Had my GP since June last year.

Noticed at the weekend that either the dipstick is giving a false reading or the oil level is very very low! as hardly getting a reading with the dipstick.

Anyone else had this issue? I'm very woried about engine damage because if the oil level is actually low, how long has it been like that? I've done 13000 so far.

What oil is best to use?

J

Fill it up now! If you are not sure about the levels, go to a dealer straight away, new cars use more oil as they run in, so you need to check oil regularly and be prepared to top up. If you have only just checked your oil you could have been running with very little oil for a long time! How often do you dip your oil? Are you dipping it on level ground (makes a big difference)?

Yours should be run in by now, but you have not said when you last dipped your oil, so I am assuming never, I appolagise if this assumption is wrong.

jelangley said:

how long has it been like that?

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When did you last check it?

Its really important with a new car to check the oil quite often. I usually do mine once a week.

can anyone tell me is the oil filter the same on the 1.2 and 1.4 8v's as it is for the 1.4 16v?

plus, is it easy to change it? thanks...

jelangley said:

how long has it been like that? I've done 13000 so far.
J

Click to expand...

Have you checked the oil since you bought it last June?

Its normal to check it every couple of weeks or 500 miles with a new car and then as the car puts on miles you get familiar with the consumption.
I still check every 1,000 miles or so as an oil leak could develop.

Best thing you could do right now is to change the oil and filter and then check it weekly to see what the consumption rate is, this can be different with engines even of the same type.

Its no good worrying about any damage its done, as long as you didnt get the oil pressure light flickering while driving you should get away with it.
If the OIL PRESSURE light has been on beyond a quick flicker, when running on the road, best personal action would be to get another car or at least not plan on keeping it beyond short term.
Its all in the handbook including what oil to use, Good luck

News!

I was just in a panic, the actual level was just below the min mark and so the car needed about half a litre, so it wasn't too bad!

Allthough, a couple of questions.....

I never had any form of warning light come on. At what stage would this light come on? (I'm refering to the oil pressure light). There is another light (low oil level) that never comes on, even on starting up the engine. The low oil pressure light comes on and then goes off after a few secs but the low oil level does not do this. In the handbook, it states that this is 'where available', does this just mean my car doesn't have this facility?

Btw, my car is a 1.4 Active sport

J

Oil should be checked weekly on level ground.

jelangley said:

News!

At what stage would this light come on? (I'm refering to the oil pressure light).
J

Click to expand...

Glad you`re OK

The OIL PRESSURE light comes on basically when oil pressure is below a certain ( low) pressure. Its fine to come on at start up.

If it comes on while running at road speeds it is serious as it means that the supply of high pressure oil to the bearings and other engine parts has failed.

Its not something to worry about with a modern car.
Except.....
Typically it would come on when someone has let the engine oil level get really low and the oil pick up pipe in the sump is drawing in air and not oil. ( usually on a corner under centrefugal force as the sump oil moves away from the pickup pipe.)
*You need never worry about this, if you keep the engine oil at the correct level.*
Hope you enjoy your new car

When's it's first service due?

I think i'll be fine, i'll just make sure that i check the oil more often.

Just some more points though. Max oil consumption is 400 grams per 1000k or 400ml per 750 miles, quite high i thought for a car like this, anyway....

There is also a low oil level warning light that is on the vehicle. (in addition to the low oil pressure) The low oil level warning light, allthough positioned on the rev counter and appearing to be available, does not come on at all when the ignition is used, as what i thought it should do.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

I agree to the fact that oil levels should be check regularly - it literally takes only a few minutes and a couple sheets of tissues.

Just on this, I've noticed the oil dipstick for GPs don't have the conventional Min and Max markers but just two 'points' - I'm assuming as long as the oil level stays somewhere between these two points, it should be alright, right?

anyone got picture of said dipstick with "strange" marks so as anyone else ie. me doesn't run their punto dry -

Just to concur with the statements here about new cars using lots of oil (mine was a diesel 1.3 90).

I went through two 1 litre bottles within a couple of months so I bought a 5-litre bottle (all from the FIAT dealer to ensure I got the exact oil required).

At which point my car decided it had burned enough oil and I've only used about half a litre between services since then!

Now I have my new 1.6 Sporting I'm expecting the same sort of behaviour and will be checking the oil level early next week (when I can park on the level instead of my drive which is on a slope - makes a BIG difference to the oil stick level).

I'm hoping that the oil I previously bought is the same as now required; mmm better check that...

