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Gauge next to the gas gauge. What is that temp gauge for? How does it work. Mine always reads 0 most of the time.


Thanks
Dave

993inNC

Thats your oil level gauge. To be read after the car is up to temp (second tick up the gauge - 8 oclock).
Center or higher is good, lower than that means you are low on oil (at least a quart). Never moves? probably two or more low.

DarrylH

Sounds like oil LEVEL, not temp. Reads at bottom until car is at operating temp, idling, level ground. Then should read horizontal + / -. Check your manual, it's in there, although maybe a bit cryptic. Temp is next one over, shares gauge with oil pressure and actually behaves as you might expect, unlike the level gauge! HTH.

AOW162435

Gauges left to right:

- Fuel level
- Oil level
- Oil (Engine) temperature
- Oil pressure
- Tachometer
- Speedo
- Clock

Are you speaking of the oil level gauge, or the actual temp gauge?

Andreas

User 41421

On mine, I sometimes have to let it idle (warm on a level surface) for 1 or 2 minutes before it moves. So if it doesn't move right away, have patience.

swftiii

For oil level I would rely on the dip stick first. Only once you have figured out the calibration of the oil level gauge in comparison to the dip stick can you rely on the gauge for oil level.

As others have stated, thereading is only accurate once the car is fully up to operating temperature , sitting on level ground, and with the engine running. Also, you may need to let it idle for a little while to allow the oil level to settle down and be measured accurately. Mine can take between 10-30 seconds to fully start to read on the gauge.

-Skip

InTheAir

Also note that all of this, including when the oil level gauge is accurate, is covered in the manual.

cmoss

^ what he said.

Also, check out the icons. The little oil can means level, and the little thermometer means--well, temperature.

renn911

FWIW My oil level gauge stops moving when my dip stick shows 1/3 of the way up the twisty part. If I add a quart of oil my oil level gauge starts to move, usually hanging out somewhere near horizontal with the dip stick showing 2/3 of the way up the twisty part. I’ve always been told to keep my oil somewhere in the range of ¼ to ¾ up the twisty part of the dip stick. Also, when my oil level gauge is moving around it usually hangs out around horizontal, but does also dart up and down based on the type of driving. Hard acceleration it dips down a lot, slowing down in gear it goes up, stopped at a light it hangs out around horizontal.

CAHRERA

My gauge reads the same as renn911. I always go by the dip stick because even though the gauge doesn't register my dip stick shows 1/3 of the way up. I just added a quart and a half the night before last. I've driven about 3000 miles.

epj993

When topped off, mine operates like renn911 as well. As my oil level moves down about 1/2 quart, it drops to red when accelerating. As a new owner, it's just a matter of figuring out how your gauge relates to the level on the dip stick. As noted above, once that's done you can rely on the gauge as a general indicator of your oil level.

Monique

Must be MOTIONLESS on level ground for at least 2 minutes, at normal operating temp to give a iffy reading...

Annoying gauge... use the dipstick.

Alan993S

Just happen to have the manual handy - "if the oil gauge indicator begins to drop as the engine speed increases when the car is stationary (engine at normal operating temperature), this indicates that the gauge is functioning properly.

If the oil gauge reads at maximum when the ignition is switched on (engine off) there is a fault in the gauge or the oil level sensor."

cheers
alan