Oil light on - how long?

[Myles]

The other day the oil light (by which I mean the LED in the oil temp guage) came on red and the audible alarm beeped 3 times. I checked the oil, and it was about halfway up the indicator, so I started tha car again, and nothing. When I say nothing, I mean no alarms and no surprises. So I just presume it was a glitch, because all seems fine now. This is the wonder of electronics for you, a slight difference in logic level can be the difference between good or bad!

Cancel my last, it was obviously the coolant guage!! Before you ask, yes my coolant is at a good level, and the fan is working!!

 

[Reg]

My LCR started showing the coolant light and buzzing - problem with the sender and Seat replaced the header bottle under warranty.

 

[Mitchy]

Myles, you corrected yourself there. The leon doesnt have an oil temp light

You've got the most common fault on the leon, your expansion tank needs replacing

Ian, oil should be VW503.1 spec if my memory serves me right.

Surprised you would let it go so far as to not even register on the dipstick Dont you check your car at all Tyres and oil are a must. Reccomended is once a week, but even once a month would do!

 

[ianc]

No - feel like a right n00b now. NEVER checked it. 7.8k miles.

 

[Mitchy]

Well at least the light wasnt flashing red.

Also sure you should use a fully synthetic oil. A search on here will give you your answer but im sure its a 503.1 VW spec you need

 

[CupraTgirl]

Its a must even more so when driving a car with a turbo

 

[ianc]

What quantity is needed to see me over the weekend?

I presume if I can't get fully synth, i can *survive* on semi.

 

[CupraTgirl]

What quantity is needed to see me over the weekend?

Surely even just a litre would be sufficient until the Service on Monday?

 

[Mitchy]

Yes i would just buy a litre bottle, should be sufficient to see you until monday.

Yes semi would do but you should preferably put fully synthetic in it when your service is done!

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/search.php?searchid=1666617

This should help you with to what oil you need

 

[ianc]

Off I go to tescos then....

 

[ianc]

Ok...will this do. All I could find and I'm rapidy loosing the will to live.

Castrol GTX Magnatec 50W-30

 

[neil_f225]

my lcr has never used any oil on 52k miles including track days

 

[Myles]

Myles, you corrected yourself there. The leon doesnt have an oil temp light

You've got the most common fault on the leon, your expansion tank needs replacing

Ian, oil should be VW503.1 spec if my memory serves me right.

Surprised you would let it go so far as to not even register on the dipstick Dont you check your car at all Tyres and oil are a must. Reccomended is once a week, but even once a month would do!

If it only happened once, is that enough to get it changed? If so what am I looking at, how much for parts and labour? Currently a bit pissed by the way, watching the Arsenal turn over those cheating latinos, there must have been 8 of them waving the imaginary red........

 

[mmfb]

I know you only have to make it to the service, but ask your dealer (dave and barry at Emmer Green are pretty cool about most things) if you can take the oil now as it needs it, and then have the rest of the service (less cost of oil) done when ready.

Or, put something decent in it yourself (not pound land dude) - see manual for the spec of the oil and quantity needed, go to halfords (the assistant can help you) and keep topping it up, leaving a few minutes at least for it to settle, start by adding a litre or so. Wait till it settles, then add more if required. Tell the dealer at service that you changed the oil recently IF you have to completely fill it.

I wouldnt drive it if I were you. Take a taxi if needed.

 

[CupraSteve]

there must be something else wrong with your car to lose oil like that.

Check you coolant tank for black, might be head gasket.

Or oil seals/piston rings (although unlikely at such a low age car), has/does your car push out black smoke?

 

[ianc]

Unfortunately I needed the car asap and didn't have time to go to Emmer Green. Seems to be fine now I've put a litre in. Never got an answer on the Magnetec - oh well too late now

I'll just take it easy until monday. I'll pick up a few liters of what the dealer recommends when i'm there Monday and start monitoring it now I have newfound dipstick skillz.

Thanks for the help

 

[m0rk]

oil is oil when you have none.

wouldn't expect the dealer to honour any warrantee work if you rock in with no oil - even though they're going to empty it.

 

[Mitchy]

If it only happened once, is that enough to get it changed? If so what am I looking at, how much for parts and labour? Currently a bit pissed by the way, watching the Arsenal turn over those cheating latinos, there must have been 8 of them waving the imaginary red........

As long as there is enough coolant in the tank, then there is no real need to get it changed apart from peace of mind. It normally happens on cold mornings and can get annoying over the winter months! Not dear at all to replace. expansion tank is around £8 i believe and then you have the cost of the coolant liquid which is about another fiver so not dear at all.