How Accurate is the Electronic Oil Level Check?

[Gator911]

I am a new owner and the previous owner said the oil was recently changed....

The OBC says that the oil is at a good level. Since i haven't checked it myself yet, I am curious as to what has been determined of the accuracy of the OBC...

thanks!

-Keith

[viper501]

Gator - My '99, which is *very* similar in appearance to yours (black w/ aero, 18's, and tint but no yellow in the headlights) is very inaccurate when the car is warm. I don't trust mine as far as I could throw a Buick. It *always* reads very low while a manual check reads just fine. So, I don't trust it. I'd take the two minutes while you're filling up with fuel, or before you leave for work/play, to pull the stick and take a look. Just me two cents though.

[eurotrashed]

I think mine works pretty well, after a number of sanity checks of both OBC and dipstick. I definitely pay attention to the OBC, but every 2-3 weeks check the stick.

Heard you have a bit of a gator problem down there :help:

[toddel68]

I think mine works pretty well, after a number of sanity checks of both OBC and dipstick.

Same here with my 99 C4 but that's only valid for exactly leveled surfaces. Since I've found my garage floor to be perfectly leveled it has become my reference platform. You will notice big differences in readings when you check on on angeled driveway.

Thorsten

[renos]

Mine is very accurate.

Anyway many recent models from Porsche, Mercedes etc don't have dipstick anymore.

[Gator911]

I think mine works pretty well, after a number of sanity checks of both OBC and dipstick. I definitely pay attention to the OBC, but every 2-3 weeks check the stick.

Heard you have a bit of a gator problem down there :help:

I don't know about a Gator "problem," unless by problem you mean the over 8ft gators that walk in our neighborhood roads!

My oil level reading is reading 1 bar from the top so I think it's pretty accurate, at least when it's full :clapping:

Thanks for the input and help!

-Keith

Edited May 19, 2006 by Gator911

[eurotrashed]

Hehe, yeah, I guess you gotta brake for those 8 footers... :cursing:

[siddharth]

Mine (MY99) isin't very accurate either. I've noticed it has a tendency to read low (60% to 90%) when the oil level is perfect (check with dipstick). Also, the topmost bar (on the electronic guage) is supposed to be empty. All lit up means slightly over filled - its not a biggie but that's what the technician told me when I told him to "top it off to get rid of that topmost bar".

Edited May 19, 2006 by siddharth