MarkG - E85
Member
Morning all, my oil can light came on today as i was pulling into the car-park at work. It was red and flashing. Is it just a low level or something more sinister..........and expensive?
Oil light flashing
- Thread starter MarkG - E85
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
MarkG - E85
Member
I can't, there's no dipstick. It's digital and I can't seem to find a level reading anywhere.
I would add a litre of oil and then try to get a measurement. Sounds like you are very low on oil if the red oil light is on, but the problem with the electronic dipstick is you cannot tell for sure. The 1 litre top up warning is amber and only pops up as you turn off the engine. Hope this helps?
MarkG - E85
Member
Yeah, i had the 1lt top up warning a few weeks ago so it looks as though i may have a leak 
I'm stuck at work, 14 miles from home. I'm going to have to get a lift to the nearest Halfords to get an emergency top up.
I'm stuck at work, 14 miles from home. I'm going to have to get a lift to the nearest Halfords to get an emergency top up.
Yes you can.MarkG - E85 said:
Engine running, push the clock button between the dials.
It will show the oil level in quarters of a litre from min to max.
[ _ _ _ _] = needs a litre (at least, could be below that so put a litre in and see what happens.)
[ ] _ _] = 1/2 litre
[ _ _ _ ] = Full
MarkG - E85
Member
Ah right, I did see that and I'm getting 3 little lines so I guess it's full? Maybe a blocked oil filter causing low pressure? It's due a service but i wasn't planning on doing it until the end of the month (payday)
By the way, is that symbol for 1/2lt right? |Four lines for needs half a lt, 3 for for full but how many for 1/2lt?
By the way, is that symbol for 1/2lt right? |Four lines for needs half a lt, 3 for for full but how many for 1/2lt?
Jesus, you could cycle that easily!MarkG - E85 said:
It's also probably the reason why your engine is drinking oil as you're not even giving it a chance to get up to optimum operating temperature if all you're doing is a short hop to work from home, then back again!
Pump your bike up you lazy bastid!
MarkG - E85
Member
Nice one, appreciate that 
I've done a bit of servicing on it but the oil and filter is still on my "To Do" list, looks like I'll be doing it this weekend. Cheers
I've done a bit of servicing on it but the oil and filter is still on my "To Do" list, looks like I'll be doing it this weekend. Cheers
MarkG - E85
Member
Chris_D said:Jesus, you could cycle that easily!MarkG - E85 said:
It's also probably the reason why your engine is drinking oil as you're not even giving it a chance to get up to optimum operating temperature if all you're doing is a short hop to work from home, then back again!
Pump your bike up you lazy bastid!
Haha, I would but I'd have to get up at 5 each day and the roads to work have no paths. Cycling on the road when big artics are going past you is no laughing matter. Cars are even worse, one or two lads have actually been clipped by wing mirrors as it's that tight. I actually enjoy biking but can't do it to work unfortunately.
Same old excuse, but understandable.
I'd recommend stop dailying your zed over such a short distance everyday however. You're slowly knackering the engine imo.
My neighbour sees me tinkering under the bonnet of mine every so often. She pulls up in her Kia snotbox kiddybrat conveyance and asks me if I 'know anything about engines', pulling my head from under the bonnet whilst simultaneously rubbing my hands with an oily rag.
'No, I'm baking a fkg cake under here you silly twod' comes the reply in my head, but I refrain and say 'Why, what's up?'
She says the car is making 'funny noise from under motorkap (bonnet)' so I offer to take a look. Tell her to pop the bonnet but ofc she can't find the bonnet release. drrp
Get the bonnet open and to reveal a lovely burning oil smell and a small puff of smoke escaping to the atmosphere. This looks like fun.
It's too hot to go poking around so I tell her to leave the bonnet open to let it cool and I'll have a butchers in 30 mins. Came back, first thing I did was check the oil level.
Turned out she'd been running it on NO oil and hadn't noticed the various warning lights and bongs going off to warn her. Probably too preoccupied getting her brood off to school and then picking up again everyday.
Turns out their school is literally 2km from our road! FFS
They're not let's say native Dutchies. Sorry, but it's a fact that certain let's say 'demographics' here in NL run their cars into the ground and just get a new (old) snotbox to destroy. Tell me I'm wrong NL'ers!
