Oil check

[clark]

Hey guys,

The golfs been giving me the oil light the last day or so when cornering at speed, so I figured it was probably time for a top-up/oil change. Drove home from work tonight, no oil light. Thought I should probably check the oil level before I did anything else. Its been sitting in the drive for 10-15 mins, and I've been checking the dipstick every couple of mins and I'm not getting a reading...

Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks - I feel like a bit of an idiot, having to ask if I'm checking the oil right....

Alex

[trickysimon]

If your not getting a reading it means theres not enough oil to reach the dipstick, hecne the oil light coming on!
Don't drive it until you put some oil in.

[clark]

So the oil goes below the dipstick before the oil light comes on all the time?

[trickysimon]

Isn't it meant to be an oil pressure light, not oil level? Don't quote me on that one. Someone else should know the answer.

[clark]

Thanks for your help mate

[JustCruisn]

If the light comes on you must STOP and check the oil.
I know of an ex forum member who's oil light came on while cornering, that was the end of his engine.

[dylan8]

If the light comes on you must STOP and check the oil.
I know of an ex forum member who's oil light came on while cornering, that was the end of his engine.

on low oil: reason it comes on when cornering is all the oil moves to one side of the engine, away from the sensor. EDIT: or your out of oil lol
What engine do you have? How long do you have you had it?

[JustCruisn]

on low oil: reason it comes on when cornering is all the oil moves to one side of the engine, away from the sensor. EDIT: or your out of oil lol
What engine do you have? How long do you have you had it?

Not me. Was a Mk3 VR6. He had it for many years, my mechanic bought it and rebuilt it.
\

[clark]

If the light comes on you must STOP and check the oil.
I know of an ex forum member who's oil light came on while cornering, that was the end of his engine.

Well - I bought some crappy oil from Caltex because it was the only thing thats open, and I'll do a proper oil change on Sunday.

Fingers crossed, I'm not like said ex forum member.

Thanks for your help guys. Clearly I'm too used to driving my Valiant, where anytime it goes round a corner the oil light comes on, even if it's full of oil.

[Speed]

Well - I bought some crappy oil from Caltex because it was the only thing thats open, and I'll do a proper oil change on Sunday.

Fingers crossed, I'm not like said ex forum member.

Thanks for your help guys. Clearly I'm too used to driving my Valiant, where anytime it goes round a corner the oil light comes on, even if it's full of oil.

Really, my Charger never does that.
If your VW is a GTI, go for the Castrol Edge sport.

If its using oil then maybe check for leaks and failing that, a compression test.

[clark]

Really, my Charger never does that.
If your VW is a GTI, go for the Castrol Edge sport.

If its using oil then maybe check for leaks and failing that, a compression test.

What sorta Charger?

[Speed]

Hot mustard VH 770, 318, 727 and suregrip.
Was my mothers when new!

[clark]

Hot mustard VH 770, 318, 727 and suregrip.
Was my mothers when new!

awesome

[Manaz]

The oil pressure light comes on when there's insufficient pressure in the system that pumps the oil up to the top of the engine.

That can happen when there's insufficient oil in the sump, gets worse around corners because the pickup can't pick the oil up as it sloshes from side to side.

The manual should tell you how many litres of oil the difference between the empty and full marks on the dipstick indicates. You want to add at LEAST that amount of oil, let the engine idle for a short period of time to get oil flowing, then measure again, and repeat until you have oil at least half way up the measuring scale on the dipstick.

If you have a GTI, I'd be double worried, because your turbo relies on oil to keep it running.

Regardless of what you have, I'd drain what's in the engine and replace it with good quality oil ASAP. What weight of oil will depend on what engine you have and where you live (cold areas can use thinner oils) - I use Castrol Edge Sport 5W30 in my Bora V6 4Motion, I'd not run anything heavier in a turbo.

[clark]

Thanks for the info Manaz, an oil change is first on my list of things to do this weekend.