OIL INDICATOR

jem · Post by **jem** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:37 pm

I'm sure I can look this up in the manual, but I only thought about it this morning and I don't have the manual with me right now. You know when you turn the car on and the indicator "squares" come up with min and max (which I assume is the oil), this had gone down a couple of squares. Should it always be on max? I know sometimes if you are parked on a slope it can alter the measurement. Have done a lot more driving than usual lately and wondered if I need to do anything.

I hope this isn't a really terrible girlie question - if so, sorry!

jem

jem · Post by **jem** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:49 pm

Sorry forgot to say while we are on the subject, what oil do you recommend?

Thanks.
jem

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 2:17 pm

The oil level indicator in the dashboard is horribly inaccurate. As you say, parking on a slope affects it as does the day of the week and phase of the moon.

Never rely on it for a reading - the dipstick is much more reliable.

Alig · Post by **Alig** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 6:09 pm

Yeah..mine was reading all sorts of stuff and following someone's advice on here (think it might have been you actually Matt) - the Pug dealer changed the sensor under warranty.

Mine reads the same whether on the flat or a slope now

Jem - suggest you check the dipstick whilst parked flat - that'll give you an idea whether its the sensor or you're in need of oil.

Oil - 10/40 is standard - though there's a thread around here somewhere that has more detailed info.

Hope that helps.

london-99 · Post by **london-99** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:05 pm

I dont know why its there, its much better checking your oil from the dip stick.
Mt first 206cc was rejected with an oil reading fault.

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:52 pm

I think it's there to remind you to check it via the dipstick. Most people don't bother between services, so a couple of lights missing on the indicator may prompt them into action.

IIRC there were a lot of Alfa 156s with blown engines because they "breathed" quite a bit, but people didn't bother checking the oil. By the time the oil pressure light came on it was all too late

jem · Post by **jem** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 1:26 pm

Cheers all - will check the good old-fashioned way using dipstick!

col · Post by **col** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:28 pm

I think it's there to remind you to check it via the dipstick. Most people don't bother between services, so a couple of lights missing on the indicator may prompt them into action.

IIRC there were a lot of Alfa 156s with blown engines because they "breathed" quite a bit, but people didn't bother checking the oil. By the time the oil pressure light came on it was all too late

yep that happened to a friend, after he had been in for a service and they didn't check or top it up, engine blew Â£6k damage, alfa said "not our problem" needless to say we checked our alfa all the time after that