first nct - oil level

fourmations

hi all

first nct tommorrow

my oil level is half-way between the
"need to fill" and full readings, is that ok?

thanks

4

mick.fr

As long as you are within the recommended level, like below, between those two lines:


Did not know they were checking oil level @ NCT though

HTH

Good luck to you

johndaman66

fourmations wrote: »

first nct tommorrow

Are NCT's being done on a Sunday now? Is that to help clear the backlog?

mick.fr

johndaman66 wrote: »

Are NCT's being done on a Sunday now? Is that to help clear the backlog?

Yeah they do apparently, I heard that recently.

Nonoperational

Keep your oil topped up to near the max with the CORRECT oil! What car is it?

Tropheus

You should be fine. Under or over would be a fail. They used to let over go in the past but are really clamping down now.

I had my car failed for being slightly over. Pi$$er as the marks on a dipstick are hardly scientific.

Nonoperational

Forget the NCT fail... under is a big no no!

fourmations

gpf101 wrote: »

Keep your oil topped up to near the max with the CORRECT oil! What car is it?

thanks all

its an 05 cooper s (pretty sure its 05/30 oil, but the manual will confirm this)

the oil is in the middle of the two marks
so Im sure its fine, i was just wondering if it should
be topped right up

cheers

4

polyfusion

I wouldn't bother adding oil if it was in the middle. From my own experience, the volume between min and max isn't very large compared to the total volume in the engine (maybe 100-300ml in 3-4 or more litres, will depend on engine size/type). I'd only start adding if it was approaching the min level. Overfilling can lead to damage on cat converter or some oil seals.

Just keep regularly (weekly) checking the oil level. Its one of the most important, and easiest thing to check on your car. Might also be a good idea to check the service history to see what type of oil was last added.

raffo_2005

yeah i never seen them check oil i agree ^^^ never overfill best have it a little under

Guy:Incognito

johndaman66 wrote: »

Are NCT's being done on a Sunday now? Is that to help clear the backlog?

They've always been done on a Sunday, I got mine done at half 8 on a Sunday morning about 3 years ago.

-Chris-

fourmations wrote: »

the oil is in the middle of the two marks
so Im sure its fine, i was just wondering if it should
be topped right up

Nope, it's fine where it is.

Good luck with the test today.

Carawaystick

ksimpson wrote: »

You should be fine. Under or over would be a fail. They used to let over go in the past but are really clamping down now.

I had my car failed for being slightly over. Pi$$er as the marks on a dipstick are hardly scientific.

How do they check oil levels in a warm engine?
How do they know when to check, My manual specifies checking the oil between 5 and 7 minutes after turning the engine off, after it has reached correct operating temp. how do the testers know for every engine version the correct method to check?

Seth Brundle

johndaman66 wrote: »

Are NCT's being done on a Sunday now? Is that to help clear the backlog?

mick.fr wrote: »

Yeah they do apparently, I heard that recently.

They have been doing them on Sundays for years now (I got my car done three or four years ago on a Sunday!)

Tipsy Mac

I have taken 4 cars through an NCT and have never once seen them actually check the oil level in either of them.

ianobrien

fourmations wrote: »

hi all

first nct tommorrow

my oil level is half-way between the
"need to fill" and full readings, is that ok?

thanks

4

The level is perfect - It's spot on.

NEVER allow the readings to go under the min or above the max

If it's under the min - the oil level is too low, and the oil pump sucks in air, instead of oil resulting in no lubrication meaning big bills.

If the oil level is too high (above the max) the crankshaft rotates in the oil, trashing the oil and turning the oil into froth (air/oil mixture - like sudsy water). This froth can be sucked up by the oil pump, meaning air in the pump, followed by big bills. Also, the extra oil can burst seals resulting in bills

In the Almera, when filling the oil with the amount specified in the handbook (2.7litres, IIRC - I check every time mind), the level on the dip-stick after wards is halfway between the max & min.

This reminds me of a problem BL has with some engines blowing oil seals and bearing problems in the '70's in the UK, but the same engines had no problems in Australia. The cause of the problem was that in the UK, people kept the oil level at the "MAX", while down under, people kept the level in the middle. The cure - change the dip-stick with a lower "max" level. The problems didn't re-occur in the UK. Moral of the story - keep the level in the middle.

fourmations

thanks all

i was thinking after that the oil may not be checked
as mentioned earlier,

the form says make sure there is adequete oil and water in the car,
but i suppose that does not necessarily mean they will check,
it probably just means to make sure the car doesnt explode during testing!

well, my little cooper s failed but only on back tyres!
which i was pretty sure it would anyway,
i was advised to just put it throught to see if it needed
any other work while i was getting tyres

i must say i was impressed enough with the operation up there (deansgrange)
they were very effiecent and it was a painless expereince all in all,

cheers all

johndaman66

kbannon wrote: »

They have been doing them on Sundays for years now (I got my car done three or four years ago on a Sunday!)

I am almost 100% that my local test centre (Abbeyfeale) has not operated on a Sunday, up until recently anyway...that may have changed recently.

johndaman66

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

I have taken 4 cars through an NCT and have never once seen them actually check the oil level in either of them.

I think there is not a lot of consistency between the test centres all the same. As the mechanic said to me the last time I was getting my car prepared for the NCT it will often depend on whether the testers wife/ girlfriend was good to him last night or not!...think theres something in that!

I never seen them checking the oil level on any nct test I took either. Last time round they didn't even as much as open the boot to check condition of spare or if there was a spare!

johndaman66

fourmations wrote: »

well, my little cooper s failed but only on back tyres!
which i was pretty sure it would anyway,
i was advised to just put it throught to see if it needed
any other work while i was getting tyres

Ah well fourmations, it could have being a hell of a lot worse. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but if they are the run-flat tyres you have on the mini they will probabaly set you back a fair few quid. Reason I know is a girl I work with had to replace run flat tyres on her mini a few months back and she was being quoted up to 300 euro a pop! Seems a bit extortionate to me.

fourmations

thanks all

john, i am ditching the runflats
(well, two of them for the moment)
most cooper s drivers do

runflats are pricey, but they are also a really hard ride!

i actually asked the nct bloke today
he said no issue with having conventional fronts
and runflat rears (while the two decent rf's wear out)

cheers

4

johndaman66

I'm not 100% formulations but I think I remember my work colleague mentioning that she was told by the garages that you cannot mount conventional tyres on run flat rims. Unsure as she is off on holidays at the moment. Worth checking out and hope you get sorted with little pain for your re-test.

Nonoperational

Obviously not a forum of alfa drivers...! Keep her at the max!