So quick question do our cars have low oil warning light or do I have to manually check all the time?

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2008 XKR (added by GGG)

 

Quick answer;
Would you actually RELY on such a light to avoid a catastrophic failure?????




Once a light came on, it'd be too late.

 

Waiting for the light to go on is being lazy, open the hood regularly and check the oil level on the dip stick. After a while you'll learn if the engine burns oil and needs to be topped of.

 

The 5.0 cars do not have a dip stick. You can either check the oil with the e-dip stick or wait until the low oil light comes on. I don't know what the volume is when the light triggers but suspect it will trigger when you are down better then a quart. As I have mentioned when ever I am ready for a drive I check the oil (cold) on the e-gauge and later when I return wait the 5-10 minutes to check it when it's hot. Only need to do this once a week. Also check the coolant before every drive but I have a temp. gauge so I can monitor that during my drives.

 

FYI, It lets you know even if it is just a half a liter low. See Handbook page 181

Cheers,

Dave

 

AlexJag, what MY do you have? It's helpful if you add the make and model year to your signature.

The message center on the dashes of MY's 07-09 here in the U.S. have an "Engine oil pressure low" indicator, but not a "low oil level". As others have stated, that's what dipsticks are for, electronic or otherwise.
Per the manual of an 08:
"If the message ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
LOW is displayed, stop the engine as soon as it is safe to do so and seek qualified assistance. Do not start the engine until the cause has been identified and rectified."

The manual recommends you check oil level once per week and more often if the car is driven frequently at prolonged high speeds.

 

After I picked up the XKR in Dallas I had to add oil after checking the e dipstick. It kept saying add .5 liters at a time. It took almost 2.5 quarts for it to finally register and say OK. No low oil level or low oil pressure warnings ever came on before.

 

Right, for the benefit of the novices out there on what low oil pressure means as we don't have a low oil level indicator and only have a low oil pressure indicator, the difference between the two is big.

Low oil levels mean just that, as evidenced by your dipstick and will become an issue eventually. Which leads to low oil pressure which means your not pumping oil through the engine. This commonly happens when the oil level is too low for the pick up tube to pull in any oil. The first sign might come when you turn a corner a wee bit hard. The oil sloshed to one side and the pick up tube sucks some air. You've just lost pressure.

Loss of pressure means engine damage is imminent. Pull over if you see that light and shut the car down immediately.

So how low the pick up tube hangs in the pan will dictate why some cars go longer before the light comes on as cat scratchfever confirms.

 

When I bought my 2010 XKR a little over 5 years ago, I test drove the car about a month before I bought it. There were no warning lights on the dash regarding anything let alone low oil. As it turns out, there was virtually no oil in the pan which resulted in a new engine being installed before I would buy the car. I would not want to rely on a warning light that may or may not work to save me from catastrophic engine failure just because I didn't want to take the time to check my oil level once a week. I check both coolant and oil levels before I start the car in the morning a couple of times per week. I don't have the patience to wait 20-30 minutes after stopping to check oil level as I have never been able to read levels after only 5-10 minutes.

Don't wait for the warning, it may be too late!

 

There is a procedure for checking oil cold, but I can never remember it correctly.
It has to do with punching the Cruise Control in some manner, but I'm too old to remember it.
Any Help????

 

Simple, be on a level surface, turn on ignition, press the Information Screen scroll button on the end of the left hand stalk (behind the "-" Shifter Paddle) and scroll thru screen to the oil level screen. It will tell you it is OK, or how much to add..or to wait 10 minutes and try again (usually means you are not level).

See Page 181 of Owners Handbook

Hope that helps,

Dave

 

Naw, that is the normal procedure. The car has to be warmed up and non-ran for quite awhile. There is an enhanced procedure with extra switches where one can force it to read when cold.

 

Now you know why we ask all members to ADD VEHICLE DETAILS to their forum Signatures.

Your 4.2 has a LOW OIL PRESSURE warning message in the message centre and a dipstick on the side of the engine to check OIL LEVEL.

My 5.0 also has a warning message but no dipstick. Oil LEVEL is checked through a display in the message centre.

PRESSURE and LEVEL are two different things. Lack of either will destroy an engine.

Graham

 

I follow the method described by Tberg, which is as 10XKR said. With vehicle cold, say in the morning or about to be started for the first time that day, turn on ignition without depressing the brake, and scroll as you normally would with the button on the stalk. You will get an oil level reading.

 

I don't know why my signature is not showing up. Went in the settings and it's all there

 

Interesting , the signature has shown in your last post, are you using different devices to post with? Phone, tablet, PC?

 

It's showing up correctly in our Moderator Control Panel and has appeared with your last post. I've added it manually in your original post to stop the complaints - mine included!

Signatures can be omitted if you post from a phone ......

Graham

 

With the car in park and hood open:

To enter Service Mode:
– Scroll through the trip menu to access the oil level display.
– Press the cruise control CANCEL button twice within 2 seconds.
– The instrument pack display will revert to the normal display in the trip computer.
– Scroll through the trip menu to access the oil level display once more.
– The graphic now corresponds to the LIVE (Service Mode) value.

 

Wow. Have not heard of this but might give it a try just to see what I get.

Anyway, I go through about a quart every 3500, 4000 miles (out the tailpipe, no leaks). My mechanic says that's OK; I'm not sure. So I do exactly what catscratchfever describes above about once a week. It's pretty simple (just remember to keep your foot OFF the brake so that car turns on without starting the engine). Works fine.
I would note, for those who go do this and see the dreaded "ADD 1.5 QUARTS" warning... the whole display system on these cars is screwed and it will NOT fully register the addition right away. Dump in a quart, check it again the next day. And keep in mind that with an eight-quart reservoir, a quart low isn't ideal but it's not the end of the world. From what I understand, half a quart low is much better than half a quart over...