dash lights flashing light to dark

[3t3p]

Notice this a while back on my scirocco, I have dash lights set to dimmest but on the way home yest at night it was pulsing to max then down again, as though a connection was loose. Made me think I got flashed by a camera!
Also the oil light has been coming on in the last three weeks.
I don't think the oil is actually low, the engine temps have never risen.

Should I take it in to VW then?

[skippy]

I would check the oil first mate, oil light should not be coming on, it could well be low. Not sure about that dash display issue, as you say could be a loose connection or a malfunction in the unit itself, in which case yes, VW will have to sort it out.

[maisbitt]

3t3p:

The oil light comes on and you think the check for this is to see that your engine temp is no higher than normal? The oil light flasing up might be related to the dash light intensity fault, but the oil level might genuinely be low.

Get that bonnet popped and take a look at the oil level via the dipstick!

[3t3p]

nowhere I park is level! thats why I havent got round to checking it.

i'll see what vw notts say today

bah closed on a sunday for servicing

the car is not even a year old could it have got through oil that quickly? the light isn't on consistently...on and off depending on its mood...but not on and off like the dash lights, it will be on for the entire journey or off the entire journey

anyone know the stock oil used so I can top it up if its low?

[Cuprabob]

During running in engines can use some oil. And even after so, some engines do use some oil, Whether the oil light is on or off you should regularly check your oil and the fact that you don't park anywhere level is irrelevent, I'm sure you can find one easily for the 5mins, that it would take to check.
For reference the temp gauge is controlled to display 90 even if engine temp is slightly lower or higher, to remove the fluctuations between being in traffic and on the open road, like you used to get in older cars. You would need to use a lot of oil before you would notice a difference in temp.

Oil level and pressure are fundamental to operation therefore you should not run the gauntlet as you're doing, but then again it's your car.

[3t3p]

ok so say its low and I want to top her up today, what can I put in?

[RW1]

VW ENGINE OIL STANDARDS
With LongLife service (QG1) | Without LongLife service (QG0, QG2)
4-cylinder TSI Std: 504 00 ... | 4-cylinder TSI Std: 502 00

As it most likely not been service I guess, it will have Castrol in the sump from the factory. So best, no matter what service regime above, use Castrol Edge 5w30 and oil standard 504. Halfords stock http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165581" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

C.

[3t3p]

yes that's right no service yet! 7.5k miles on the clock.
thanks alot RW1

have to say though, the light came on after I ragged the engine a bit in melton on holiday, those roads are amazing fun! first time it's been up near 5000rpm

[maisbitt]

Hmm, ragging the car a bit and the light came on would be a really good reason to get it checked. If VWs didn't use any oil between services, they'd forgo the dipstick so that they just replaced all the oil at service time.

Did you get a top-up bottle of oil with the car, sitting in the boot waiting for you to use it? I've bought VWs from 3 different dealership groups, and they have all provided a top-up bottle of oil with the car. If not, get some bbought and top up if your oil is low.

VWs vary in their oil consumption, either by engine type or the way they were run in. My current Roc used 1/2 a litre over 16k miles, but a previous one used a litre in about 5k miles, possibly becuase it ran up it's initial 700 miles on a motorway cruise at a constant 80mph round trip from Newcastle to Southampton ( I wouldn't recommend this - varied speeds during run in at up to 2/3 revs seems to be the best).

[3t3p]

well it was low on the dipstick, in area 'C' according to the manual i.e. low

my polo had a spare bottle in the back but rocco didn't

so bought some stuff from halfords that RW1 suggested:)

put in 500mls and level is now normalised.
I'll check it again after its distributed around, didn't want to overfill it

she seems happier now, might be placebo but possibly smoother?

oil was brown in colour off the dipstick, is that dirty?

[RW1]

Mine burnt a little bit of oil under normal running upto about 7K miles/First Service. About 250ml. Its stopped now and has stayed the same level since the service at 7K miles.

oil was brown in colour off the dipstick, is that dirty?

Mine was filthy black upto the first service and went that way fairly quickly from new. Same again since the service but not quite as bad. All depends on how you use the Scirocco. Mine is the way it is cos I do very short runs all the time. Sounds a lot better than mine.

C.

[Scott_mac]

Seriously, are you suggesting you've never checked the oil in one whole year?????

Sure it's a new car so one would assume life is good, and maybe i'm just mental about doing it as i've owned Lotus and classic cars before, but I check the tyre pressures, oil level, screen wash level, coolant level etc at least every 2 weeks. The coolant level and Lotus Elise is more like an hourly thing mind...

[Sootchucker]

When it comes to the dash lights (i.e. dash illumination) , I've noticed that mine are on all the time albeit at a low level (makes the instruments easier to view), however when the auto lights sensor engages the headlights, they light up to their full intensity.

Maybe that's what's happening to yours ?