Quick question regarding oil level

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[mjb]

Aye, mine is 4-5 squares usually, but when I had the front end up in the air it was showing nothing...

[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.

[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...

[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.

[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

[Doggy]

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...