Author Topic: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?  (Read 4196 times)

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Offline Ferrit

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Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« on: August 27, 2025, 08:47:44 PM »
or know a way of fixing them?

Mark
Lancia Beta Coupe 2000 SA import, now project
VW Caravelle t5.1 was project
Merc EQA

Offline VXdeMayo

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #1 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!
It is better to travel in hope than set out in expectation “.😁

Offline Nigel

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #2 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

 
1984 2.0 Carb HPE [ex Aus] Grigio Finanza.
2007 Mazda 6 2.3 [current daily, highly recommended]
The past:
1980 2.0 HPE White in South Africa [hope it survives!]
1976 1.6 Coupe Lancia Blu [PFG 76R] [probably deceased]
oh,and an Uno Turbo 1997 also in SA [stolen,never recovered]

Offline peteracs

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #3 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
Beta Spyder S2 pre F/L 1600
Beta HPE S2 pre F/L 1600

Offline Nigel

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #4 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
1984 2.0 Carb HPE [ex Aus] Grigio Finanza.
2007 Mazda 6 2.3 [current daily, highly recommended]
The past:
1980 2.0 HPE White in South Africa [hope it survives!]
1976 1.6 Coupe Lancia Blu [PFG 76R] [probably deceased]
oh,and an Uno Turbo 1997 also in SA [stolen,never recovered]

Offline Neil-yaj396

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #5 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.

Offline Ferrit

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #6 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 :-)
Lancia Beta Coupe 2000 SA import, now project
VW Caravelle t5.1 was project
Merc EQA

Offline SanRemo78

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #7 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
Hawk HF3000 - Square Arch Stratos Replica - owned since 1988.
Skoda Superb Scout 2021. Believed 1of 1 in the UK!
Fiat Panda 100HP and now -
A Lancia Beta Coupe 1981 2 Litre

Offline Ferrit

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Re: Who has a working Oil Level indicator?
« Reply #8 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


Lancia Beta Coupe 2000 SA import, now project
VW Caravelle t5.1 was project
Merc EQA