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Author Topic: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?  (Read 8853 times)

Offline davla

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Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« on: April 22, 2014, 02:22:44 am »
The oil light came on the other day and so I topped up immediately with half a litre. How much oil does it actually need when the light comes on, is a full litre ok?

Offline betty_swollox

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2014, 04:15:42 am »
I have been told that the capacity is 4.6 litres. I dunno how much there has to be left for the oil light to come on. I have never let the oil get that low!!!

why didnt you use the dip stick and use that to measure how much more it needs?  :confused:


And what car is it?

I don't think you should be allowed to drive a nice car if you cba to check the oil levels
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Offline GrayMK5GTI

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2014, 06:51:25 am »
It's a litre min- max. Don't rely on the oil light to tell you when to top up, your best checking the dipstick regularly  :happy2:
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Offline th3_f15t

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2014, 07:37:00 am »
You MUST check oil weekly, especially in any engine with forced induction (I.e. turbo or super charger) as these engines consume oil at a fairly high rate. Failure to keep the oil level around half way on the dip stick (when cold) can lead to a huge list of problems, which get expensive.

Make it a regular thing to check oil, coolant, tyres and lights, weekly at the very least.

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Offline Human Joist

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2014, 08:12:12 am »
As above mate it's approximately a litre on most cars. But the oil light won't come on till it's bellow the lower level. When the oil level is low the first thing to become oil starved tends to be the turbo and they are expensive.

Offline davla

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2014, 05:57:07 pm »
I have been told that the capacity is 4.6 litres. I dunno how much there has to be left for the oil light to come on. I have never let the oil get that low!!!

why didnt you use the dip stick and use that to measure how much more it needs?  :confused:


And what car is it?

I don't think you should be allowed to drive a nice car if you cba to check the oil levels

Thanks guys for the responses. A full litre topped it up to midway between min & max on dipstick. The car is a MK5 Golf GTI, hence being a member of the MK5 Golf GTI forum. Personally I don't think people who use naff acronyms should be allowed to be members of forums  :P

Offline warby

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2014, 06:11:51 pm »
It also tells you roughly what it takes at certain points on the stick in your manual. ;)


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Offline davla

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2014, 07:32:07 pm »
It also tells you roughly what it takes at certain points on the stick in your manual. ;)


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Great, thanks. Just got to find where my wife has hidden it now..

Offline betty_swollox

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2014, 07:40:17 pm »
I have been told that the capacity is 4.6 litres. I dunno how much there has to be left for the oil light to come on. I have never let the oil get that low!!!

why didnt you use the dip stick and use that to measure how much more it needs?  :confused:


And what car is it?

I don't think you should be allowed to drive a nice car if you cba to check the oil levels

Thanks guys for the responses. A full litre topped it up to midway between min & max on dipstick. The car is a MK5 Golf GTI, hence being a member of the MK5 Golf GTI forum. Personally I don't think people who use naff acronyms should be allowed to be members of forums  :P


So are the GT TDI lads not allowed? And the cupra/S3 owners?

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Offline Wooosh

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Re: Engine Oil light on - how much top up?
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2014, 08:16:30 pm »
Checking your oil levels is a must, its a weekly procedure for me. :happy2:
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