2.4D - no dipstick!

[morsing]

It's only 1 in 20 times I can get the oil level up on the dash in my wife's car. It depends on the ambient temperature, when you last ran the car, position of the moon, etc.

Completely pointless feature when it's always just un-available.

[MGSheff]

I've had 2x V70s over the last six years. The first with a dipstick and this current one without. The problem doesn't seem to be with low oil levels but with too much oil and the "System service required" message caused by diesel being dumped into the sump when the DPF process fails to complete.
Having checked the electronic dipstick I now know that I have to remove some oil. The car was serviced by the main dealer 10 months ago.

[Baal]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

What matters in a car engine is the oil pressure, not the level of the oil. The dipstick was only installed in cars to let drivers know that there was enough in the sump for the pump to pick it up and provide lubrication to the bearings.

Manufacturers fitted an oil pressure switch when they became reliable enough to let drivers know there was sufficient pressure people complained that the pressure gauge had gone but came to realise and accept that the replacement was more than sufficient. The same scenario now applies to the dipstick and in 10 years you won't even remember that one existed. They were taken off gearboxes years ago and no-one complains and as for the fuel tank you don't go and dip it like they used to do you? Nope, you are confident that the gauge is telling you what you need to know and it is accurate, same applies to the engine management system (which also provides the feed to the fuel gauge) monitoring the oil pressure and level and telling you when there is something wrong.

In your example it wasn't the dipstick that told you something was wrong, it was the engine management system and you took the action it told you to - you put in some oil. All the dipstick did was provide you with the confidence in the diagnosis of the management system - which spotted the problem in a situation when you could never have spotted it.

Trust the car, hundreds of thousands of us do and we have no issues

Speak for yourself, no trouble codes and the car doesn't pull like it used to. I will never trust any car...

[BobS]

Hi,

Further to all the replies I to missed the traditional dipstick.
On all my previous cars I have done an intermediate oil and filter change due to a lot of short journeys. So I was very cautious of the Volvo method of refilling the oil.

I ordered the parts for the "police option" from FRF and if you have small hands it is a 30min job to fit.

Now have the reassurance to accurately measure the oil level and undertake oil changes.

Bob.

PS. I was told this is only for the 2.4 5 cylinder engine and to check the "service dipstick" was fitted.

[spottedhaggis]

ok so I went out again, checked the oil lever using the dashboard (works fine)
and this is the image I have



I understand form further reading that the error codes you can get to show up on the dashboard are not valid so should be ignored.

When we ran a diagnostics on the car earlier, the car got to 90c and the oil level was at 68% or there abouts, this to me says its fine.

The error was the MAF sensor one, so cleaned it but still nothing, is it possible the MAF could simply be faulty?

[ray123]

Originally Posted by Mick787

I’m not sure if you are fishing for a bite? I guess you never check your tyre pressures or tread wear either! Each to their own. Good luck, you do it your way, I’ll do it mine. Safe driving!

Well said Mick

[Cloth Ears]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

If you really worry about not having a dipstick, you can get one fitted by the dealer. It's called the 'police option' - seriously. They simply replace the electronic dipstick with a traditional one. Don't ask me why the police 'specification' requests a traditional stick...

Are you sure this is correct. I understood the 'service dipstick' (the short one, buried low down at the front) was replaced with a 'normal' full-length dipstick and tube, which is easy to access from under the bonnet as usual. I want to get this option fitted at my next service, but not if it means the electronic dipstick facility is lost.

I think it's the 'police option' because police drivers are required to do a safety walk round of their vehicle before they take it out of the compound. So, checks on tyre condition, pressures, all lights and indicators working, that sort of thing. I imagine a check of oil level might form part of that.

[RDesign4Life]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick787 View Post
I’m not sure if you are fishing for a bite? I guess you never check your tyre pressures or tread wear either! Each to their own. Good luck, you do it your way, I’ll do it mine. Safe driving!
Well said Mick

Originally Posted by ray123

Well said Mick

6 years ago!

[mkusan]

Originally Posted by RDesign4Life

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick787 View Post
I’m not sure if you are fishing for a bite? I guess you never check your tyre pressures or tread wear either! Each to their own. Good luck, you do it your way, I’ll do it mine. Safe driving!
Well said Mick


6 years ago!

Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese