Lancia Beta Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ferrit on August 27, 2025, 08:47:44 PM

Title: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Ferrit on August 27, 2025, 08:47:44 PM

or know a way of fixing them?

Mark

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: VXdeMayo on August 27, 2025, 09:38:09 PM

I would also like to know, as it’s currently the only gauge not working, and it bugs me!

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Nigel on August 27, 2025, 10:04:42 PM

It's quite a simple thing, relying purely on
vacuum generated by a bellow in the dash, to pull up
oil through the hollow dipstick, thereby giving an indication on the gauge.

There's the bellow, and there's a short rubber tube between it and
the gauge, and then the other side of the gauge connects to the
plastic pipe from the dipstick.

Faults are most likely to be dash-located, and probably it's the rubber bits that have split.
Or a break/kink in the plastic tube somewhere.

N

 

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: peteracs on August 28, 2025, 07:21:09 AM

Hi

I have a spare instrument binnacle if needed, but as Nigel says it is a simple mechanism and you should be able to test by sealing the entry point to check if you can pull a vacuum at the entry to the binnacle and pressing the button.

On the Spider it works, but tbh I always thought it was a bit of a gimmick as the tube going to the dipstick could easily be removed and hence I was never convinced you got an accurate reading. I always just dip the oil as per traditional method as there is an indicator point on the dipstick tube.

Peter

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Nigel on August 28, 2025, 09:21:18 AM

Another issue is that if your engine has inadequate breathing, oil can rise up through the pipework and reach the gauge.
I've seen the right hand side of dash panels soaked in oil.
N

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Neil-yaj396 on August 28, 2025, 10:04:00 AM

Mine works well on my current car but when I changed the non working voltmeter I pierced the rubber valve on the back of the dial when trying to re-fit the binnacle. Luckily I had a spare.

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Ferrit on August 28, 2025, 03:11:17 PM

unblocked my dip-stick last night.  I think the gauge side is holding pressure (it slowly returns), but its not working  The pipe has been replaced with a rubber hose that might need replacing.  I will investigate on a slow day ;-)

Total gimmick I agree :-)

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: SanRemo78 on August 28, 2025, 05:42:58 PM

If it's got a rubber hose that might be collapsing as it tries to draw oil up the pipe. It needs a fairly rigid plastic tube from the gauge all the way to the dipstick. Test the gauge by depressing the button, finger over the inlet port and release the button. If the gauge moves then the issue is with the pipework.
Guy

Title: Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
Post by: Ferrit on September 21, 2025, 11:15:14 PM

My rubber is intact :-)

I will see if I can work my way through the circuit and get it to work