Ford Mondeo OIL Sensors Do They Work?? [Archive]

BYALPHAINDIA

25-11-2008, 1:12 AM

I am a long time 'FORD' Driver, And I have noticed & experienced an engine seizure on the first Mondeo I had.

The OIL Sensors on the 3 Mondeos I have had have never worked, To the effect of showing low OIL.

I am now on my 4th Mondeo and I checked the OIL the other day, And it is ok, But I can hear a 'tapping' sound as though it has not got enough OIL in to lubricate the Piston 'Bottom' Ends??

Is this a 'Design' fault with the Mondeo, Or is it just the age of the cars eg 8/10 years old??

I will never forget the engine seizure I had on my first Mondeo, No OIL light came on and I didn't realise the engine was low on OIL the engine seized in a spectacular and noisy fashion!!!.

The sensor did not tell me that the engine needed more OIL!!

On the Mondeo you have to be very careful what 'Viscosity' of the OIL you use, It is the 'Synthetic' on the Zetec engine.

Has anyone else had any similar problem, Or noticed that their OIL sensor is not working to show No OIL??

Any Garage Men/Women know the answer??

Many Thanks.

Conor

25-11-2008, 1:17 AM

OH MY GOD. An 8-10 year old Mondeo doesn't have an oil sensor. In fact, neither do any MK1, MK2 or MK3 so that's not one single Mondeo with an oil level sensor from 1993 when they were introduced up to at least 2007. I don't know if the MK4 has.

THE OIL LIGHT IS TO TELL YOU THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE, NOT THAT THERE IS NO OIL.
THAT IS WHAT THE DIPSTICK IN THE ENGINE BAY IS FOR.

If you'd actually bothered reading the manual, you'd have known this. Jesus H Christ, it's hardly a secret. By the time the light comes on, the damage has been done.

That tapping sound is actually the hydraulic tappets and it's common for a Mondeo to do it when they start to get near 100,000 miles, especially if they've been owned by someone who thinks the oil pressure warning light is a low oil level light.

anewman

25-11-2008, 1:33 AM

The light should come on when the car is being started, and then go out when sufficient oil pressure is reached to put it out. This shows that it is working. As it's an oil pressure switch and not a level sensor you'll find that the oil will be way long gone off the bottom of the dipstick before the light comes on, and when/if that light comes on you need to pull over immediately. Red light means danger!

I'd have thought you'd be a bit more careful about this having previously killed a car due to lack of oil. Check that dipstick every week or two!!

harveybobbles

25-11-2008, 8:27 AM

They have an oil pressue sensor which is crap and fails left, right and centre, but never heard of an oil level sensor, like BMW's and most VAG stuff...

kaya

25-11-2008, 8:34 AM

what connor said but a little more tactfull

Tally-Ho

25-11-2008, 10:20 AM

On the Mondeo you have to be very careful what 'Viscosity' of the OIL you use, It is the 'Synthetic' on the Zetec engine.

It doesn't have to be synthetic, it can use a semi synthetic - I have taken this from my dad's Mondeo handbook

''Ford recommend 5W-30 Semi-synthetic for the Zetec (now Duratec) engines, such as Ford's own Formula E 5W-30 semi-synthetic oil or equivalent oil to the same Ford specification''.

Also as posted above, I maybe a humble female but even I know, the oil light is for oil pressure and not to tell you to top it up.

Tally.

espresso

25-11-2008, 11:34 AM

Is this a 'Design' fault with the Mondeo, Or is it just the age of the cars eg 8/10 years old??

No it's the nut behind the wheel that is at fault!

:rolleyes:

Conor

25-11-2008, 1:35 PM

Also as posted above, I maybe a humble female but even I know, the oil light is for oil pressure and not to tell you to top it up.

Tally.

As does my missus, my mum, my mates other halfs and pretty much every woman I know. So it isn't a "woman driver" issue.

