Issue with car after putting in oil

regulus

regulus

regulus

Soldato
Joined
18 Aug 2006
Posts
10,053
Location
ChCh, NZ
I drive a 1.9D Clio (w-reg) and put in a liter of oil last night. I came home from work at around 3am and tried to start up the car.

It stuttered and splattered but didn't come on. The immobilizer light flashed very rapidly and the oil and battery light stayed on. I tried a few times but got the same result.

This morning tried again and it came on immediately but the battery light stays lit when I start the car, but goes off when the car's started. It never use to do that.

Was it my engine getting "used" to the oil or is there something more sinister going on?
 
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I think you're mistaken, the battery light should illuminate when the ignition is on but the engine is not running, as soon as the engine is started it goes off as the alternator takes over.
 
It does illuminate, but never use to before. When I fire up the dashboard now, the oil light comes on for a few seconds then goes out, the battery light comes on and stays on until the engine starts.

Previously the battery ligt came on for a few seconds and then died down, regardsless of the engine being on or off.
 
yup. The cap clips into place so that's tight. Same with the dipstick. My only concern is the fact that the immobiliser light flickered so rapidly and the battery light illuminated so mysteriously.
 
regulus said:
It does illuminate, but never use to before. When I fire up the dashboard now, the oil light comes on for a few seconds then goes out, the battery light comes on and stays on until the engine starts.

Previously the battery ligt came on for a few seconds and then died down, regardsless of the engine being on or off.
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That's not correct behaviour for the battery light - the light is there to warn of a current drain on the battery, the current drain from having the ignition on is only removed when you either turn the ignition off or start the engine so that the alternator takes over.

While we're at it that's also not the correct behaviour for the oil light, the oil light is there to warn of low oil pressure, the oil pressure will remain low until you start the engine and the oil pump builds pressure, it should not just stay on for a few seconds then go off when you haven't even started the engine.

Either your dash is b0rked or you are just mistaken about current/previous behaviour of the dash warning lamps. Both the oil and battery light should illuminate when you turn the key to ignition ON and stay illuminated until either the engine is started or you turn the ignition off.
 
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Couldn't have said it better mate ^^ :)

Worth checking out whats going on with your dash lights though mate, and just outta interest - your car needed to be topped up with a litre of oil?
 
playworker said:
That's not correct behaviour for the battery light - the light is there to warn of a current drain on the battery, the current drain from having the ignition on is only removed when you either turn the ignition off or start the engine so that the alternator takes over.

While we're at it that's also not the correct behaviour for the oil light, the oil light is there to warn of low oil pressure, the oil pressure will remain low until you start the engine and the oil pump builds pressure, it should not just stay on for a few seconds then go off when you haven't even started the engine.

Either your dash is fooked or you are just mistaken about current/previous behaviour of the dash warning lamps. Both the oil and battery light should illuminate when you turn the key to ignition ON and stay illuminated until either the engine is started or you turn the ignition off.
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Thanks for your reply. I take it my dashboard might be faulty. the battery light defintely stays lit until the engine starts (and it didn't use to do that before), the oil light goes on and then goes off after a few seconds, regardless of the engine being on or not. I just went out and checked again.
 
regulus said:
Thanks for your reply. I take it my dashboard might be faulty. the battery light defintely stays lit until the engine starts (and it didn't use to do that before), the oil light goes on and then goes off after a few seconds, regardless of the engine being on or not. I just went out and checked again.
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Why did it need a whole litre of oil? When did you last check the level? If its losing a lot you might want to find the leak too! :)
 
Did you use the right grade of oil?

It has been known that a car cant actually start up if the oil is too thick.
However, being a French car its probably an unrelated electrics problem.
 
regulus said:
Thanks for your reply. I take it my dashboard might be faulty. the battery light defintely stays lit until the engine starts (and it didn't use to do that before), the oil light goes on and then goes off after a few seconds, regardless of the engine being on or not. I just went out and checked again.
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Also as a thought mate, your ABS/airbag light should behave like that. I don't wish to be insulting towards you so please dont take this as such, but are you getting them mixed up?
 
http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0071yf3.jpg

that's the view about 5 seconds after turning the key. The car started without a hitch that time.

turned it off and back on, same view as above, only this time, the little light between "serv" and "stop" was blinking rapidly and the car wouldn't start. It's intermittend but works most of the time.

Turned the key again, but this time, only the battery light was on, the oil light went on and then off - before the car started.
 
what level is it on the dipstick - there is a max and min on the dipstick, where is your oil level now?
 
D4VE said:
what level is it on the dipstick - there is a max and min on the dipstick, where is your oil level now?
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The dipstick is about 35cm, the oil level indicates roughly 5cm of the 35cm. Can too much oil damage a car?
 
regulus said:
The dipstick is about 35cm, the oil level indicates roughly 5cm of the 35cm. Can too much oil damage a car?
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Possibly, but where is the level in relation to the 2 marks (min and max)?
It should be between those marks, not above or below. Take a pic if you need to. :)
 
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