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Posted

Just for the record - went to start my car just and Service lamp came on, with the RT3 saying "Check Engine Oil Level" and the oil level indicator flashed.

 

Bein a good boy I went and checked me oil after doing the usual stuff to make sure I get an accurate reading, and it shows dead on half-way between min and max - which funnily enough is what the interior electronic readout says.

 

Will phone my garage tomorrow - but it looks like the computer calls it in for service when the oil level is at half?

Posted
Be honest not checked mine in ages i will liely end up going over the car tomorrow depending on when i get up and what the weather is like. Needs a good wash / polish and wax been sat under a tree and the sap is driving me nuts windows are so damn sticky now. And i ran out of screen wash which made it fun driving earlier with the crap all over the windscreen.
Posted

The electronic oil display is a guide for those people that never get out and check there oil.

 

Based on the reaction time of most people to do things it could be several weeks before a customer actually checks there oil so it comes on between the two marks........after all would be a bit silly if it came on when it got below the minimum mark.

 

Another fault? or Driver error?

Posted

Hi Mat,

 

Hehe - dipstick in the bonnet mate :D

 

@ KFK - still say it seems a bit odd for it to come only at half - imagined a quarter would be more the norm??

 

@C4VTR - it comes on briefly when you first turn the key, before it turns into the temperature guage on the right hand side of your main screen

Posted

I think the dipstick is behind the wheel in mat's car :P sorry mate couldnt resist it...

 

I haveny checked mine is ages, will have to do it when I get home...I didnt check my tyre pressures until the other day, over a year after picking the car up B) now that I have blown them up again it handles like a go kart like it should!!

Posted

Well it's not come back since, yet the oil level is still the same on both the dipstick (mine not Matt B) ) and the digital readout.

 

The garage did say they've had this one before, and it cleared after a day so I'll just keep my eye on it......

Posted
I dont know all this techno wizzbangery and its still easier to pull the dipstick (again not mat, pulling mat would be a bad idea B) ) and check it manually...
Posted
yeah but some people like me are really lazy and, though they know they should, they never check the oil until it runs out and blows the engine up lol.
Posted

This problem occured on my VTS last week. I was parked on a very steep hill - handbrake up full, left in first gear wheels pointing to the kurb front of the car pointing down hill.

 

As I got back in and started it up it pinged up check oil level.

 

A few times of starting and stopping wouldnt stop it from happening. Giot home and let it stand for an hour to check the oil level (full) got back in the car and was fine.

 

Put it down to the steep hill causing oil level to go below sensor.

 

Hasnt happened since.

Posted

On my car, if I park on a hill where the passenger side is lower then the drivers side, then the oil drains to one side of the sump (Assume, away from the oil level sensor) and the warning comes on.

 

Just park it on level ground, remove the dipstick, check the level and replace.

 

I have found if you dont check the level, the warning will come on everytime the engine is started.

Posted
  Quote
park on a hill where the passenger side is lower then the drivers side, then the oil drains to one side of the sump (Assume, away from the oil level sensor) and the warning comes on.

 

You can also fill up your fuel tank this way. Park with half a full tank and by the time you get back to your parked car you have a 3/4 full tank :D

 

My Pluriel did this trick as well as the C4

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

Posted
  Quote
This problem occured on my VTS last week.

 

Surely its not a problem if its a characteristic of its normal operation?

 

The sensor needs to be imersed in oil to a specific level to give a correct reading on the display.

 

The way it operates is by providing a resistance reading .....the resistance is affected by the level of the oil........hence if you park 2 wheels on the pavement or face down hill it will cause the oil to flow away from the sensor and cause it to show low oil level.

 

Additionally if you stall your car, on re starting it will tell you the level is low because you've spread it round the engine.

 

In the event you over fill the engine with oil this too can give a reading on the display that indicates the oil is low.....so if your dipstick is above the maximum mark it doesnt mean you need to add more!!!!!!!

Posted
  kfk said:
  Quote
This problem occured on my VTS last week.

 

Surely its not a problem if its a characteristic of its normal operation?

 

The sensor needs to be imersed in oil to a specific level to give a correct reading on the display.

 

The way it operates is by providing a resistance reading .....the resistance is affected by the level of the oil........hence if you park 2 wheels on the pavement or face down hill it will cause the oil to flow away from the sensor and cause it to show low oil level.

 

Additionally if you stall your car, on re starting it will tell you the level is low because you've spread it round the engine.

 

In the event you over fill the engine with oil this too can give a reading on the display that indicates the oil is low.....so if your dipstick is above the maximum mark it doesnt mean you need to add more!!!!!!!

Thats interesting, so its a conductivity sensor.

 

Why should it give a low oil level warning if too much oil is in there??? Assume it gives a warning when the level is outside of set upper and lower parameters.

 

Is this correct???

Posted
  kfk said:
  Quote
This problem occured on my VTS last week.

 

Surely its not a problem if its a characteristic of its normal operation?

 

The sensor needs to be imersed in oil to a specific level to give a correct reading on the display.

 

The way it operates is by providing a resistance reading .....the resistance is affected by the level of the oil........hence if you park 2 wheels on the pavement or face down hill it will cause the oil to flow away from the sensor and cause it to show low oil level.

 

Additionally if you stall your car, on re starting it will tell you the level is low because you've spread it round the engine.

 

In the event you over fill the engine with oil this too can give a reading on the display that indicates the oil is low.....so if your dipstick is above the maximum mark it doesnt mean you need to add more!!!!!!!

OK...if were going to get all "gramatical"

 

"I experienced this characteristic last week" :)

 

But then it could be a "problem" with the design as I have never experienced this "characteristic" with other vehicles parked in the same spot.... :D

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