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

[GrahamV]

I was driving my diesel 2011 C70 today and a warning light came on saying "Low engine oil", or something similar.
I stopped nervously at the first petrol station and checked my electronic dipstick which showed only about a quarter reading on the illuminated scale.

I bought a litre of oil, and put half in the engine, and then ran the engine for a minute or two, switched off and checked the electronic dipstick but that showed no change. I now realise, the engine was probably not on for long enough.
I was worried, a long way from home, and in a rush so put the other half litre in. Of course still no change on the electronic reading.
I drove off nervously and was delighted the original low oil warning didn't re-appear.

Here's my questions - Now I am nervous that maybe I put too much oil in. Would I receive a warning if its too high?
I can't find any information about the calibration of the scale on the electronic display - any idea how much oil I would need with the scale originally at only about one quarter? Would one litre with that reading likely to do damage?

Many thanks, Graham

[canis]

OMG!! Whatever next? Of all the daft ideas.

Dude, I'm so sorry. Thanks for the 'heads up'. This would be a deal-breaker for me. Shame on you, Volvo. Shame.

[scoobysn7x]

I hate having no dipstick, it not just not being able to check the level of the oil that's annoying but the fact you cant see the condition of the oil, the level on my electronic level says its fine, but over the last few weeks the engine has gotten a little nosier, I suspect the dealer I brought it from did not do the oil change they said they were going to, but I can't even check what the condition (how black) the oil is, so I'm going to bite the bullet and just get it changed. I'm sure it must be more expensive to put the electrical sensors and display in than just adding a dipstick, it baffles me why they did it!.

[GrahamV]

Scoobysn
How do you plan going about the oil change? When I did mine, whilst I obviously knew the oil capacity, I guessed I was not going to drain every drop of oil. I used an old plastic biscuit tin to drain into. I had previously marked the side with calibrations every half litre or so (by filling using a bottle with water).
So that way, I knew exactly what had come out. Otherwise I was worried I might over fill.
Bring back the old fashioned dipstick!

Graham

[scoobysn7x]

Not risking doing it myself, so will be getting a garage to do it, there is apparently a technician dipstick, that can be used to check level, but can I bollocks find it, might to be low down at the front of the engine but I can't for the life of me see it :-(

[pagan8c]

As I don't do anything technical or mechanical with the engine it makes no difference to me . I am quite happy to check the oil via the digital method and when it needs a service and oil change then the dealer does it. If something goes wrong it is under warranty. I suspect a lot of new cars use electronic oil levels and don't have a dipstick.My last 3 cars didn't have 1. I don't do high mileage so it doesn't have the same effect on me I suppose.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GrahamV

I was driving my diesel 2011 C70 today and a warning light came on saying "Low engine oil", or something similar.
I stopped nervously at the first petrol station and checked my electronic dipstick which showed only about a quarter reading on the illuminated scale.

I bought a litre of oil, and put half in the engine, and then ran the engine for a minute or two, switched off and checked the electronic dipstick but that showed no change. I now realise, the engine was probably not on for long enough.
I was worried, a long way from home, and in a rush so put the other half litre in. Of course still no change on the electronic reading.
I drove off nervously and was delighted the original low oil warning didn't re-appear.

Here's my questions - Now I am nervous that maybe I put too much oil in. Would I receive a warning if its too high?
I can't find any information about the calibration of the scale on the electronic display - any idea how much oil I would need with the scale originally at only about one quarter? Would one litre with that reading likely to do damage?

Many thanks, Graham

Yes you will receive a warning if it is too high or too low , the later cars tell you how much to add.
The display takes 20 miles to update ...
The best way would have been to add 1/2 litre of oil and driven about 20 miles and seen the new current gauge reading .
Not sure how many miles you have driven now , but have you had any more warnings and what does the gauge read ?

You can't really tell by the blackness of the oil how old it is , A new sump of oil will be black almost immediately once started after mixing with the old oil left around in the engine.

If you change your own oil , you will need to add 5.7 litres after draining the old oil . Use 0w/30 A5/B5 ( Assuming you have the 5 cylinder diesel )

The volvo diagnostics in the dealer is much more comprehensive it gives a live reading of the oil level once it gets over 60C .( correct reading = 70% ) They reset the gauge after adding the oil , this gives an instant MAX reading when you take it away even if the level is incorrect, after 20 miles you get the actual reading which will be MAX of course if they have put the correct amount of oil in ...

The grey dipstick on the edge of the sump is reached from underneath with the tray off on a lift . Level must be half way up the mark on the dipstick when cold .

Even oil changing is a specialised job these days !

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Clan

Yes you will receive a warning if it is too high or too low , the later cars tell you how much to add.
The display takes 20 miles to update ...
The best way would have been to add 1/2 litre of oil and driven about 20 miles and seen the new current gauge reading .
Not sure how many miles you have driven now , but have you had any more warnings and what does the gauge read ?

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.

[Clan]

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.

possibly yes , but there would be a huge pool of oil in the garage who changed the oil or on your drive ... Can't say i have ever heard of a problem like that .. I'm sure if the oil level sensor suddenly could not get an oil level reading due to an empty sump it would warn you about it , these cars are clever software wise .

[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