LOW (NO!!) OIL

[zebedee]

Just had a great 275 mile drive to tuck my car up in my dad's garage for the winter and hopefully so if there are a few nice days over christmas I can take her out on some Lakeland passes.

On doing a general checkover though - wiped the dipstick, put it back in and - nothing - not a smidgeon of dampness or trace of oil on it. The journey was fine, temperatures were spot on and performance was sparkling as usual. What is this all about - obviously I will fill up with oil (what type for the 111s folks??) and keep an eye on it but how can no oil at all show?

There are still plenty of evidence of oil under the filler cap and the coolant water is fine.

[Bonce]

zebedee said:

how can no oil at all show?

Err... you have no oil in your engine!

Not good. Whip the undertray off and see if it's covered in oil. If it is, take a look inside the engine bay from underneath and see where the drips are coming from.

Out of interest, how often do you check your fluid levels?

In answer to your question of what brand of oil to put in, brand is fairly unimportant so long as:

a) it's not Tesco blue stripe
b) you don't mix semi synthetic with fully synthetic.

So you should endeavour to discover exactly what brand/type of oil was put in at the last oil change and match it. If you cannot determine that, then the safest thing to do is drain the system and refill with completely fresh oil.

I always use Mobil-1, but some people would describe that as overkill.

[zebedee]

how does one 'whip the undertray' off?

wouldn't the engine seize pretty quickly without oil?

PS - I clearly do not check fluid levels often enough - something I shall address from now on!

[Bonce]

IIRC you need a 5mm allen key for four bolts (same as the one that tensions the roof) and ratchet spanner (can't remember size but easy to work out) for the rest. If you're going to do any serious looking underneath you'll need to get the car up on ramps/axel stands or over a pit.

[dragstar]

i also use mobil-1.

(not that its any help).

[zebedee]

as of today, so am I - phoned the garage and thats what they used, not that it looks like there is much to mix! £35 for 4 litres - ouch!

Will take undertray off and clean, fill her up and take her for a spin, then remove undertray and see if any fresh loss of oil.

I'm still at a loss as to why it seemed to run perfectly fine without oil in the sump - could it just be that I have caught it in the nick of time - but even then surely the oil pressure light would have come into play?

Confused

[Bonce]

I think I read somewhere that the oil pressure light doesn't come on until it's too late. The engine will still have some oil running round it even when it's not showing on the dipstick.

How's your coolant?

[zebedee]

Its fine - level is ok, perfect colour, take the cap off and all is perfect.

Looks like there is only just enough to ensure continued running then - I am lucky! Will definitely check more often that 4-5 months (I know, I know) in future! Will top her up at the weekend and see how it goes.

[Bonce]

4-5 months!

If we're talking that kind of time frame then you probably don't even have a leak, and it can be put down to normal oil consumption.

I won't lecture.

Edit: But I can't resist saying:

>> Edited by Bonce on Wednesday 3rd December 16:59

[NDT]

Bonce said:

I think I read somewhere that the oil pressure light doesn't come on until it's too late. The engine will still have some oil running round it even when it's not showing on the dipstick. How's your coolant?

good point - you can get higher limit sensors so the light comes on with more warning,not sure whether they're any use

[andygo]

I had my 1st service on my new 111s. The esso Ultron oil was only £45 + VAT. The 2 (2!!) units of screenwash came to only £4.50.

I had to be attend the local casualty department to have the stitches removed from my botty.

[dragstar]

i know we are not suppose to plug companies but COSTCO, will sell you mobil-1 (4 litres) for less than £30 inc VAT.



i've bought so much, im tempted to use some as a sex aid or trade some in for jaffa cakes or even stella.

[malbon]

I've been using Castrol Magnatec for the past 10K. Have just switched to fully synthetic (Millers Oil) which is wholly recommended by everyone I've talked to. Run's like a dream.

I had the garage flush the old oil out with some erm....flush stuff as well !!

[iwilson]

The engine won't necessary go bang straight away, but you could easily have damaged bearings, rings etc. If it starts blowing smoke when you've topped it up...

[zebedee]

wouldn't it have run hot before it was doing any damage?

[zebedee]

well - filled her up and all is well - i have learnt my lesson though!

[fergusd]

The dipstick only measures to top litre of oil in the sump, when nothing is seen on the dipstick there may still be 3.5 litres in the sump, don't conclude (completely incorrectly) that no oil on the dipdtick == no oil in the engine.

Anyways . . . as you now know you chould check the oil level frequently, as the engine can use a litre in only a few thousand miles depending on usage.

Fd

[tyresmoke]

it's a common misconception that the oil light indicates a low oil level...

it dosen't...

it indicates low oil PRESSURE which may have to get as low as 5 psi before the 'warning' light comes on (i.e., you're engine is seriously b*ggered already)