Checking Engine Oil Level / Oil Consumption / Oil Light On

[elephino]

The oil level will vary depending on the angle you park the car on and so forth. When the car is parked overnight the oil has a chance to drain back into the sump hence why the light does not come on.

The idea behind the low oil light is that you fill the oil ASAP and don't keep driving around. Once the car has reached the low oil level it has already lost a substantial amount of oil which should have been picked up prior to this by regular checking of the oil level using the dipstick.

BTW engine damage caused by lack of lubrication is NOT covered by warranty. A replacement engine is in the vicinity of $15,000.

If this were the case (how the oil light works, not the lack of lubrication), wouldn't the light consistently come on after an approximately consistent time period as the car is parked in the same location and the same direction each night? Plus, as I said, it comes and goes while driving including steady state driving.

I've also been informed that the short period of time between now and the check isn't a problem. Unless there's an oil leak, of course (no drips around where the car is parked, so unlikely)

[elephino]

Car is back and no real answer to why it used oil and also neither was there a reason why the low oil light was so inconsistent.

[Maverick]

Car is back and no real answer to why it used oil and also neither was there a reason why the low oil light was so inconsistent.

All engines use oil, some more than others and it's your responsibility to check the levels on a regular basis rather then relying on the idiot light. The low oil light is not inconsistent but it's set to trigger at a certain level as I explained, parking on a slightly different angle could see less oil drain back into the sump hence why it turns on sometimes. If you had left it a bit longer it would have stayed on all the time.

[elephino]

All engines use oil, some more than others and it's your responsibility to check the levels on a regular basis rather then relying on the idiot light. The low oil light is not inconsistent but it's set to trigger at a certain level as I explained, parking on a slightly different angle could see less oil drain back into the sump hence why it turns on sometimes. If you had left it a bit longer it would have stayed on all the time.

As I mentioned before, it should therefore have been reasonably consistent each morning as I park in the same place each night.

[MariusGT]

Im sure I read somewhere that the oil light goes off when you lift the hood...

Reset feature --> assuming you have gone into engine bay to top up oil?

[reaction]

Question: When you recieve a new car, would you expect the oil to be filled up?

I have just done 7000KM's and the oil light has come on. Seems a little unreal ...

[Rob Burns]

Question: When you recieve a new car, would you expect the oil to be filled up?

I have just done 7000KM's and the oil light has come on. Seems a little unreal ...

Can I ask why?

[Brendan_A]

Question: When you recieve a new car, would you expect the oil to be filled up?

I have just done 7000KM's and the oil light has come on. Seems a little unreal ...

The oil should have been checked in the pre delivery. New engines will use some oil in the running in stage. Don't you check your oil every couple of weeks? For the oil light to come on the oil level will be down a lot and can cause damage if you keep driving.

[brad]

Question: When you recieve a new car, would you expect the oil to be filled up?

I have just done 7000KM's and the oil light has come on. Seems a little unreal ...

Many modern engines will use oil during the running period. SOme use more than others depending on the style they are driven during this period. It's because of low tension rings & other design factors.

Your owners manual notes that oil usage can occur. It also recomends you check the oil every time you add fuel (every 500-1000km). The sales person should have explained this as well and told you that if the oil needed topping up that the service centre will do it free of charge.

What's wrong with you people that you can't take an hour to read the manual? You must be missing out on so many of the features that your car has.

[Corey_R]

What's wrong with you people that you can't take an hour to read the manual? You must be missing out on so many of the features that your car has.

Oh crap.... you didn't just say that in public did you?
Maverick and I tell forum dwellers this regularly, I even mention the point about how many features they're missing out on by not reading it, but we always seem to get our heads bitten off for suggestion such a thing! It's like it's not Australian or questioning of ones sexuality to read the manual or something

[brad]

Oh crap.... you didn't just say that in public did you?
Maverick and I tell forum dwellers this regularly, I even mention the point about how many features they're missing out on by not reading it, but we always seem to get our heads bitten off for suggestion such a thing! It's like it's not Australian or questioning of ones sexuality to read the manual or something

I have 4 manuals sitting on my desk waiting editing. Nothing to do with cars & I hate reading them but car manuals are actually interesting.
My wife gets a top of the range "something" (CalaisV at the moment) for work and never reads the manuals & therefore doesn't use half the features of the car - they may as well give her a base model and save some money. Pearls before swine I tells ya!

[reaction]

What's wrong with you people that you can't take an hour to read the manual? You must be missing out on so many of the features that your car has.

Ahh I love forums and some of the smug people you find on them, well done with your 4 manuals.

My car was checked at 1000km's and I checked it again at 3500km's. It was/is due for a service at 7000km's (it's on 6340km's now). I have driven many new cars before and never had to refill the oil in the first couple of months even though I do check on it. For that reason I asked if VW would fill up the oil before delivering the car (in my opinion they should). The manual from what I have seen def does not saying anything about checking it at every refuel or 1000km's. I would think the Golf would use no more than 700ml per 1000km's. You do the maths ...

In the end all I want to do is work out if perhaps my car is using more oil than it should. Yes I do realise the FSI is known as a oil burner.

[Corey_R]

Ahh I love forums and some of the smug people you find on them, well done with your 4 manuals.

See brad, how dare you suggest that someone read the manual. Serves you right that you are now known as a smug forum troll.

[reaction]

See brad, how dare you suggest that someone read the manual. Serves you right that you are now known as a smug forum troll.

Are you trying to stirr the pot here? Telling someone to take time out and read the manual in a polite way is completely differant to flying into the sentance starting "what is wrong with you people" as to suggest that we(me) are a bunch of idiots.

I'm done here.

[Transporter]

Are you trying to stirr the pot here? Telling someone to take time out and read the manual in a polite way is completely differant to flying into the sentance starting "what is wrong with you people" as to suggest that we(me) are a bunch of idiots.

I'm done here.

You wouldn't get such a reply, if you would have asked differently. I must admit, your post got my attention as well, Brad replied correctly and you have no reason to attack him! Just look at some other replies you have received.