Tallymanjohn

25-11-2008, 3:33 PM

None of the car's I've had with oil level sensors use a warning light, they give you an actual 'oil ok' 'oil low' warning via the computer display. As has been mentioned, Fords seem to have been pretty slow on implementing level sensors - not too sure if my wife's '06 Focus even has it. The first car I had it on was a '97 Vauxhall Omega & it was a bit of a novelty then as I know my mate's Mondeo Ghia didn't have the same facility. And, to be honest, I still occasionally 'dip' the oil when topping up screenwash etc. - I work with computers so I know not to trust them completely.

Anyway, as has been suggested, all owners should at least take a bit of time to RTFM (Read The Flipping Manual)

jaydeeuk1

25-11-2008, 4:11 PM

Parents 97 megane has an oil sensor with on screen display. Even so they don't trust the french electrics and always check the stick manually.

vikingaero

25-11-2008, 4:55 PM

Lots of French cars have this as standard. BMW now have it on some of their car. Fords generally have never had it. The oil can light is the low oil presure warning light.

molerat

25-11-2008, 5:26 PM

My old 1985 Talbot Horizon had it too, never had it on a car since !!

molerat

25-11-2008, 5:30 PM

I agree with Conor, he's got a point http://1person1million.com/img/824/r08c1006bidc/biggrin.gif
Yes but .......

Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.

:D

goldspanners

25-11-2008, 6:13 PM

this is a frightening post,its happened to the op before and they still havent learnt thier lesson.
any vehicle with oil level sensors has only shown oil level before engine start up,never whilst driving as this would be impossible to work out as all the oil isnt in the sump.

check the dipstick. (never been more aptly named :D )

BYALPHAINDIA

25-11-2008, 9:35 PM

And your perfect are you???

hewhoisnotintheknow

25-11-2008, 10:20 PM

my golf has problems with reporting levels

Keith

25-11-2008, 10:34 PM

And your perfect are you???

After it's happened to you once, you think you'd learn to avoid a second engine failure.

The knocking you hear is probably the start of big end failure and the end of another Mondeo for you.

Do you do any of the routine checks on your vehicle or just drive it to that special "service" day when you have an MOT test?

Contessa

25-11-2008, 11:04 PM

My Peugeot has an oil sensor. I frequently check the actual dipstick levels against the dashboard ones and they seem to be the same. As I drove away from work this evening the display signalled a problem with the oil level/pressure and told me to stop. I turned engine off. Restarted. Display indicated max oil level but still warning sign. Turned engine off again. Checked dipstick-full. Restarted engine. AOK.

BYALPHAINDIA

25-11-2008, 11:13 PM

Keith

25-11-2008, 11:31 PM

The light is for low pressure, on the Fiesta it's for low pressure.

The Oil Pressure Warning Light works fine and has no known problems.

There is a known user problem with the Oil Low Level Warning Line on the Dipstick.

Once the Oil Pressure warning light comes on, damage has been done.

Your car probably doesn't need a top up because it's not burning a massive amount of oil.

anewman

25-11-2008, 11:51 PM

I don't believe in the 'Phrase' it's too late once the light has come on, That's standard 'Garage' talk - To get more money for a new engine, That may not be required anyway??

Well if you need a new engine you need a new engine. You have experienced the effects of oil starvation once. The max and min levels are marked on the dipstick for a reason. The dipstick is there for you to check. Driving around waiting for the oil light to come on, without checking on the dipstick is asking for trouble.

waynedance

25-11-2008, 11:52 PM

I have a Mondeo Zetec and have had it 6.5 years and driven over 70,000 miles (total now 97k) my car does not use any oil between oil changes which i do every 5000 miles.

there is no warning light for low oil & it does not have tappets, are you sure the noise is not the fuel rail as this makes a similar tapping sound.

As said use 5/30 semi synthetic oil only, the zetec has narrow oil ways using thicker oil will damage engine.

If you never check your oil then you should sell your car (if still running) and get a bus pass, cheaper than new engine every so many thousand miles.

ariba10

25-11-2008, 11:58 PM

If it is too much trouble for you to check the oil level you deserve all you get.

When the oil pressure warning light comes on, damage has been done.

iB1

26-11-2008, 9:38 AM

I have owned 3 Ford Sierras, And they ALWAYS had an OIL light that came on to tell you the level was getting low.

