been having problems checking the oil on my uno ever since me and my dad did an oil change on it.

we put the correct amount of oil in when doing it last august and every now and then the oil light comes on (mainly driving round corners) so i top it up.

only problem is that whenever i check the oil it never reads properly, doesnt read on the stick at all, just random blotches of oil on it.

there must be oil in the car, otherwise the light would be on all the time and the car would just die! i also doubt its burning/leaking oil as there is no blue smoke coming out the exhaust and we replaced the seal round the rocker cover.

Forgive me if I'm wrong for asking, but are you checking the oil when the engine has not been run for a couple of hours and with the car standing on level ground?

If you check the oil when the engine is running or has just been switched off you'll get incorrect readings on the dipstick, or 'blotches' as you described.

The oil light coming on when you go round corners sounds like oil surge, where centrifugal forces on the oil causes the oil to collect in one side of the sump away from the oil pump pick up pipe. This sounds more like low oil symptoms, or possibly a blocked pick up pipe. This can cause the oil pressure relief valve to bypass the filter and make the oil light come on, though this normally happens most at tickover speed.

Double check your oil level with the engine cold and with the car on level ground. There should be an upper and lower marking on the dipstick, and the oil level should neither be above nor below these markings. Best if it is inbetween or towards the upper end. Bear in mind that overfilling can be almost as bad as underfilling.

Hope this helps!

Chas

I think, if you can't see it on the dipstick, keep adding oil until you can see it. It's possible for the level to be really low and the light to be off most of the time. Some cars have trundled into my place for servicing with less than a litre of oil in the engine!

The difference between the bottom mark and the top mark (on the dipstick) is about one litre. Therefore, there's almost three litres 'below' the dipstick that you might not be seeing.

Maybe the oil is so clean that you can't see it easily? Or maybe the dipstick isn't fitting all the way into the hole? As Chas says, the car must be parked on level ground, with the engine off for some time.

I haven't personally seen the oil surge problem with the FIRE engine, so my guess is that the level must still be low. Capacity of the FIRE engine (including filter) is 3.75L.

Cheers,
-Alex

It sounds like there is not enough oil in the engine/sump. How much did you put in when you did the oil change? If there are blotches on the stick but no solid line, then there is not enough oil.

Engines can consume oil without emitting blue exhaust smoke.

Indeed! - according to the handbook, claimed oil consumption is 50-60g/100km.

That means you'd be using about 70mL of oil every 100km. With a typical change interval of 6000km, that's 4.2 litres! So, according to FIAT, it would be normal to have no oil left after 6000km if you don't top it up. My experience is that oil consumption is much, much less. Typically 8mL/100km.

Uno Turbo has even higher claimed consumption of 60-70g/100km.

-Alex

I believe they state such high consumption figures simply to deny warantee claims. I have seen some cars use around a litre for every 1000km or so but with no apparent problems or exhaust smoke.

There are a lot of reasons engines can use oil, even in good condition. For the record, my Mk1 uno turbo used 500ml of oil per 5000km.

My old Stilo Abarth really did enjoy a good drink of oil. I reckoned it would use 1 litre per 2000 miles - effectively changing its oil between services.

thanks for the great help

and yes i always check the oil on the flat when the engine is cold.

i do around 1000miles a month and it has been 10000miles since the last oil change, oops! although i do occasionally top it up, it still doesnt read correctly on the dipstick.

il top the oil up with around 300-500ml just for now as im unsure about how much is in there. i am also unsure whether my distick is working correctly even though it was fine before the last oil change.
should be doing an oil change by the end of may so it should last till then. and afterwards il make sure the correct amount of oil is inserted and then check it when the oil has run down to the sump. will refer to my handbook when putting in oil after the oil change. put in around 4litres last time.

1000 miles a month... well, I think that explains it all

My Uno has done just under 400 miles in six months - so, 67 miles a month. No wonder my oil level never seems to drop between services...

-Alex