, it also beeped when I switched the engine of to remind me. I did a few checks over the next few week and it still said 1L needed.

So around 1 week a go I ordered 8L of 5w-30 Castrol Edge (thought I may as well order 8L so I can use it for my next oil service) which arrived today.

But at some point the car decided it no longer wants any! I've checked for the last 3 days - up to temp and while moving. All it now says is "OK". But strangely the check completed within about 5 seconds - it normally takes around a minute (i think!)

Any clues?

Should I put 1L in? or leave it?
 
I'm not sure on the checking process on your motor without a dip-stick, hopefully someone else can advise, but overfilling by a substantial amount can be an engine killer as it can cause oil to froth in the sump and get drawn in to the cylinders, or worse still cause the hydraulic tappets to lock - bang!
 
Keep in mind this system will say OK even if you're 0.95L low. Maybe the cold cooled the sump enough to reduce the oil volume, even though the engine was at operating temp? The response time is a mystery, but apparently normal. Perhaps it works like this: A. Sensor capacitance has not changed from last measurement, so just report OK. --OR-- B. Sensor capacitance has changed from last measurement, initiate more elaborate measuring sequence.

Except for the first line, this is all wild conjecture on my part. If you're worried, it's probably safe to put 1/2L, or just wait until it calls for more oil, may not be too much longer.

A dipstick is so much simpler and way more informative. Technology going backwards.
 
Was the car level?

I've had my low oil warning go off when on an incline, then not a peep
 
Its just part of being a zed owner. mine sometimes on then off then on then off, checked level all ok. The zed telling me it's female. :thumbsup:
 
Remember that the oil level monitor only works when the engine is up to operating temperature. Would it be that the engine was about 1 minute away from being at this temperature and then after that minute it give you the reading because it was at operating temperature? It should usually only take a few seconds when up to operating temperature?

As for it now saying it is not low, what level is it at on the scale of 1 to 5? If at 1 it probably still needs that 1 litre and as above its probably is just measuring slightly above the required 1 litre so does not beep now.
 
Mine used to play up once in a while, but as above the scale goes from one to five so have you seen the oil level decrease over time?

This is how I monitored mine as I used to check regularly drive to/from work, but it would be at least 5 minutes before the car would return the level as it was just not hot enough before this time.
 
I haven't had a motor without a dip stick but I must admit I'd be a bit uncomfortable without a one, and is isn't it tricky to confidently re-fill after an oil change?
 
It's not tricky, but it does take some confidence to blindly add the amount specified without knowing if the level will be perfect.
But then, my recent experience is that adding the amount specified always resulted in the perfect level when a dipstick was available to verify.
 
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