Pug 205 GTi 1.6 - interesting lights on the dash..
Discussion
Hi fellow appreciators of the combustion cycle, I have recently (3 hours ago 
) purchased the aforementioned car, and it seems to have a problem whereby when a corner of reasonable for force is taken ie one of those mini roundabouts the oil pressure warning guage comes on - I think it's being starved of oil but it doesn't sound like it is...any clues? the dipstick is missing so I can't check the level but I did put a litre in just in case
) purchased the aforementioned car, and it seems to have a problem whereby when a corner of reasonable for force is taken ie one of those mini roundabouts the oil pressure warning guage comes on - I think it's being starved of oil but it doesn't sound like it is...any clues? the dipstick is missing so I can't check the level but I did put a litre in just in case 
If its the oil pressure warning light, then as Stone says, you are low on oil.
If it was low on brake fluid (equally worrying), the brake warning light would light up.
CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDATELY - YOU ARE POTENTIALLY WRECKING THE ENGINE!!
By the time it starts making horrible noises or seizing, the damage will have been done and you are looking at a replacement engine.
If you must continue driving it without a dipstick, then adding 1 litre of oil should be OK to stop the surge starvation without risking overfilling, but it really isn't a good idea. Alternatively, drain the remaining oil, then refil with the correct total quantity of oil for the engine.
edited to add: don't want to worry you, but if your new purchase has been run by the sort of brainless Chav who is prepared to run it without a dipstick and low on oil, prepare for problems. It has probably seen some serious mechanical abuse and lack of servicing.
>> Edited by Martin_S on Friday 31st December 13:02
If it was low on brake fluid (equally worrying), the brake warning light would light up.
CEASE AND DESIST IMMEDATELY - YOU ARE POTENTIALLY WRECKING THE ENGINE!!
By the time it starts making horrible noises or seizing, the damage will have been done and you are looking at a replacement engine.
If you must continue driving it without a dipstick, then adding 1 litre of oil should be OK to stop the surge starvation without risking overfilling, but it really isn't a good idea. Alternatively, drain the remaining oil, then refil with the correct total quantity of oil for the engine.
edited to add: don't want to worry you, but if your new purchase has been run by the sort of brainless Chav who is prepared to run it without a dipstick and low on oil, prepare for problems. It has probably seen some serious mechanical abuse and lack of servicing.
>> Edited by Martin_S on Friday 31st December 13:02
Sounds like it is extremely low on oil.
The oil presure light does NOT measure the oil level. it measures the pressure. It is possible to have oil well below the mark on the dipstick, and not have the lamp light up, providing there is sufficient pressure to keep the engine happy(ish, it will get hotter though, and the lamp may come on when hot)
Since it is coming on when going round corners i would guess that the oil is so low, that cornering sloshes it to one side and the pick up is no longer submerged, and for second there is no oil in the oilways.
This is not good.
The oil presure light does NOT measure the oil level. it measures the pressure. It is possible to have oil well below the mark on the dipstick, and not have the lamp light up, providing there is sufficient pressure to keep the engine happy(ish, it will get hotter though, and the lamp may come on when hot)
Since it is coming on when going round corners i would guess that the oil is so low, that cornering sloshes it to one side and the pick up is no longer submerged, and for second there is no oil in the oilways.
This is not good.
Yep, what Chris says is spot on - the oil level is so low that it is surging clear of the pickup on corners, so the oil pump is trying to lubricate your engine with fresh air.
Remember that the oil pressure light on production cars doesn't light until a very low pressure (3 to 5 PSI, quite often), to avoid it coming on at idle with a slightly worn engine. So, if it is lighting up on corners, the chances are that it is running with badly aerated oil at fairly low pressure for several seconds afterwards, as you put your foot on the gas to accelerate out.
Very bad news...
Remember that the oil pressure light on production cars doesn't light until a very low pressure (3 to 5 PSI, quite often), to avoid it coming on at idle with a slightly worn engine. So, if it is lighting up on corners, the chances are that it is running with badly aerated oil at fairly low pressure for several seconds afterwards, as you put your foot on the gas to accelerate out.
Very bad news...
pesty said:
How teh hell do you lose a dip stick?
damned if I know, fellow - I found it while rummaging in the boot yesterday...It was low on oil btw, and it now seems to have sprung a leak around the new petrol filter I fitted to it...I have a feeling that the words "new" and "I fitted" have something to do with the latest malady
Martin_S said:
lack of servicing.
the car has done 155k but does not smoke on acceleration (hard or otherwise) or start up, even when it's been left overnight. when I changed the oil filter though it had cobwebs on it!
the car seems to have simply not ever been serviced. although that it doesn't seem to have been cained either is a bonus 
I should add that the head gasket was fine, the rear axle is in great shape (a known fail point) and it goes pretty well too = one happy minimax
plus it enables me to learn about fixing cars myself instead of paying out mucho dollar for a strategically shaved monkey to do it!
>> Edited by minimax on Wednesday 5th January 21:20
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