I notice some of you guys have a separate Oil and Filter change between services just to keep it all sweet. Is this a good idea or are you just playing mega safe?

jelangley said:

I never had any form of warning light come on. At what stage would this light come on? (I'm refering to the oil pressure light).

Click to expand...

If it comes on while driving, it's usually when it's too late, and some form of engine damage is already occuring.

jelangley said:

There is another light (low oil level) that never comes on, even on starting up the engine. The low oil pressure light comes on and then goes off after a few secs but the low oil level does not do this. In the handbook, it states that this is 'where available', does this just mean my car doesn't have this facility?

Click to expand...

As the manual says- where available (usually only the highest-spec engines). The manual covers every version in the range, so therefore some of it won't apply.

Fiat's official limit for oil consumption is 1 litre/1000 miles, so yours is fine.

gloop said:

can anyone tell me is the oil filter the same on the 1.2 and 1.4 8v's as it is for the 1.4 16v?

plus, is it easy to change it? thanks...

Click to expand...

IIRC it is the same filter the same filter

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=s...7&secondary=26&opts=68&btnViewProducts=Search

and read this:

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/210683-oil-change-1-2-8v.html

jelangley said:

News!

I was just in a panic, the actual level was just below the min mark and so the car needed about half a litre, so it wasn't too bad!


Allthough, a couple of questions.....

I never had any form of warning light come on. At what stage would this light come on? (I'm refering to the oil pressure light). There is another light (low oil level) that never comes on, even on starting up the engine. The low oil pressure light comes on and then goes off after a few secs but the low oil level does not do this. In the handbook, it states that this is 'where available', does this just mean my car doesn't have this facility?

Btw, my car is a 1.4 Active sport

J

Click to expand...

err the total oil capacity to half way is 2.6 litres so 500ml is quiet a lot to need

i know my 1.2 active doesnt have the low oil level warning

jelangley said:

I think i'll be fine, i'll just make sure that i check the oil more often.

Just some more points though. Max oil consumption is 400 grams per 1000k or 400ml per 750 miles, quite high i thought for a car like this, anyway....

There is also a low oil level warning light that is on the vehicle. (in addition to the low oil pressure) The low oil level warning light, allthough positioned on the rev counter and appearing to be available, does not come on at all when the ignition is used, as what i thought it should do.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

Click to expand...

probably not fitted to the active

Ladypunto said:

anyone got picture of said dipstick with "strange" marks so as anyone else ie. me doesn't run their punto dry -

Click to expand...

they are not exactly strange marks Miss punto if you park your car on level ground wait till cold then pull the dipstick out

wipe it on a bit of rag now the stick is clean look close the the bottom and there is a section about 1" long where the rod has had a flat section added with a ### type pattern now the aim is to get the oil to sit between those markings if its on the the bottom of the marks your oil is low if its near the top your oil is OK

if its Not on the hatch markings your oil is too low

leave for 5 seconds or so then pull back out

and check level

Showing the marks



Showing oil level at 3/4 full



Just remember too much oil can be as bad as not enough SO DO NOT OVERFILL

cheers ! you've settled the nerves of a nervous "blonde" punto owner, many thanks lol

ladypunto

Ladypunto said:

cheers ! you've settled the nerves of a nervous "blonde" punto owner, many thanks lol

ladypunto

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No problem

you need to keep an eye on a few other things too


https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/164376-whats-where-1-2-engine-bay-beginners.html

Oil light flickered on a couple of days ago so I put about a litre in...car was hot and pitch black so couldn't really check the level. When I try and check it I get traces all up the dipstick but no difinitive level. When its cold the dipstick looks to have no oil on it, but when I open the filler cap I can see a lot of oil which is not like previous cars Ive owned.

Approx how much oil should I need to go from low enough to have the light flicker to having too much? I'm worried about overfilling.

Thanks

if its not showing on the dipstick then put half a litre in then check again.

it will be oily under the cap even if it only had half a litre in the sump.

kramer81 said:

Oil light flickered on a couple of days ago so I put about a litre in...car was hot and pitch black so couldn't really check the level. When I try and check it I get traces all up the dipstick but no difinitive level. When its cold the dipstick looks to have no oil on it, but when I open the filler cap I can see a lot of oil which is not like previous cars Ive owned.

Approx how much oil should I need to go from low enough to have the light flicker to having too much? I'm worried about overfilling.

Thanks

Click to expand...

what engine have you got?

(capacity varies dependent on engine size)