Engine oil level - hate electronic dipstic- am I a dipstick?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GrahamV

Clan
Thanks for your very comprehensive reply. I have driven about 50 miles since adding the oil, and no warning lights since, thank goodness.
You are of course absolutely right, I should have have waited longer before I added the second half litre. It was one of those stupid moments, when I didn't think it through (I was the dipstick!). On reflection, there was no major risk, as I had checked that nothing was leaking out below, and had the oil been dangerously low, I am sure the dashboard warning would have been more frantic than cautionary.

I called the AA today and they said, like you, that I would have had a warning if it is too high.

Thanks very much for your help
Graham

That's ok ... Presumably your gauge is reading MAX now .

But why was the level low ?
Recently had an oil change and they did not put enough in?

Not checked it for ages and it was low ?
No leaks ?
Over due for service ?
Can't think of any other reason other than consuming oil ...!

[AngryScot]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

If all the oil fell out as soon as you started moving you would have driven 20 miles on no oil potentially causing massive damage to the engine, that's the trouble with these electronic dipsticks.

You don't need any sort of dipstick to know when you're driving an engine without any oil, you'll very quickly realise something isn't right...

You'd probably get a raft of warning lights too, I had a car dump engine oil on the motorway once and the dash was like a Christmas Tree.

[GrahamV]

Clan
Yes you are right on all accounts - the gauge is at maximum now.
And I am well overdue an oil change - I last changed it about 18 months ago, and have done about 11,000 miles since. I haven't topped it up since then at all and stupidly, I haven't checked it regularly, but now learnt my lesson!
As I recall, it wasn't quite up to maximum when I changed it last, as I was frightened of overfilling.
There appear to be no leaks.

Thanks very much - much appreciated, Graham

[poiuytre111]

Must admit that I do not trust/like electronic dipsticks.
I think they measure changes in the head of pressure from somewhere near the bottom of the sump. So if you start with the correct of oil, it will tell you if the volume in the engine changes from changes to this pressure.
This assumes that you start (or reset) when the oil level is correct. I am also aware that overfilling can cause trouble and should be avoided.