question about oil levels on the dipstick

[david burton]

It's been a while since I checked my oil level - I do it about once every 3 months but I do a lot of miles.

I checked today and the oil level was barely on the dipstick and I had to put a litre of oil in it (almost)

question is - do you think it's caused any damage to the engine? I hardly thrash the engine anyway, just cruise at 2k on the motorway.

thoughts?

[J9NO A]

The polo has a warning system for oil - a yellow light comes on when the oil is low, and a red light when the oil pressure is low.

If your yellow oil light didn't come on I wouldn't worry at all

[AKs_SlickPolo]

I've heard that the dash light is only triggered when the oil is almost out and at that point you've probably created damage to the engine anyway. Bit pointless if this is really the case with the dash light.

If you only had to put a litre in though I wouldn't have thought that would cause any damage, as you still had a couple of litres in there - not like you was running it dry!

[david burton]

cheers guys, I guess I'm just wanting a bit of comfort.

it's really taken me by surprise, it's not as if I don't check it often. I suppose the level of the oil may rise/fall at a different rate on the dipstick.

anyway, all filled up now, and I'm doing an oil change in April anyway.

[J9NO A]

I've heard that the dash light is only triggered when the oil is almost out and at that point you've probably created damage to the engine anyway. Bit pointless if this is really the case with the dash light.

This is true for most cars because the oil warning light is the oil PRESSURE warning light.

That means when it comes on, the oil has gone so low that the pick up pipe is no longer fully immersed, the oil pressure drops and the engine is pretty well instantly damaged if you're running at high RPM.

As I said the polo has a more intelligent system, where yellow light is a low LEVEL warning, and red is a low pressure warning.

[TimGti]

I had a similar thing in mine a few months back. Had an oil change in Oct and the low level warning light came on about 3 months later! I had the same concerns as you at the time, but the same as you, I put a litre of oil in ASAP and it was back up to normal level again.

So strange as I had the car for a year before this and it didnt need topping up once!

I keep a closer eye now and check it regularly.

PS £14.99 for a litre of long life is a killer!

[Dubnutty]

Oh Ive experienced the yellow light!!!!
Was very late for work, doing around 100mph "round the track" and suddenly got this mad bleeping like you're driving with the handbrake on and saw the yellow oil light flashing....
Srecched to a stop on the hard shouler, checked the oil and erm dry dipstick syndrome!!!!!
Drove at 50 for the rest of the way, and topped up about a liter of oil to get it up to the max mark.
I usually have to top it up from min to max twice between oil changes (which are 10,000 miles)
before in that mielage it didnt even go from max to min :S there again I am running it with 80,000 miles on the clock!!!
Olz x

[RUM4MO]

VAG cars with an oil level warning system fitted, use a couple of temperature probes that are fitted with a heater, if the top warning probe is covered by the oil, then it should "read" the same as the lower one = no warning, if the top warning probe is not covered by the oil then it will "read" a lot higher than the lower one = low oil level warning. You should really check the oil level every week or before a long (100+ miles) journey, especially as the TDI engines were the very reason that VAG started supplying "top-up" bags. If you have not got one you can find them, mainly without the one litre of oil that you need, on ebay from time to time. I also have not always been smart enough to stop the yellow oil level warning coming on - but it has only happened once! BTW even if the warning comes on due to a false signal from the oil level module in the sump (and it seems that they do fail), the yellow light will stay on even although the false signal has "gone" - until you open and shut the bonnet - crafty eh?

[david burton]

very sly

no light came on so I can only assume it was fine. just had me worried because I never usually let the oil get low.

[Jollus]

Hey guys. I have had recent trouble where the red oil light flashes three times with a beep sound. No yellow light treatment. It has had a service 1 month ago an had mot which it passed. Since then when u do ten to fifteen miles an the engines warmed up the revs suddenly die to 0 with the red oil light flashing. Then the engine stalls shortly after when the car is coasting.
Can anyone help please? I have checked the oil level and its fine. Also I can't find any leaks at all and have tried a new oil switch. . Thanks

[chewy]

Could be the oil pump on the way out, it sounds like it loosing oil pressure

[Jollus]

Thanks for your reply. I have booked it into a good Computer Programmers garage for Wed so will let you knwo the outcome in a few days.

[Jollus]

Hey everyone. Interesting developments for you. The car went into the garage and they diagnosed the oil pressure as being low down to 20lb of pressure. They replaced the oil pump, oil filter and engine oil. And also had to replace the timing belt as they had to get passed it to the pump. The belt was in need of a change as the car is on 70,000 miles and has never had it done. Lucky I caught that in time!

Anyway the garage repaired the above and also checked the engine bearing and pickups and oil channels. Apparently everything was completely fine. I drove from the garage ona 30 mile journey and it cut out with the red oil light flashing after about 20 miles! Devastating. Anyone have any thoughtS?

Its going back into the garage next week about the oil and is also having a new ABS pump as I finally found one on Ebay!