I think it's good practice to check the oil. I check it on all of our cars, most of which are classic, so either don't have electric systems, or they do, but I won't trust them it's especially important if you drive quite fast. The oil will need topping up (and changing) more regularly. Like my road Scimitar isn't driven hard, so the oil doesn't need much attention, but my sprinting one needs constant top ups and changes

the light comes on if the oil is critically low, and if the engine is damaged skoda might put it down to neglecting the oil level in the car and you have to pay to repair it if any damage is done

None of the times that the light has come on, the level hasn`t been critically low, still visible when you check it. And of course they will always try to make a customer pay, but they can always try......

I wonder what will happen if the oil sensor fails, then the engine runs damagingly low on oil? I'd imagine that some difficulties may lay ahead with the subsequent claim!

Ray

It may also be worth mentioning that the damage to the bearings, bores and pistons of an engine run without oil are immediately recognisable to a mechanic. Attempting to top up the oil after the damage has been done is an exercise in futility.

KSR

None of the times that the light has come on, the level hasn`t been critically low, still visible when you check it. And of course they will always try to make a customer pay, but they can always try......

A friend of mine had the same 'can't be bothered' attitude to oil checks on his M5. Finally he decided to check it and found it was 3 litres too low, by then the damage was done and he had to put a new engine in it. The low oil warning sensor had failed.

You will no doubt adopt the view that its Skoda's responsibility to fit a new engine as the sensor has failed, warranty etc etc and at the end of the day you would probably be right. But you can expect arguments, a lot of delays whilst its investigated and sorted and a lot of unnecessary disruption to your life because you couldn't be bothered to spend 30 seconds checking the oil? I presume you don't check screenwash or coolant either? How about tyres...you do at least check the tread level and pressures?

Tbf, some people do rely on the dipstick, but are just stupid. I was at my local garage when a woman came in wanting to order a new dipstick. She was asked what was wrong with the old dipstick, to which she replied "it's worn out, it doesn't reach the oil anymore"

She was then taken into the main garage and given a lesson on dipsticks

Tbf...To Be Frank?

A friend of mine had the same 'can't be bothered' attitude to oil checks on his M5. Finally he decided to check it and found it was 3 litres too low, by then the damage was done and he had to put a new engine in it. The low oil warning sensor had failed.

You will no doubt adopt the view that its Skoda's responsibility to fit a new engine as the sensor has failed, warranty etc etc and at the end of the day you would probably be right. But you can expect arguments, a lot of delays whilst its investigated and sorted and a lot of unnecessary disruption to your life because you couldn't be bothered to spend 30 seconds checking the oil? I presume you don't check screenwash or coolant either? How about tyres...you do at least check the tread level and pressures?

All of those have warning systems..... you guys are so easy to provoke.....

Edited 27 December, 201213 yr by Skoda-Man

Tbf...To Be Frank?

To be fair. You can make it whatever you want though

I was reading the sub thread about checking or not checking oil levels with the dipstick with some amusement. Some would say it doesn't matter about oil levels if its a company car. If it is your own vehicle however, its certainly a very cavalier way to treat your investment if you don't regularly check the oil level.

I am one of those dipsticks that use a dipstick regularly to check the level of oil in my Superb 2. I do this because the Superb 2, at least my October 2009 Superb 2, does not have an oil level light. It has an oil pressure light. If that light comes on, it means that oil pressure is already too low. Unless you have an oil pressure gauge fitted, you will not know if it has dropped to zero before you can turn off the engine. This will most certainly cause more or less damage to bearings etcetera. That damage may possibly be minimised, but not prevented, by immediately switching off the engine, taking the car out of gear, stopping and then adding sufficient oil before starting again. All in all, a very risky proceedure. Should serious damage occur it would not be down to Skoda under warranty, because the oil pressure sensor had done its job.

My Superb Manual on page 37 issues a warning:

"The red oil pressure light is not an oil level indicator!

One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferrably after every refuelling stop."

If you have a company car you normally have a clause in your contract which says you have to maintain the car in good order (including check oil and tyres etc.) or you will be liable for any damage. Certainly I had such a clause in contracts before.

The oil warning light on my Octavia is 'amber' which is a request to to top up as soon as possible, and not a red 'stop immediately' warning.

This would suggest to me that when the amber warning light is illuminated it is still safe to drive.

I've never left it long enough to see if the warning eventually turns red.

The dipstick on my Octavia is also matt black.

I'm not experiencing the same issues as you guys.

Remove dipstick, wipe.

Re-insert dipstick and remove.

Shiny black oil against a matt black gauge it quite easy to spot - at least during daylight hours.

This has turned into a discussion about warning lights and whether or not you should check your oil level.

My `OP` was asking if others found it as difficult as I do to read the oil level on the shiny black dipstick.

My car has a silver/unpainted dipstick, so I haven't got a problem

I have had some doubts about the reading, Mike, caused by not having a clean line to read. I suspected that this might be due to the dipstick picking up some residual oil from the tube when replacing it after wiping. Now, the only way I read my dipstick is before starting up in the morning. The stick is withdrawn, having been left undisturbed overnight, hence the level is settled and true. Using this method, I'm happy with the resultant line, clearly visible in either daylight or artificial light. I check the oil level around once a fortnight, which - for me at least - provides extra peace of mind.

Ray

i use the app i have on my Galaxy s3 to check mine?.

bill

i use the app i have on my Galaxy s3 to check mine phone?.

bill

I'm afraid this response doesn't make sense, Bill. Not to me anyway.

I have had some doubts about the reading, Mike, caused by not having a clean line to read. I suspected that this might be due to the dipstick picking up some residual oil from the tube when replacing it after wiping. Now, the only way I read my dipstick is before starting up in the morning. The stick is withdrawn, having been left undisturbed overnight, hence the level is settled and true. Using this method, I'm happy with the resultant line, clearly visible in either daylight or artificial light. I check the oil level around once a fortnight, which - for me at least - provides extra peace of mind.

Ray

Thanks for this, Ray.

Yeah that's what I do too, (even though the manual says to check it with a warm engine), but I still have difficulty. Perhaps because the car is always in the garage when I check it...hence poor light. I still think its a strange design though...much better to be in a silver colour or at the very least Matt black.

Regards.

Mike.

its a joke

its a joke

Sorry mate. I was wondering how a mobile phone could get hold of a dipstick!!!

i use the app i have on my Galaxy s3 to check mine?.

bill

Needn't be too far from reality, Bill. I have a bluetooth OBD (OnBoardDiagnostics) reader, and an Android app that reads lots of OBD data. Might just be a matter of time until it's showing us things like washer bottle level, oil level etc.!

very true when i look back at the things i thought where cool back in1960 makes you wonder what we will have to play with in another 50 years.

bill

very true when i look back at the things i thought where cool back in1960 makes you wonder what we will have to play with in another 50 years.

bill

Hoping for a harp, myself

see you there then