[FrankstaH]

Hi guys,

This morning was probably the coldest morning i've ever had to drive my car!

About 10 mins after i started driving (the engine still wasn't at full temp) i heard the ding noise (the noise you get when petrol light comes on etc) so i looked down but nothing was there... as i turnt a bend, i heard it again - so i quickly looked down just to see the Oil Warning light briefly disappear?

I've previously been in my friends car when the light has came on, and it stayed on.

So my question is, why did mine come on but then go away? The rest of the journey it was fine, it didn't come on... but i could smell sort of a plasticy melting smelly every nown and then.

The funny thing is i actually bought oil yesterdy, and had it in my car this morning as im going to check at lunch.

How much oil do i need to put in to top it up if it is low (litres) ?

Cheers guys

 

[brian mc21]

You must need to top it up. It's coming on as the oil goes below the level as you drive and it moves from side to side in the sump. Check it by the dipstick to see how low it is and buy the amount you need. So if it's well down you will need more than a litre although if your due an oil change I wouldn't bring it right up on the stick as you will be changing it anyway.

 

[shaunwistow]

Mine came on last year. I put in half a litre & it was fine after that. I mentioned it to Honda when it went in for its service about 3 months later. They said it was not unusual to "burn" up oil & sometie a little top up is required.

 

[FrankstaH]

cheers guys, i'll whack in a litre at lunch today (depending on how far down the stick is)

 

[shaunwistow]

cheers guys, i'll whack in a litre at lunch today (depending on how far down the stick is)

If the light only flickered on & off then that would probably suggest that it is only just below the required level. I would not put as much as a litre in.

 

[misterk]

To take the stick from min to max is one litre of oil, it's designed so when it hits minimum the engine still has 3 litres of oil in it to prevent damage

 

[FrankstaH]

right so put about half a litre in for now just to top it up?

 

[shaunwistow]

right so put about half a litre in for now just to top it up?

Yep, check the dip stick 1st & make sure the car is on level ground

 

[FrankstaH]

Yep, check the dip stick 1st & make sure the car is on level ground

its in my office car park and has been cooling down since 8am - so at 1pm i shall be going down! (I can't check oil at home as the ground is not level)

cheers dude

 

[misterk]

right so put about half a litre in for now just to top it up?

Yea Only half a litre as to much oil costs just as much £££ as not enough oil, and yea make sure the car is level

 

[NighthawkES]

its in my office car park and has been cooling down since 8am - so at 1pm i shall be going down! (I can't check oil at home as the ground is not level)

cheers dude

Oil should be up to temperature to give an accurate reading on your dip stick... Not cold.

 

[FrankstaH]

Oil should be up to temperature to give an accurate reading on your dip stick... Not cold.

Really? I didn't think it made a difference... as long as the car has been level for a long amount of time so that you can get an accurate reading!?

 

[mpn_daedalus]

Really? I didn't think it made a difference... as long as the car has been level for a long amount of time so that you can get an accurate reading!?

Yup, oil has to be warm when measuring. Oil expands when it gets warmer so if you fill to the max when cold there's a chance that it will be overfilled when it warms up.

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk

 

[F6HAD]

Probably a combination of low oil level and extreme low temperature which caused the oil pressure to drop below acceptable threshold for a momentary blip.

Ensure you are using correct oil (especially in these cold snaps) and as the guys have said, make sure it's on a level ground when you check it.

 

[FrankstaH]

What would happen if i put too much oil in?

 

[NighthawkES]

You can end up with high oil pressue that can put pressure on oil seals. Not good results. Always better to have slightly too little than too much. Once many moons ago I over filled an old austin montego and it blew the oil seal and ended up with oil getting into the clutch bell housing!!! Not good!