Jump to content

URGENT Oil Question


Recommended Posts

right, just checked the oil dipstick today for the first time since i've bought the car, and the dipstick was showing absolutely no sign of oil. I've opened the oil filler cap on the rocker cover, and it says to fill to max. Where is max? How can i tell where the max mark is? Do i have to fill and then check the dipstick? Or is their a proper max mark under the oil filler cap?

Could my car be buggered since it had absolutely not a drop of oil showing on the dipstick, and was driven around quite a while as such?

I've poured about 3 caps of shell helix plus. 10w-40 synthetic technology motor oil... It says vw 505 00 on the rear of the carton. Haven't poured in any more, as got to confirm from fellow lupo owners.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 56
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Do an oil change on the car and when you take the sump plug out you will know if oil is in her or not.

MAX on the dip stick is the top of the indented/cross hatched markings

oil.gif

Thanks for the reply.

Question is... How do i know when i've reached the full mark? Is it a question of trial and error? Since theirs no mark inside the oil cap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just add some oil, let it settle for a minute, then check the level with the dipstick. If it is still not at the "Normal level", add some more. Be careful not to overfill 'cos it'll damage the Cat'. Best thing to do would be to change the filter before you do it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

do it in pints

rinse out one of those little plastic milk bottles, (1pint ones)

and do half of that at a time

it cant be more than 2 or 2 1/2 pints in total

i only ever use semi synthetic, ive never tried full synthetic youll have to ask someone else as well just to confirm for you

if that

little chris

xxx

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Firstly and before you go throwing oil at it confirim if you have the correct dip stick. I have seen a Ford Escort with the wrong dipstick which didn't reach the oil even when the correct amount was in!

The difference between the min and max line is normally shown somewhere in your handbook. As it's not showing I would put this much in first and again until it shows on the 'hatched area' of the dipstick and then top up with little bits.

I personally would do an oil and filter change to be on the safe side.

Edited by Silver!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would agree with silver and check you have the right dipstick! Does it have a 'click-lock' mechanism when you push the dipstick right in? Also - are you measuring the level when engine is cold or warm? Ideally you should measure it while its still warm as the oil expands somewhat. Mind you - trying to measure mine while its warm is a pain - it always looks overfull, but cold its about half full at most - can't work it out (any ideas?)!!

Also agree with others that an oil change is a wise move - yep, just keep putting a bit in, waiting and so on, until near maximum. I think the oil capacity of the 1.4 is 3.5 litres (but don't quote me on that!!!)? Check your owners manual - should be in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cheers for the replies lads.

Was in a hurry to work this morning, so couldn't change the original oil (drain from sump etc...).

Only had time to fill with the above mentioned oil, (check level) and drive.

The car is driving perfectly fine, but the oil light still flashes while the key is on ignition. Once started, the light goes out.

Is this normal?

Edited by kapur
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers folks. Could everyone confirm if their oil light flashes when on ignition, and if so, for how long.

This is what exactly happens with me:

1. Turn on the ignition: after 3-5 seconds, oil light starts flashing

2. Followed by a buzzer from the instrumental cluster (3 times again)

3. Oil light continues to flash until the engine is then turned on. Then it stops.

I know that on most cars it does flash about 5 times to check everything is ok. My case does sound a tad bit worryin'.

P.s. - am i using the right oil type (as in the first post)?

Edited by kapur
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh dear, mine definatly doesn't do that! When i turn ignition on, all lights on the dash illuminate (but dont flash), then when I fire up, they all go out (except that ruddy coolant level light :reallymad: )

I know this sounds silly, but make sure you haven't got Diesel oil. It sounds like you have the right kinda oil though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers folks. Could everyone confirm if their oil light flashes when on ignition, and if so, for how long.

This is what exactly happens with me:

1. Turn on the ignition: after 3-5 seconds, oil light starts flashing

2. Followed by a buzzer from the instrumental cluster (3 times again)

3. Oil light continues to flash until the engine is then turned on. Then it stops.

I know that on most cars it does flash about 5 times to check everything is ok. My case does sound a tad bit worryin'.

P.s. - am i using the right oil type (as in the first post)?

that doesnt sound right to me

i only get the flashing and the buzzin if my batterys on the way out

about 3 seconds mine comes on for if that

little chris

xxx

Link to comment
Share on other sites

its definately not diesel oil. Any other ideas guys??? I'm going to take it to a mechanic asap. Hopefully an oil change will fix it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers folks. Could everyone confirm if their oil light flashes when on ignition, and if so, for how long.