No - you have owned 3 Ford Sierras which ALWAYS had an OIL light that came on to tell you the oil pressure was getting low

Also on the Ford Fiesta, That would occasionally come on and pre-warn you, No problems would 'top it up'Why don't you check your oil level more frequently? Then you wouldn't have to wait for the oil light

I don't believe in the 'Phrase' it's too late once the light has come on, That's standard 'Garage' talk - To get more money for a new engine, That may not be required anyway??ROFL - what happened to your Mondeo that went bang then? Remind me to never buy a used car from you! :eek:

hewhoisnotintheknow

26-11-2008, 9:47 AM

luckily ive never seen an oil light as i check my car over every couple of days

HOWEVER

surely it would be a better design to warn you before 'any damage is done' otherwise its pretty pointless

goldspanners

26-11-2008, 8:00 PM

Everything is checked at least once a week.

It is not knocking, I would put it down to the 'Tappetts', Which is common in the Mondeo.

I was just a bit suspicous about it making the noise.

The OIL level is sufficient.

I am baffled as to how long it can go without an OIL 'Top up'

Hence my initial question = Does the Ford Mondeo have a design fault with the OIL light??

A friend has a newer Mondeo, And he also said that he can't understand why it never needs an OIL 'Top up'??

I have owned 3 Ford Sierras, And they ALWAYS had an OIL light that came on to tell you the level was getting low.

Also on the Ford Fiesta, That would occasionally come on and pre-warn you, No problems would 'top it up'

I don't believe in the 'Phrase' it's too late once the light has come on, That's standard 'Garage' talk - To get more money for a new engine, That may not be required anyway??

the light on your sierras and your fiesta were all oil PRESSURE lights, not oil LEVEL lights. 2 different things.
if you check your oil every week then how did you manage to sieze the last engine in the last mondeo?
leaving the oil until the light comes on is tempting fate.
i dont understand why its so baffling that your car doesnt use any oil. some things just happen, i would be more worried if it was using a lot of oil.

BYALPHAINDIA

26-11-2008, 9:01 PM

if you check your oil every week then how did you manage to sieze the last engine in the last mondeo?

I was unfortunate with the 1st Mondeo, I checked the car every week, And 'Topped up' sufficiently.

It was my 1st Mondeo, After driving the Sierra for many years.

In my view the Sierra had a 'Stronger' Engine, The mondeo's seem a bit more 'Engine Sensitive' eg - You can only put a certain Viscosity in the Engine.

It's a few years ago, Since the Mondeo Engine Seizure, I think the OIL I put in was too thick?? I can't exactly remember the details.

Luckily the Mondeo only cost me 160.00 so I got a year out of it, Before the seizure.

You can't buy a set of tryres for that!!

The Sierra's were good strong workhorses, But on the down side the Cylinder Heads blew once or twice.

They (Garages) do say that the Mondeo is not as easy to work on as it's older stalwart - The Sierra??

anewman

26-11-2008, 9:13 PM

They (Garages) do say that the Mondeo is not as easy to work on as it's older stalwart - The Sierra??
In general older cars are easier to work on - and don't think there's any garages that would disagree. The manufacturers would probably say this is because of technological advancements. I'd be a bit cynical and say they sometimes try to make things as difficult as possible in the hope of creating more work for their own dealerships.

You still can't put any old oil in a Sierra and have to check the viscosity before pouring in, so not sure what is different?! The user manual is your friend :)

anewman

26-11-2008, 10:08 PM

It could be worse... http://www.mustangforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368307 :D

goldspanners

27-11-2008, 7:30 PM

It could be worse... http://www.mustangforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368307 :D

at first i thought surelyt that was a joke, but then i thought,wait a minute, its america,of course its true!:eek:

goldspanners

27-11-2008, 7:34 PM

In my view the Sierra had a 'Stronger' Engine, The mondeo's seem a bit more 'Engine Sensitive' eg - You can only put a certain Viscosity in the Engine.

They (Garages) do say that the Mondeo is not as easy to work on as it's older stalwart - The Sierra??

i wouldnt say the engine in the sierra was stronger, i would say it was less refined. easier to work on yes,like every car was back then. but as anewman said its all about preserving work for manufacturers dealerships.
your sierra would have had a specific oil to use aswell.