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Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:46 am
by Captain Jack
Hello,
On my '6, when I turn the ignition on, the oil level "squares" light up. Yesterday, I am pretty sure I had the full scale lit up, but this morning I only have 4 lit up (2 dashes). Is that normal to have this fluctuation? I haven't checked the oil level on the dipstick yet, but I will at lunch time - just thought I'd ask here before getting dirty/worried/paranoid.
CJ
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:49 am
by steve_earwig
Treat it as a rough guide, not to be taken as gospel. It'll depend how your car is parked (if it's on a slope), when it was last run and what sort of mood it's in today.
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:04 am
by Captain Jack
Thanks, Steve! It's always parked flat - it was last run yesterday evening.
I guess I won't worry about it too much.
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:14 am
by steve_earwig
I suppose, as you've not had the car long, it would be an idea to check the oil level but there's no point in panicking every time it drops a square or two.
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:29 am
by mjb
Aye, mine is 4-5 squares usually, but when I had the front end up in the air it was showing nothing...
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:47 am
by Welly
Mine sometimes flashed min_ _ _ _ _ _ max at me although the level was fine.
If your car is raised slightly on the nearside is has a massive effect on the reading.
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:50 pm
by Doggy
Mine was a bit overfull when I got it in October & always indicated full on the dash.
Noticed it's one blob down now & it was just below max on the dipstick when I last checked it a few weeks back.
Only 1500 miles till the oil change now, so I guess it'll keep till then...
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:26 pm
by Captain Jack
Odd thing... Ignition on - 4 bulbs. Drove to Tesco's. Ignition off, on - 4 bulbs. So I left the car and went shopping for my soup. Came back, flipped the bonnet, checked the dipstick and it was just below max level (of surprisingly clean oil). Back in the car, ignition on - 6 bulbs
What an odd thing. Never ever trust French electronics! I prefer my D8 - even though it was falling apart everywhere, I never had any
functional problems with it. I bet if we put all the computers and sensors from a D9 into my old D8, it would light up light a Christmas tree.
Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:04 pm
by swiss
Sensing fluid level is a notoriously arcane science, drunken French designers or no. At sea, if it's a really critical tank, they invest in complicated echo or laser sounding methods. The rest of us just have to put up with the best-guess method

Re: Quick question regarding oil level
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:08 pm
by Doggy
swiss wrote:Sensing fluid level is a notoriously arcane science, drunken French designers or no. At sea, if it's a really critical tank, they invest in complicated echo or laser sounding methods. The rest of us just have to put up with the best-guess method

We use ultrasonics for ours - up to, (or is it down?), 15 m. absolute magic once you 'tune out' the welds in the tank walls.
Can't see it working with a sumpful of crank & con rods tho...