I explain to her (as politely as I possibly can) that her car needs a little drink of oil now and again, not just the go-go juice she gets from the petrol station. And when was the last time she took it for a service? 'Errrr, I don't remember. We got it 2 years ago'. drrrrp
It's obvs never been serviced and ran dry of oil. God knows for how long. They got it taken away to a garage and the garage condemned it. But hey, at least she managed to get the kids home, right? Silver linings!
Haven't seen a replacement yet but I'm wondering what the next destruction-candidate will be....
It never ceases to amaze me how some people think a car will magically go on with just a fuel-up and no maintenance. Is it ignorance, lack of knowledge, or apathy, or all of the above??
Anyway, the moral of the above tale is- check your oil regularly, especially if you're doing short trips and don't assume that just cos you have an electronic dipstick that everything is going to be ok.
I check mine (dipstick) every week or long drive, as well as coolant, brake fluid, tyre pressures etc.
I'd recommend stop dailying your zed over such a short distance everyday however. You're slowly knackering the engine imo.
My neighbour sees me tinkering under the bonnet of mine every so often. She pulls up in her Kia snotbox kiddybrat conveyance and asks me if I 'know anything about engines', pulling my head from under the bonnet whilst simultaneously rubbing my hands with an oily rag.
'No, I'm baking a fkg cake under here you silly twod' comes the reply in my head, but I refrain and say 'Why, what's up?'
She says the car is making 'funny noise from under motorkap (bonnet)' so I offer to take a look. Tell her to pop the bonnet but ofc she can't find the bonnet release. drrp
Get the bonnet open and to reveal a lovely burning oil smell and a small puff of smoke escaping to the atmosphere. This looks like fun.
It's too hot to go poking around so I tell her to leave the bonnet open to let it cool and I'll have a butchers in 30 mins. Came back, first thing I did was check the oil level.
Turned out she'd been running it on NO oil and hadn't noticed the various warning lights and bongs going off to warn her. Probably too preoccupied getting her brood off to school and then picking up again everyday.
Turns out their school is literally 2km from our road! FFS
They're not let's say native Dutchies. Sorry, but it's a fact that certain let's say 'demographics' here in NL run their cars into the ground and just get a new (old) snotbox to destroy. Tell me I'm wrong NL'ers!
I explain to her (as politely as I possibly can) that her car needs a little drink of oil now and again, not just the go-go juice she gets from the petrol station. And when was the last time she took it for a service? 'Errrr, I don't remember. We got it 2 years ago'. drrrrp
It's obvs never been serviced and ran dry of oil. God knows for how long. They got it taken away to a garage and the garage condemned it. But hey, at least she managed to get the kids home, right? Silver linings!
Haven't seen a replacement yet but I'm wondering what the next destruction-candidate will be....
It never ceases to amaze me how some people think a car will magically go on with just a fuel-up and no maintenance. Is it ignorance, lack of knowledge, or apathy, or all of the above??
Anyway, the moral of the above tale is- check your oil regularly, especially if you're doing short trips and don't assume that just cos you have an electronic dipstick that everything is going to be ok.
I check mine (dipstick) every week or long drive, as well as coolant, brake fluid, tyre pressures etc.
MarkG - E85
Member
A couple of years ago, my sister phoned me to say someone had ran into the back of her on the A174, (a main road in the north east). I went straight there in rush hour and pulled in front of them. It was winter so very dark and being rush hour, very busy. The first thing I said to the middle aged woman whose car was at the back was "You'd better put your hazard lights on" only to be told "I don't think my car has them"
Devon
It's probably not flat everywhere like HollandChris_D said:Jesus, you could cycle that easily!MarkG - E85 said:
It's also probably the reason why your engine is drinking oil as you're not even giving it a chance to get up to optimum operating temperature if all you're doing is a short hop to work from home, then back again!
Pump your bike up you lazy bastid!
j3nks79 said:Chris_D said:Wow, you sound like a real expert. A REAL expert!j3nks79 said:
Please tell me your real expert view?
I’m interested how a 14 mile journey can ruin your engine and cause it to use oil.
Having an education and 30+ year background in various engineering industries already endows me with a common-sense appreciation for how thermodynamics can affect any mechanical system.
But I'm not going to waste time educating you and frankly I have way more importnat things to do. Do your own research.
A good starting point for you would be to read up on how condensation forms and lingers within the CCV system and the result of not burning it off over short journeys...
:wink: