Oil level invalid FIXED

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mooseshaver
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Oil level invalid FIXED

Post by mooseshaver »

Had this come up today.
I don't know where on the plastic dipstick to read the oil level. It's past the arrow that points at the zigzag lines. Is this too high?
I had a quick search and in a Peugeot forum Peugeot were telling a dealer to cut 6mm off the bottom of the stick to fix the fault (not clear if you then check and refill level)
Now I have had a new dipstick fitted just the other week and this is the first time I parked it on level ground to check the stick.
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by Gibbo2286 »

I'm not sure this applies to your model but on the 2004 models there is an oil level indicator in the instrument panel, when you switch on the ignition the maintenance indicator (in the speedo) shows for a few seconds then the oil level is shown, a row of zeroes shows full and a row of dashes for low, shortage of oil shows as flashing dashes.
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by jgra1 »

hi moose, from memory the oil level is correct when it falls within the zigzags.. the area they are in defines low and high

as gibbo says you have the electronic level but you would have seen that on the dash.. and yours I guess isn't working anyway, as the electric level sensor system may have gone west..

if so
I don't understand how cutting a plastic dipstick helps an electric sensor elsewhere in the sump.. as I don't understand how cutting the end of a dipstick changes the level on the dipstick ? it has been a long week already so I am probably missing something ;)
John

why was a dipstick fitted?
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by mooseshaver »

http://www.peugeotforums.com/forums/508 ... 114?page=1

That's the forum that mentions it.

My oil level display does normally tell me all is well.
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by mooseshaver »

I'm pretty sure the level was above the zigzags.

It's my third stick. The ends break off and then I can't measure manually
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by Stickyfinger »

Try the V6 engines manual dip stick, it just lies 90 out of 100 dips, so 98 dips each time to get a "guess" :)
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by jgra1 »

ahh
I read the first few posts..

they mention cutting the tube not the stick!

and (I guess) they must cut the top off the tube not the bottom...

crazy..

anyway.. if your oil reading is low on the dipstick, (yours sounds high) cutting the top of tube would change your oil reading and in theory, everyone is happy..

...

...
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by mooseshaver »

Well a new battery has not fixed it.
I didn't buy the battery to fix the fault just hoped it would be a bonus.
Only 9050 miles till the service due. Hopefully have the right amount in then
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Re: Oil level invalid

Post by mooseshaver »

I couldn't cope and took it back.
They say the oil was low so they topped it up but because the dip stick was broken they couldn't tell the level.
They were silent on how they knew it was low with the broken dipstick.
Also silent on why they didn't check it when they fitted the new dipstick on the same day they did this. Probably same time as well
Anyway they let some out and the car thinks it's ok (can't check level until I get to work)
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Re: Oil level invalid FIXED

Post by Jobeau »

2013 C5 2L HDI auto tourer
I too had the OIL LEVEL INVALID warning. My local Citroen engineer could not find anything wrong but could not fix it. Took it to a main dealer who charged me £200 to tell me the same thing.
Cured by drawing and refilling with 4.5 litres oil. My dipstick has a small plastic tip but no zig-zag markings nor th cut-out shown in my manual. I have to trust the OIL LEVEL OK indicator.
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Re: Oil level invalid FIXED

Post by Paul-R »

I had the same message on my C5 a year ago. I detailed it here https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... =3&t=55464 - mostly on the first page and some more relevant posts on the third page.
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Re: Oil level invalid FIXED

Post by white exec »

Ye gods! Getting a dipstick right isn't rocket science. It's about as basic as things get. I despair.
Chris
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