True or not?
No dipstick - 2012 TDI?
BB62
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True. But I bought one from the dealer and can now cross-check the dipstick against the infotainment screen.
The dealer will tell you the dipstick is for the 2010...buy it. It works in the 2012.
The tube is there already. Just pull of the cap and insert the stick.
Tim
The dealer will tell you the dipstick is for the 2010...buy it. It works in the 2012.
The tube is there already. Just pull of the cap and insert the stick.
Tim
Thanks very much.
Two questions:
1) How did you find out about the lack of a dipstick?
2) Where is the tube?
I was just looking at one yesterday and the salesman mentioned it. I was stunned to think that such an engine-ending situation (low oil) would be trusted to an electronic device.
I'm happy to hear there is a way to manually verify things!
Looking forward to hearing back from you, and thank you again.
Two questions:
1) How did you find out about the lack of a dipstick?
2) Where is the tube?
I was just looking at one yesterday and the salesman mentioned it. I was stunned to think that such an engine-ending situation (low oil) would be trusted to an electronic device.
I'm happy to hear there is a way to manually verify things!
Looking forward to hearing back from you, and thank you again.
The tube is on the right hand front of the engine -capped.
I have a question- Has anyone,anywhere,ever heard of a oil level sensor failing and it causing damage to the engine? At one time the fuel level was checked with a measuring stick... I just don't understand this distrust with the oil level sensors and why many people are against it.
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Well, after spending 30 years as a certified marine engineer, serving on steam and diesel ships, as well as serving as a federal Senior Marine Surveyor/Inspector, the answer is yes.
Electronic sensors, IMHO, are a lovely convenience but are still delicate instruments, sensitive to damage from heat, moisture and vibration, amongst other factors.
These observations are based on marine installations using extremely heavy duty industrial sensors, of many types.
I am NOT against the sensor by any means, it is a great convenience, but for my comfort, it should be backed up with a simple oil level indicating device, such as a dipstick, that should be used regularly!
Electronic sensors, IMHO, are a lovely convenience but are still delicate instruments, sensitive to damage from heat, moisture and vibration, amongst other factors.
These observations are based on marine installations using extremely heavy duty industrial sensors, of many types.
I am NOT against the sensor by any means, it is a great convenience, but for my comfort, it should be backed up with a simple oil level indicating device, such as a dipstick, that should be used regularly!
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20,262 Posts
The key thing is, can you be 200% certain that if your engine oil level sensor failed, you ran the engine dry and wrecked it, would VW pay?
Or would you get the brush off.
Now let me think about that for, well, all of one nanosecond.
What's the part number for the dipstick?
[P.S. A dipstick in UK slang is someone who is very, very stupid, but in this case I think a dipstick is a VERY wise idea!]
Or would you get the brush off.
Now let me think about that for, well, all of one nanosecond.
What's the part number for the dipstick?
[P.S. A dipstick in UK slang is someone who is very, very stupid, but in this case I think a dipstick is a VERY wise idea!]
Both my 650 and 535 have level sensors, and both are plagued by false positives, ie, low oil warnings when, in fact, the oil level is fine. Adding an extra qt or two to a full pan could result in aerated oil, a lousy lubricant, which could shorten the life of an engine. BMW claimed that the occasional air bubble in contact with the sensor could lead to the low oil warning. I have my doubts, but if true, that would only undescore the need for a dipstick. If all you have is an virtual dipstick, it has better be bullet proof.
Spyder
Vehicle still has a oil pressure warning system. Can't speak for other makers but Porsche monitors the operation of the oil level sensor and if it's implausible then a fault is triggered.
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20,262 Posts
Now THAT is an excellent point I think no one else has ever made!
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1,399 Posts
Don't forget that the oil pressure will keep up even with extremely low levels of oil, as long as the pump suction is submerged.
As well as lubricating an engine and removing wear and combustion particles, lube oil serves an extremely important engine cooling function with the designed quantity of oil calculated for the amount of heat to be removed from the critical lubrication areas (bearings, piston/cylinder, etc) It all ties in with the dwell time of oil circulation, oil cooler heat capacity and radiant (oil pan) heat loss. Running lower than designed quantity (level) of oil, can definitely affect your engines wear, even if the oil pressure is in an acceptable range.
X2 on C4ar's comment, you see if the oil is dirty, milky (coolant contamination) or smells like diesel (fuel contamination, in a diesel a VERY bad thing).
As well as lubricating an engine and removing wear and combustion particles, lube oil serves an extremely important engine cooling function with the designed quantity of oil calculated for the amount of heat to be removed from the critical lubrication areas (bearings, piston/cylinder, etc) It all ties in with the dwell time of oil circulation, oil cooler heat capacity and radiant (oil pan) heat loss. Running lower than designed quantity (level) of oil, can definitely affect your engines wear, even if the oil pressure is in an acceptable range.
X2 on C4ar's comment, you see if the oil is dirty, milky (coolant contamination) or smells like diesel (fuel contamination, in a diesel a VERY bad thing).
X3, and I'll add that checking your oil level via the dipstick means getting under the hood periodically. You'd be surprised what you may find that could prevent probs down the line.
Spyder
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1,363 Posts
Is this confirmed? If the physical dipstick returns a reading of oil level that doesn't agree with the electronic sensor I'm having trouble seeing its value. I as the primary driver of the vehicle may know "The dipstick reading is wrong by this much" but anyone else who checks the oil level via dipstick could innocently conclude the level is low, add more oil, and now you're overfilled.
?? I would like to get the dipstick but if it's not accurate...
The tube would not have changed from the earlier 09-10 TDI motor which did have a dipstick. All they did was put a level sensor in and a cap over the diptstick tube. So I would be more prone to believe the dipstick then the sensor.
You guys fail to realize this motor has been around for awhile, it is not brand new. The electronic reading of the level is new. With reading about level sensors going bad on the Urea tank, how much faith do you have in a level sensor for the oil level which is a more critical fluid then the Urea.
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1,363 Posts
I'm not dismissing the value of having the dipstick. I'm not 100% sold on the electronic sensor -- I'd like to also be able to see with my eyes what the oil level is. But if that dispstick reading isn't accurate, it's another potential point of operator error. I read somewhere (probably on the Internet! ha ha) that one of the reasons automatic transmissions no longer have dipsticks or fillers is because too many users were misreading them and overfilling or whatever. Someone figured out there would be fewer transmission failures overall if the owner/technician can't muck with the level.
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