Yellow card on oil consumption on my Panda 4x4 TA. It is empty after only 5k miles from brand new. I agree on comments on useless dipstick. I looked at mine shortly after purchase and it looked like it was only half full but assumed dealers would have done their job properly. I have had to fill up with my own oil to keep it running until service which is due shortly. I tend to drive fast so that may be it?
Technical TwinAir OIL consumption..??
- Thread starter varesecrazy
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Technical TwinAir OIL consumption..??
codramble the weekly checks in handbook used to be 625 miles or every fortnight. In 2017 handbook advice had changed to check oil every 300 miles. I've checked every other week or 200 miles on my Panda TA 4x4 (2016). Slightly longer recently post oil change as won't show at all as too new. Assume ran the car in, change gear between 2,000-3,500 rpm over first 1,100 miles as I did in 2 new 1.2's. The TA should have failed to fire. Is that how you knew wasn't enough in?!
Do get the dealer to check for leaks..
Then consider getting to rings to seal in the bores in a better way
These motors take @20k to run in ..
My punto is still oil tight at 55k
Weve since got a panda TA.. also not dropping its level between 6k changes
Thanks. I knew it was out of oil because of a dashboard message: "fill oil to maximum" or something like that. I have done that and then finally managed to do a reset so that the message no longer appears. It is going to dealers for a service next week so we will see what they do about it.
It’d be good to hear your experience; mine‘s that (despite abysmally poor dipstick making it difficult to tell) the 0w-30 use is now on normal and certainly not like my 0.9 Twin Air’s original problem (2 Litres of oil used in 4000 miles, engine stopping during driving and refusing to start again).
My main concern then was that the car was bought at 7500 miles and 11000 miles when it cut out, the dealer had used the car as a demonstrator, run it in, fully serviced it before I collected and didn’t say anything about extra vigilance needed on its oil consumption. My wife was using it at the time and it’s extremely difficult to gauge oil consumption on the next to useless dipstick. Regardless, inexplicably, over 2 litres of oil were used between 7000 and 11000 miles. Yes, I was shot down on here for not checking the oil more frequently and more carefully, but it astonished me that a car with around 10,000 miles on the clock and that had come from a dealer (who said nothing) could use that much oil.
My main concern then was that the car was bought at 7500 miles and 11000 miles when it cut out, the dealer had used the car as a demonstrator, run it in, fully serviced it before I collected and didn’t say anything about extra vigilance needed on its oil consumption. My wife was using it at the time and it’s extremely difficult to gauge oil consumption on the next to useless dipstick. Regardless, inexplicably, over 2 litres of oil were used between 7000 and 11000 miles. Yes, I was shot down on here for not checking the oil more frequently and more carefully, but it astonished me that a car with around 10,000 miles on the clock and that had come from a dealer (who said nothing) could use that much oil.
RicardoCrofteros
New member
Lol the dipstick really is awful I’ve just topped up (1 litre) my twin air that I brought used with 32k on the clock (now at 33k after a month) and will report back, I used to have a lovely Alfa 2.0 twin spark that needed about half a litre a month despite only doing about 800 miles a month…don’t mind topping up with expensive oil so long as there’s no leaks and the engine stays reliable, impressed with the performance and economy of the TA
MASER BITURBO
New member
The dipstick certainly is bewildering - the check engine light has come up on my '12 plate Twinair duologic and checking the oil level there is no distinct line at all! No signs of leaking anywhere either, it's bone dry underneath. I've got it booked in at a local Fiat dealer and have the correct Selenia 5W40 for topping up, it sounds ok when idling and had an oil change when I bought it in June.
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The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Ive had two 17000 in the first and only 13000 in the current one. Neither used any oil to speak of. After a long moroway run (350 miles ) at 70 to 80 I might need to add 30 -50 cc but thats about it. Reading the oil level.... thats a totally different story and may explain cars running low as the dipstick is useless. Only 5 minutes ago i said to er indoors I was going to toddle off to my workshop and make an oil measuring stick that works. Thinking its got oil in it, and hoping for the best is just no good. My dip stick can come out completlely oil free and I know its full. I think.... hope.... prey.
Who is the god of twin air oil levels?
Who is the god of twin air oil levels?
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
Mine is now nine years old with 20720 miles on the clock but the dipstick is the same colour as the oil and is very hard to read. I've never had to put any extra oil in between services, undoubtedly due to the low mileages I do now.