This is what exactly happens with me:

1. Turn on the ignition: after 3-5 seconds, oil light starts flashing

2. Followed by a buzzer from the instrumental cluster (3 times again)

3. Oil light continues to flash until the engine is then turned on. Then it stops.

I know that on most cars it does flash about 5 times to check everything is ok. My case does sound a tad bit worryin'.

P.s. - am i using the right oil type (as in the first post)?

Thats an oil pressure/quantity warning, more pressure than quantity, but there closley linked. No oil in the car gives a oil pressure warning. - Id sudgest you dont start it as theres no oil in the car!

I think the sump is about between 3.5-4.5 litres (more like 7.5 pints) - Piss off boy'dup - 2 pints you running a dry sump or something? lol

Run fresh oil through the car, then add an engine flush, leave it running with the flush in for a good hour... there will be alot of gum built up from running with or very little or no oil. flush it out and then re add new oil. Put in a top end treatmant too, as the valvetrain wont be too happy with whats happened either. Also what you have to think is, if theres no oil... where has it gone? lupos arent oil hungry cars. If it had been serviced recently, you have lost a lot of oil somewhere. Check your rocker cover, gearbox seals and the back of your car for oily residue on the back.

Use a thin oil to get boundary lubrication back in to the close tollerance areas. i reccomend syntha gold 5W-30. If and only if you realise your burning oil form using a thin oil, then go up to a thicker weight.. Im not too sure on a recomendation there though... tigz?

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thats an oil pressure/quantity warning, more pressure than quantity, but there closley linked. No oil in the car gives a oil pressure warning. - Id sudgest you dont start it as theres no oil in the car!

I think the sump is about between 3.5-4.5 litres (more like 7.5 pints) - Piss off boy'dup - 2 pints you running a dry sump or something? lol

Run fresh oil through the car, then add an engine flush, leave it running with the flush in for a good hour... there will be alot of gum built up from running with or very little or no oil. flush it out and then re add new oil. Put in a top end treatmant too, as the valvetrain wont be too happy with whats happened either. Also what you have to think is, if theres no oil... where has it gone? lupos arent oil hungry cars. If it had been serviced recently, you have lost a lot of oil somewhere. Check your rocker cover, gearbox seals and the back of your car for oily residue on the back.

Use a thin oil to get boundary lubrication back in to the close tollerance areas. i reccomend syntha gold 5W-30. If and only if you realise your burning oil form using a thin oil, then go up to a thicker weight.. Im not too sure on a recomendation there though... tigz?

John

i drive a 1.0 and to fill the notch up top to bottom on the dipstick is less than 2 pints

little chris

xxx

Link to comment
Share on other sites

cheers casper/john. I think you've got it bang on. Thanks so much for the excellent information. Took the lupo to a mercedes specialist, who diagnosed it as exactly the same as you've mentioned.

Going to get the oil pressure switch done (new fitted), plus full oil flush and renew for £70 all in.

Thanks once again folks. Been really helpful. Cars going on tuesday. Thats one of many jobs going to be done.

Regards,

P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

quick update folks.... I had a mechanic check the car... After a full oil flush and change... (£80) To be told that the oil pressure switch was actually broken and the wire was grounded to the engine.

I've bought a new switch... To realise that the original switch was changed with some piece of rubbish that is approx 2mm bigger on the thread.

So now i have a brand new switch... Which doesn't fit since the hole is about 1-2mm larger.

Will this cause any major problems if i do get the new switch to fit with that white elasticy stuff? I.e. To make the new switch have a larger thread by using that stuff... Or what else can i do? I'm tired of seeing the oil light flash.

I'm tired of this car and want to get rid of it now. :-(

Hope help is at hand.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i had a view from another mechanic.. And he said that a larger oil pressure switch wouldn't fit. Since it'd actually break off the corner of the engine head, where it plugs in. So... He said that this is the original switch. Is that true????

But how come the switch on my engine is brown... Where as the original one that vw gave me (based on vin + engine number) is green? My mate has got the same engine in his 6n2, yet it has the green plug.

Whats the difference between the oil pressure switches? Apart from the actual diam. of the bolt on the end of these oil pressure switches?

P.s. Sorry.. Yeh, it was ptfe tape. I've dumped that idea, since apparently the oil pressure is high, so ptfe wouldn't work. Trying to source another original (i think) brown oem oil pressure switch. Don't know if they exist or if their original.

Edited by kapur
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The colours may have changed if they have slightly modified that pars since OEM.

Im trying to understand what you mean atm... so you can put the switch in, but the hole is too big and the threads dont meet? or you screw it in and it sticks out the hole a little bit? can yo screw it in tight?

Sorry im tired, it will probably make sence to me in the morning. Be a bit more precise if you could?

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.