Dumb question time

[jimbo]

You can get oil pressure gauges, but not oil level gauges. Why is that? Why would you want to know oil pressure, or is that another way of checking that the level is staying the same?

Sorry, this is probably a really stupid one

James

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[r10crw]

As the oil gets too hot you will see the pressure drop drastically. I used to have oil temp and press, it was interesting watching the relationship on track especially before I fitted the oil cooler to the vhpd. Gave clear indication of a need to oil change.

[BiggestNizzy]

Oil pressure is really important, if you have non your engine is probably junk. If it's dropping you have to do something about it (like stop and switch it off)

My Clio / BMW both have oil level gauges Clio shows it when you start the car. the BMW is through the service menu or something.

[robin]

Many cars do have oil level gauges, but they only indicate level at start up (they measure the level before the starter is turned, then display the level for a few seconds after start up).

Some cars also have a similar system but just display an oil level warning when it's low.

I would imagine it's pretty tough to retro fit an oil level system to an existing engine and this is probably why you don't see after market oil level kits?

Cheers,
Robin

[rossybee]

My old Integrale had gauges for bloody everything which could've been deemed a good thing or a bad thing (she was a rough old girl)

Ref oil level - for me, nothing beats physically eyeballing the dipstick (fnarr), and as said, if you've little or no pressure then somethings rather terminal.

[jimbo]

Cool, knew there would be a good reason. Thanks guys

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[Dominic]

By the way, Keep the dumb questions coming - it's interesting to see the answers to questions that some of us are too ashamed to ask ....speaking on behalf of others of course!.. I never have dumb questions, nope not me!

[hiscot]

I have an old smiths mechanical one in the shed
it replaces the dipstick with a tube , in the cab you pull the knob ( on the unit ) if it has oil a yellow plunger appears if no oil its a red one
works on vacuum
I can see why it was never fitted its easier to lift the bonnet than fit this

[pete]

Dipsticks don't fail. That's why pilots dip fuel tabnks.

[pete]

Dipsticks don't fail. That's why pilots dip fuel tanks.

(Although not when they are flying)

[jason]

Dipsticks don't fail. That's why pilots dip fuel tanks.

(Although not when they are flying)

A pilot somewhere over the Atlantic, yesterday

[David]

Dipsticks don't fail. That's why pilots dip fuel tabnks.

Everything can fail When flying a Navajo to Tenerife we stopped at Jersey for fuel. The proud owner (who was learning to fly) wanted to dip the oil in the engines so I let him do it. Anyway, on the climb out, I noticed the left engine oil pressure drop, followed by one of the passengers shouting that he could see oil coming from the engine cowling. So with an emergency declared we started our turn back and I contemplated prospect of shutting down the engine and an asymmetric landing . Well, when double checking the readings, I got confused - was it the left, or the right engine? Wait a minute! They're both dropping!! At least that made the decision easier So it became a very tight circuit, but a successful landing with a full emergency response by the emergency services

What had happen was that, when the owner had dipped the oil, he had done it like a car and failed to latch the dipsticks back in. On take off, at full boost, the dipsticks were blown straight out followed by a steady stream of oil. It took us a while to get the aircraft sorted and cleaned, but with Lycoming engines being what they are, there was no serious damage and our journey continued the next day.

[Claws]

The dipstick on the Z22SE in the VX is vague at best!

Full.

1/4

3/4

Empty

5/4

Full

[rossybee]

ISTR a certain model of british car (BMC?) being supplied with the wrong dipstick, which created suitably unsavoury moments and warranty claims

[alicrozier]

Cisco blew his dipstick out somewhere IIRC...Le Mans?