No oil on dipstick but no warning light?

kuepper

I don't use car much and don't check things out as often as I should but just got MOT and no problemss except it said ' oil leak' on advisory. No warning light has shown up but checked oil when I got home and couldn't see anything at all on dipstick! Put 2 litres in and still nothing showing, how can that be? I don't know whether to put more in or just book it into a garage to sort out. It's an old Fiesta and capacity should be 3.5 litres according to manual

facade

The warning light may be broken or disconnected because of low oil pressure from the last time it was run out of oil.


You might not see clean oil on the dipstick-


Wipe the dipstick clean on one paper towel, put it in fully, and pull out, then place it flat on a clean piece of paper towel/white paper to blot any oil off, and see where the clear mark reaches.


Top it up to the max mark, and then check it every hundred miles to see how much it is using.

kuepper

"You might not see clean oil on the dipstick"


Aah I was expecting to see dirty oil! my 69yo eyes can see the new oil now, it's fine! Thanks for advice

Norman_Castle

Its likely the oil light is an oil pressure light rather than oil level. Use the dipstick regularly to avoid ruining your engine.

motorguy

kuepper wrote: »

I don't use car much and don't check things out as often as I should but just got MOT and no problemss except it said ' oil leak' on advisory. No warning light has shown up but checked oil when I got home and couldn't see anything at all on dipstick! Put 2 litres in and still nothing showing, how can that be? I don't know whether to put more in or just book it into a garage to sort out. It's an old Fiesta and capacity should be 3.5 litres according to manual

As per Normans response it will be an oil pressure light, not an oil low warning light.

If you consult the manual, it will tell you how and when to check your oil.

Relying on a light on the dash to come on (particularly one that by the time it comes on is actually saying the engine is being starved of oil) is not a good idea.

Ganga

If the oil pressure warning light comes on when you are driving and you continue driving the engine is finished.

System

Very few cars have a low oil level warning light, those that do tend to be higher end cars.

EssexExile

kuepper wrote: »

"...my 69yo eyes can see the new oil now....

There was an article in the paper this week about older drivers with eyesight so bad they shouldn't be driving.:D

Head_The_Ball

EssexExile wrote: »

There was an article in the paper this week about older drivers with eyesight so bad they shouldn't be driving.:D

Unfortunately those older drivers whose poor eyesight badly affects their driving can't read the articles advising them not to drive either.

:whistle: