Oil Warning Light

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Ok, another thread to further demonstrate my rubbish motoring knowledge.

I have been looking after a 2001 Golf GTI for my sister in law, driving it about once a week. Whilst I have been driving the oil light had never once gone on. She recently took it back and said that there was almost no oil in the car. And that I was neglecting the motor.

She says her mechanic told her that the oil light is for measuring pressure and not oil level. Whereas I feel that the oil light comes on when the level is low.

Who is right?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Oil pressure light comes on if there is no pressure. If the level is low it can still maintain pressure but the oil can potentially overheat and cause damage to the engine. Her mechanic is right.

Define "almost no oil" even if its below the minimum there is still enough oil

You shouldn't rely on a warning light to tell you to top up fluids. What happens if the bulb was blown? You should check your levels weekly

[STONEISLAND]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Ok, another thread to further demonstrate my rubbish motoring knowledge.

I have been looking after a 2001 Golf GTI for my sister in law, driving it about once a week. Whilst I have been driving the oil light had never once gone on. She recently took it back and said that there was almost no oil in the car. And that I was neglecting the motor.

She says her mechanic told her that the oil light is for measuring pressure and not oil level. Whereas I feel that the oil light comes on when the level is low.

Who is right?

Means your oil pressure is too high for whatever reason

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

Oil pressure light comes on if there is no pressure. If the level is low it can still maintain pressure but the oil can potentially overheat and cause damage to the engine. Her mechanic is right.

You shouldn't rely on warning light to tell you to top up fluids. What happens if the bulb was blown?

It's not an oil pressure light, its an oil warning light? Isnt there a difference?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by STONEISLAND

Means your oil pressure is too high for whatever reason

what

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Wicked, I've driven cars with both oil pressure gaugues and oil warning lights. So wouldnt the oil warning light come on if level was low? As for relying on lights to check levels I kinda agree, but how often would you check for oil?

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

It's not an oil pressure light, its an oil warning light? Isnt there a difference?

All cars have an oil pressure light/gauge. Are you saying the car has an oil pressure warning light/gauge AND and oil level light?

Regardless of what the lights are there is still the chance of bulb failure or switch failure

[Kymmy]

An oil warning light is turned on by low oil pressure activating an oil pressure switch...

Oil should be checked weekly, that's the reason as to why engines have a dipstick on the engine instead of just an oil warning light...

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

Wicked, I've driven cars with both oil pressure gaugues and oil warning lights. So wouldnt the oil warning light come on if level was low? As for relying on lights to check levels I kinda agree, but how often would you check for oil?

If it is an oil level indicator it should come on if the level is low (assuming its working). Most cars have oil pressure lights as opposed to gauges, sounds like you think its a level light and te mechanic thinks its a pressure light.

Yes i do check my oil, water and tyres every week. NOT!!

---------- Post added at 13:04 ---------- Previous post was at 13:03 ----------

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Oil should be checked weekly, that's the reason as to why engines have a dipstick on the engine instead of just an oil warning light...

Remember some cars have 2 dipsticks, one under the bonnet and the other behind the wheel

[Rob]

Many modern cars, when you first start up, will have an array of things displayed on the dashboard. These can include levels of fluids including brakes, oil, water. These displays go out after a few seconds.

On the other hand a warning light that comes on whilst the engine running generally means stop now as something has failed.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

Originally Posted by Rob

Many modern cars, when you first start up, will have an array of things displayed on the dashboard. These can include levels of fluids including brakes, oil, water. These displays go out after a few seconds.

On the other hand a warning light that comes on whilst the engine running generally means stop now as something has failed.

Good point, did the said light come on when the ignition was initially turned on?

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

Yes i do check my oil, water and tyres every week. NOT!!


Remember some cars have 2 dipsticks, one under the bonnet and the other behind the wheel

Was gonna post about the 2nd dipstick but didn;t want S_L_M thinking I meant him Anyway my Volvo's got about 3 of the suckers under the bonnet

Engine oil, Power steering fluid and autogearbox oil...

All owners handbooks will suggest checking the oil/water/tyres before each journey.. But with cars these days once a week or longer is fine unless you know that it's burning oil..

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

Good point, did the said light come on when the ignition was initially turned on?

Thats the think, the oil light has never come on, neither for me or her. She says there wasnt any oil in the car when she checked it for herself. How much oil do you need in a car anyway, how far up the dipstick is enough oil?

[Kymmy]

They'll be two marks on it, an upper and a lower mark, normally you;d fill it to just below the upper mark and definately above the lower mark

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

I mean how much over the lower mark would be deemed enough? Just over? a tenth of the way up? etc...

I do know how to read a dipstick, just wanted to know how much is deemed enough lol x