I was wondering if it's worth obtaining a new dipstick to keep in the garage for use only to measure the oil level.
MASER BITURBO
New member
It's odd that there are no discernible markings for min / max level on the dipstick, unless it's just the indented section right at the bottom...?
It hasn't put me off the car, it's a hoot to drive and the relatively high seating position doesn't bother me at all.
MASER BITURBO
New member
Good idea Piccolo, I'll see if I can find one - trouble is the lack of markings on the dipstick is a real pain.
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Yes its the indented bit the level should be at the top of that..... if you can see this you arn't actually human, or in fact you just died so be warned.
MASER BITURBO
New member
Thanks, at least we're getting somewhere.
If I'm actually dead, forget what I wrote above...!
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
No they are just as evil when new. Then you cannot see clean oil..... Ater a few months they change colour and you cant see the dirty oil either so not much point. Im going to make a steel one and if it works I will post pics, I think its specially fitted as it is so dealers can fill to the minimum level only and save money. (The sort of thing to be expected from Fiat UK! - fundamentally dishonest) Noone can dispute the oil level after service as no living person can read the ***** thing.
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
According to the manual the oil level should be kept "between the MIN/MAX marks" on the dipstick but, as you say, there are none! I've always assumed they mean within the narrow part of the stick. What I'm unsure about is whether one is required to screw the cap right down when taking a reading, or not.
Lounge lizard
Member
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Our 2011 has 93k miles and doesn't seem to use any oil between it's yearly changes, although it only does 4k miles a year.
But I have noticed there is a leak from somewhere as the sump is a bit moist. It seems to be coming from higher up, but a case of a little goes a long way...
But I have noticed there is a leak from somewhere as the sump is a bit moist. It seems to be coming from higher up, but a case of a little goes a long way...
The Panda Nut
Nutty about Pandas Infected by Panda virus and OPD
Well here is my oil level check experience from today and it should be an eye opener. The car is a 2019 TA85 Panda 4x4 with 13K on the clock. A couple of weeks ago I checked it and could not get a reading off hte dipstick. Oil would not cling to it.... Maybe something on the rag I used to wipe it. I was certain it was actually right but. After reading this thread and other tales of oil level sensors casuing limp home mode in some 500's I decided to actually go resolve this.
The moral of the story is that my engine is overfull and it is so easy to read this off a sensible dipstick
Fiat are a load of dipsticks
The paper towel test is better than nothing but it seems to me its about =or- 50% accuracy.
Using a steel rod the level on the paper towel is immediately obvious and very clear, but you can see clearly it on the dipstick anyway.
I used a piece of thick steel wire, bent it so it sits exactly on the top of the engine cover, cut and bent it so it cannot be dropped into the engine, flattend the end and then used a grinder to give identifyable flat showing min and max levels.
I suspect a length of wire coathanger would give a better view than the Fiat dip stick which I shall remove entirely as it is WORSE than useless.
I hope it may be possible to fix a metal dipstick in place with a bit more thought but as its hanging inside the engine I dont intend to rush into this.
It is very clear the last top up given when Fiats magic wand showed no oil was entirely unnecessary, but I am OK with the level showing about 6mm too high. Its not too extreme.
No wonder some people are having issues with incorrect oil levels and subsequent problems. Sue Fiat if your out of pocket.
The moral of the story is that my engine is overfull and it is so easy to read this off a sensible dipstick
Fiat are a load of dipsticks
The paper towel test is better than nothing but it seems to me its about =or- 50% accuracy.
Using a steel rod the level on the paper towel is immediately obvious and very clear, but you can see clearly it on the dipstick anyway.
I used a piece of thick steel wire, bent it so it sits exactly on the top of the engine cover, cut and bent it so it cannot be dropped into the engine, flattend the end and then used a grinder to give identifyable flat showing min and max levels.
I suspect a length of wire coathanger would give a better view than the Fiat dip stick which I shall remove entirely as it is WORSE than useless.
I hope it may be possible to fix a metal dipstick in place with a bit more thought but as its hanging inside the engine I dont intend to rush into this.
It is very clear the last top up given when Fiats magic wand showed no oil was entirely unnecessary, but I am OK with the level showing about 6mm too high. Its not too extreme.
No wonder some people are having issues with incorrect oil levels and subsequent problems. Sue Fiat if your out of pocket.
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Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
What's the length of the wire from the rim of the filler hole?
