Oil Issues

Pointing1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2009
Messages
137
Reaction score
0
So my oil indicator came on this morning while i was driving....now to the questions - how long in mileage/km should oil last, i also see there are some funny numbers/codes for the oils you can use - how does that work out which oil should i get, does it depend on make, engine or what....:confused:
 
AFAIK, the oil light indicates pressure and not the level as such. The new synthetic oils are normally good for around 15 000km in a petrol engine Diesel is much less - 5000km if I'm not mistaken. Older cars should have their oil changed more frequently though. The numbers indicate viscosity and operating temperature ranges, the owners manual will specify what oils to use.
 
Oil pressure???

Eish, if the oil light go on, it is actually too late already, Engine failure.
So immediately stop, check oil, and if its low, add, if it is high, and a lil whitish colour your gasket packed up, and you need to replace it asap. Never drive like that.
 
ummm - so just switched the ignition and funnily enough the oil indicator didn't come on...
 
If your oil light came on you should have stopped, opened the bonnet, pulled out the dipstick, wiped it clean on your pants, stuck it back in, waited a second or two, pulled it out and see what the level indicates. There are marks on it indicating the level and if there are no oil showing on the dipstick it means there is very little oil left in your engine, which is a very bad thing. Drive slowly to the nearest petrol station (if it is reasonable close by) and let them fill it for you. Now let them check your oil each time you fill up, your car deserves this....if it is losing oil but your driveway is still sparkly it is engine related and you are heading for a rebuild soon (your engine is worn out) or if there are huge oil marks where your car is dripping it is probably a seal or a gasket that went (again your engine needs attention), in both instances you can get away with just pouring in more oil, but in the end taking it out and fixing the problem is where you are heading.

GO home and offer a smallish chicken to the gods as penance for not letting the petrol station guys check your oil......
If you kept driving and then ALL the lights came on, then I am sorry, no size chicken will help you...let us know how it went with the oil (and the chicken if you want to)...
 
its a good idea to check your oil level every 1000km's ... cars do use oil and it all varies between various models. Some cars use oil very sparingly while others need a litre topup every 1000kms ...

now the question on the type of oil to use ... .again depends on the car ... fully synthetic oils are for high performance cars and you should NEVAAA put in anything other that in a high perforamnce car, your BMW M models etc fall into this category ... i recall also the corolla RXI's needing full synthetic oils ... your user manual on the car should indictae the type of oils recommended for your car
 
Last edited:
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X