Hi All

 

I know this has been of much debate but can anyone advise.  My oil level is near the top of the hatched area when cold which I guess is fine.  Am I right in saying that the absolute maximum is the top bend when the engine is hot.  The reason I assume this is because that's how it seems to read in the manual.  I have a 1.9 TDI PD by the way.

Maybe aim for showing the max level 'Area A' or what even when doing a 'Hot Check'  or at Normal Operating Temperature'.

A cold check is good before setting off, 

but try cold checks and then the check as VW / Skoda tell you to do them, and then you know the difference.

 

Only 1.2 / 44kW engines are checked when 'cold' according to the Fabia MK2 Owners Manual.

A stone Cold on the level check on the flat will have the OIl level showing higher than the check Skoda / VW tell you to do.

Only Skoda translate to 'warm'. 

VW Manuals use different words / translations on how to do on the same ewngines.

The problem with cold checks are engines with top mounted filters often slowly drain oil down to the sump if left for more than an hour or two giving a falsely elevated reading. So the safest way is warm/hot engine on perfectly level ground. Check about 5 mins after the engine is switched off.

After the last 2 services mine has always sat at the top of the hatched area, but what the manual doesn't seem to be clear on if its ok if the oil is in area a, I mean would the top bend be the equivalent to maximum is other cars where you don't have a hatched area

The maximum level is the top of the hatched area. The area above the hatched area and below the bend, is a sort of safety zone, probably around 250ml. The level shouldn't be in this area, but is allowed. Don't top it up further if its in this area. Once you go over the bend there's a high probability that the crank will churn the oil. Not just drag/heat , but atomises the oil pumping lots of oil mist into the pcv and possibly getting into the cat and dpf. But more importantly it aerates the oil which can easily lead to total loss of oil pressure as oil pumps cannot pump aerated oil. If you check you dipstick immediately after running and notice tiny bubbles in oil, that's aeration!

Edited 9 June, 201610 yr by xman

Ahh ok great that makes sense