Oil Oil warning light

[Speedy471]

At work at the moment so can't verify what i read on another site. It said that the 2.2 diesel does not have a low oil/pressure warning light. Is this true, and if so how often should I be checking the oil level? On my old petrol car it used very little oil therefore rarely checked the level inbetween services.

[lobey dosser]

I would be very surprised if any car did not have a low oil pressure warning - gauge or light. If the oil pressure drops dramatically you need to know about it pronto! The pressure warning light is very much a "stop the engine NOW" indicator.

In any case, I would never rely on a low PRESSURE light to remind me to add oil. It's there to tell you that your engine is in danger of wrecking itself through lack of oil pressure. If it has got to that stage because of a SHORTAGE of oil (as opposed to a faulty oil pump or such) then you've neglected the poor old thing pretty badly.

To be on the safe side, check the dipstick every week or go with the Honda manual which advises checking it when filling with fuel. On my diesel that's about fortnightly, which seems fine.

I think there may be a low oil LEVEL light, but, even there, I'd feel I'd been a bit negligent if I hadn't noticed it needed oil before that came on.

[TTDegs]

according to the manual (pages 461 and 462) we have both.

There is the oil PRESSURE warning (which is the little red oil can which is briefly displayed when you turn the ignition on). If this comes on whilst driving, STOP!
When is comes on as a warning, you will ALSO get the same 'oil can' picture in the centre display thing (where it says other things like 'no fuel' and 'its cold outside') etc

There is also the oil LEVEL warning.
This doesn't get it's own little light on the dash, but it does pop up in the multi function display thing, in the same way as the pressure warning does.
The only visual difference is that the LEVEL warning is an oil can with a squigily line under it

The manual then refers to 'how to check your oil levels' in both diesel and petrol engines, so it would seem to imply that we all get both type of warning

But as lobey says, checking is better than waiting for the light to come on

[Speedy471]

Thanks guys. Just read about it last night on the honest john website that it had neither. Thought it would of been stupid!

[NEEMSTAR]

honda should provide a oil level guage so you can keep an eye on it all the time, not when its too late

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by NEEMSTAR

honda should provide a oil level guage so you can keep an eye on it all the time, not when its too late

like, say, the dipstick?

Know what you mean though - I remember (oh eck, old git quote coming!) the days when cars had a oil pressure guage as standard...

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by NEEMSTAR

honda should provide a oil level guage so you can keep an eye on it all the time, not when its too late

Didn't they start doing these for the BMW Mini as an optional extra - Looked strange, but mighty useful!

[Unknownsoldier]

I would have one if it wasn't an aftermarket (i.e. non honda thing), they do them in Halfords in the same section as the turbo dials etc. etc.

Tom

[uncler]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

like, say, the dipstick?

Know what you mean though - I remember (oh eck, old git quote coming!) the days when cars had a oil pressure guage as standard...

Ha! Yes, my old Corolla GTi had an oil pressure gauge (v useful) and voltmeter (not so useful). Either way, a dashboard with lots of gauges = cool in my eyes!

[TTDegs]

you can never have too many dials!

[sallytraffic]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

you can never have too many dials!

So Pottsy must be in heaven

[NEEMSTAR]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

like, say, the dipstick?

Know what you mean though - I remember (oh eck, old git quote coming!) the days when cars had a oil pressure guage as standard...

yeah sometimes im too lazy to check the dipstick though

[Unknownsoldier]

Well, while thinking of it, I went down and checked my oil, not a drop used in 5 month and 6000miles, well happy!

Tom

[Speedy471]

Yeah checked my oil recently too. Apart from being very dark (diesel) the level was pretty much on the max. Good stuff.

[ctrdaveg]

Originally Posted by NEEMSTAR

honda should provide a oil level guage so you can keep an eye on it all the time, not when its too late

Very supprised that Honda haven''t done what VW do. My old car was a diesel Bora and the light came on as amber when the oil was low on the dipstick and apparently turns red when you need to stop and panic

I never let oil get low anyway, i always check it every fortnight as a religion

[Tunnelboy]

Originally Posted by Speedy471

At work at the moment so can't verify what i read on another site. It said that the 2.2 diesel does not have a low oil/pressure warning light. Is this true, and if so how often should I be checking the oil level? On my old petrol car it used very little oil therefore rarely checked the level inbetween services.

Hi Speedy471....they have both but if you follow the Honda line of checking every 600 to 800 miles you wont ever see the low oil level light on and if it comes on and the oil level is correct take it to your dealer for a fix...Regards Pete

p.s If the oil pressure light comes on whilst your driving its probably to late !!