Why don't cars have oil level warning lights
Discussion
One question I have been pondering for some time is, why don't cars have oil level warning lights?
We have gauges for water temperature, petrol level, windscreen washer level and all sorts of other warnings, yet one of the most critical levels in the car, the oil level, requires you to open the bonnet, get a cloth and remove a dip stick to check. As a consequence, I bet a large number of cars never have their oil level checked.
So, why don't manufacturers equip cars with an oil level light? It would seem a very sensible thing to include, as far as I am concerned.
Cheers,
Steve
We have gauges for water temperature, petrol level, windscreen washer level and all sorts of other warnings, yet one of the most critical levels in the car, the oil level, requires you to open the bonnet, get a cloth and remove a dip stick to check. As a consequence, I bet a large number of cars never have their oil level checked.
So, why don't manufacturers equip cars with an oil level light? It would seem a very sensible thing to include, as far as I am concerned.
Cheers,
Steve
bass2rez said:
One question I have been pondering for some time is, why don't cars have oil level warning lights?
We have gauges for water temperature, petrol level, windscreen washer level and all sorts of other warnings, yet one of the most critical levels in the car, the oil level, requires you to open the bonnet, get a cloth and remove a dip stick to check. As a consequence, I bet a large number of cars never have their oil level checked.
So, why don't manufacturers equip cars with an oil level light? It would seem a very sensible thing to include, as far as I am concerned.
Cheers,
Steve
A lot of modern cars do. I can check my oil level on the iDrive. If it goes too low and I've not checked I'd imagine it would 'bong' at me, but it's always had adequate oil in during my ownership so I don't know for sure.We have gauges for water temperature, petrol level, windscreen washer level and all sorts of other warnings, yet one of the most critical levels in the car, the oil level, requires you to open the bonnet, get a cloth and remove a dip stick to check. As a consequence, I bet a large number of cars never have their oil level checked.
So, why don't manufacturers equip cars with an oil level light? It would seem a very sensible thing to include, as far as I am concerned.
Cheers,
Steve
I think it can be difficult to get a constant reading, since the oil is sloshing about and being whipped up etc. Yamaha have oil level sensors in their motorcycle engines, and it's not uncommon for the oil light on, say, an R1 to come on if the rider gives it handful and accelerates rapidly.
As for checking the oil level, I like a good, honest dipstick. I trust it more than the electronic stuff (I have heard many stories about faulty electronic ones that have caused owners to drasticly overfill their vehicles)
As for checking the oil level, I like a good, honest dipstick. I trust it more than the electronic stuff (I have heard many stories about faulty electronic ones that have caused owners to drasticly overfill their vehicles)
Good question, some do, the BMW 3.0 litre engine I read has no dipstick, it does seem an arcane method.
That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
J4CKO said:
Good question, some do, the BMW 3.0 litre engine I read has no dipstick, it does seem an arcane method.
That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
I'm sure there will be plenty of expensive things which will go wrong on EV's as well. For example, a new battery will cost a lot more than £50. There will be loads of ECU's to get water logged etc.That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
The reason why there's not many stories about old ones going wrong is because there are not many old ones around yet!
mrmr96 said:
J4CKO said:
Good question, some do, the BMW 3.0 litre engine I read has no dipstick, it does seem an arcane method.
That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
I'm sure there will be plenty of expensive things which will go wrong on EV's as well. For example, a new battery will cost a lot more than £50. There will be loads of ECU's to get water logged etc.That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
The reason why there's not many stories about old ones going wrong is because there are not many old ones around yet!
Really, I was pointing out that an EV may put up with the normal standard of car maintenance provided by a lot of owners than current cars, if there isnt oil to check, then you cant not check it.
I do think they will be more relaible, the ECU side of things is already there, modern cars can have tens of them anyway, batteries, like you say, it remains to be seen.
Thanks for the replies. I haven't come across a car with an oil level warning, so I didn't realise that some do have, that's encouraging then. None of the cars I have had so far have had them, so I'm guilty of generalising a bit.
The electric motor point is an interesting one too. I tend to hate the idea of electric cars, as I enjoy the sound and experience a petrol engine gives you as a driver. However, I realise that for a large number of cars on the roads, the driver couldn't care less about the propulsion method, so it would make sense for those drivers to have electric cars. As long as petrol powered cars remain available for those that want one.
thatdude said:
I think it can be difficult to get a constant reading, since the oil is sloshing about and being whipped up etc. Yamaha have oil level sensors in their motorcycle engines, and it's not uncommon for the oil light on, say, an R1 to come on if the rider gives it handful and accelerates rapidly.
As for checking the oil level, I like a good, honest dipstick. I trust it more than the electronic stuff (I have heard many stories about faulty electronic ones that have caused owners to drasticly overfill their vehicles)
I appreciate that it wouldn't be effective while driving, but it would work at the point the ignition is switched on, after all, the engine is also stopped when you check with a dipstick.As for checking the oil level, I like a good, honest dipstick. I trust it more than the electronic stuff (I have heard many stories about faulty electronic ones that have caused owners to drasticly overfill their vehicles)
The electric motor point is an interesting one too. I tend to hate the idea of electric cars, as I enjoy the sound and experience a petrol engine gives you as a driver. However, I realise that for a large number of cars on the roads, the driver couldn't care less about the propulsion method, so it would make sense for those drivers to have electric cars. As long as petrol powered cars remain available for those that want one.
320touring said:
My e30 has an oil level sender that lights up a LED on the "Check Panel" if it drops to 1/2 way between Max/Min on the dipstick. It only goes out if you top it up to Max again (500ml)
1989 is when mine was made-so the idea has been in place for a while
My Lancia HPE was built in 1979 and it had an oil level sensor.1989 is when mine was made-so the idea has been in place for a while
J4CKO said:
mrmr96 said:
J4CKO said:
Good question, some do, the BMW 3.0 litre engine I read has no dipstick, it does seem an arcane method.
That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
I'm sure there will be plenty of expensive things which will go wrong on EV's as well. For example, a new battery will cost a lot more than £50. There will be loads of ECU's to get water logged etc.That said, think in a few years, with an electric motor we wont need to worry, requiring 5 litres of lubricant sloshing just to stop the whole shebang seizing solid in ten seconds flat will seem a bit archaic.
Your point makes me realise how the EV for the average punter cant come soon enough, it all seems normal to us but really, if we are honest its a pain in the arse, same with the cambelt paranoia.
The reason why there's not many stories about old ones going wrong is because there are not many old ones around yet!
Really, I was pointing out that an EV may put up with the normal standard of car maintenance provided by a lot of owners than current cars, if there isnt oil to check, then you cant not check it.
I do think they will be more relaible, the ECU side of things is already there, modern cars can have tens of them anyway, batteries, like you say, it remains to be seen.
Crossflow Kid said:
My Defender hasn't got one. I just check for fresh oil on the drive. If there's none there, time to top up.
This works for Series Land Rovers to... actually it's quite an advanced system, you can tell by the position of the missing oil stains what needs topping up Axles, gearbox or engine 
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