Why do oil warning lights on cars come on when the oil is at a critical level, why not an amber red countdown, that way you know wether its a catastrophic oil loss and shut down immediately, or drive to the nearest garage to investigate.
Bring back the old pressure gauge.
decent cars do
It's one of the best things fitted to my Capper.
One of the only good features on a Renault is the dash board oil level gauge.
I prefer renault's ultimate clincher to be the doors. Allows you to make a quick exit, and bolt 'like f*ck', as neds would say.
The pressure gauge wouldn't tell you anything about the oil level. It would indicate a worn engine, but falling oil level would not be indicated until the pump sucked air in, in which case the pressure fell to zero, or very close. This is the equivalent of the oil warning light coming on, with the disadvantage that it doesn't draw your attention like a warning light.
An oil level gauge, now that would be a different matter.
As for the amber-red countdown, many cars sort of have this almost by accident. As you go round corners, the oil slops to one side of the sump, uncovering the pickup, pressure drops to zero, and the switch is activated, giving a flash of the oil light, which then goes out again on the straight.
Steve
shazzbat ( snipped-for-privacy@spamlessness.fsnet.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :
As fitted to big French cars. My CXs all had 'em, the XM's got one.
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No, the warning light tells you you already have.
Steve
Because basic oil warning lights only tell you when the oil 'pressure' reaches a critical level. It is not meant to be used as an oil level indicator. Maintaining the oil level should be included in the routine checks of the car for rad water level, w/screen washer fluid, tyre pressures etc. . why not an amber red countdown, that way you know wether its a
IME when the oil warning light comes on because the oil level has dropped, it doesn't just come on and stay on. It usually starts by just flickering on when cornering or accelerating, as the pickup pipe occasionally sucks air Under those circumstances, if you just take it easy and drive to the nearest garage and top up the sump, the chances of doing any permanent damage is very unlikely.
I'd agree with that, but ther's nothing to stop you fitting an aftermarket pressure guage if you really want one. Mike
my mates VW flashed a warning at him saying the level was low, so I guess some do have level sensors. You have a dipstick though don't you ?
That wouldn't help with indicating oil level any more than a typical oil warning light because that's not what it's for. Pressure and level are not necessarily related- you could have an engine filled to the max which has dismal oil pressure, or an engine down to minimum oil level mark with excellent oil pressure. In any case, the gauge would dip right down at about the same time the light would come on, and the latter is far more likely to attract the driver's attention.
It could be argued that an oil *level* gauge would be beneficial, but it's easy enough to check the oil once in a while, and it's likely that drivers daft enough to not check their oil level via the dipstick regularly wouldn't bother to keep an eye on the gauge either.
Sadly, many car owners wait until their cars stop running before doing anything in the way of maintenance.
Morse
which is why the Renault (spit) system is so nice, every time you turn on the car it checks the level and shows roughly how low it is, which is even better than the low oil light found on many better quality cars, as you can decide whether to continue or check it/refill it.
Hows about checking your oil regularly like you're meant to, along with your other fluids, then you know that if you get a light its almost definitely a catastrophic loss and shut it off immediately?
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