Ford C-max

mickward

Hi Guys,

i have an 08 C-max petrol that never shows oil on the dipstick, anyone else come across this before?

Thanks
Mick.

Grahamb23

mickward wrote: »

Hi Guys,

i have an 08 C-max petrol that never shows oil on the dipstick, anyone else come across this before?

Thanks
Mick.

You really should take this into a garage to get it checked either its using a lot of oil of the wrong dipstick is in the car and is too short. Couple of things I have come across in the past with ford is head gasket going and leaking oil. But I have seen the wrong dipstick in cars before....

mickward

Thanks for the reply Graham, I have had the car in the main garage in Dundalk and they have told me that it needs to be put onto the computer to check the oil!!!!! I find their service manager very poor and can be unpleasent!

How would I tell if I have the wrong dipstick?

Pete67

Perhaps it's just very low on oil? How much oil have you added recently to bring it up to the correct level?

You could always drain the oil completely and measure what comes out, then refill with the correct oil (I think it's 5W30), check in the owners handbook for the correct grade and quantity, probably around 4 liters. Change the oil filter when you're at it.

If it still does not show on the dipstick then there is a problem somewhere else. But my first thought would be that the engine is indeed low on oil.

Edit - according to Castrol the correct quantity of oil is 4.3 liters. But check your manual.

mickward

Thanks Pete,

that has all been done, so i think it is the dipstick, I have had the car serviced by the main dealer and the next day it shows no oil so i brought the car back and got told it has to be put on the computer when i questioned it the service manager got quite unpleasent, hence why i am asking for advice here.
We were also told not to move the front seats on their slider as this damages the air bag sensor!!!!!

how would i find out if the dipstick is correct, would someone maybe have the same car and measure the length of their dipstick for me please ( i know that sounds strange)

Pete67

Maybe I'm overly cynical but I would wonder did the dealer actually service the car at all, it sounds very strange that he would get so defensive when questioned about a simple thing such as a low oil level.

My advice still stands - either add more oil yourself half a liter at a time until it gets to max on the dipstick, or better still drain what is there and refill - if you don't want to do this yourself get a local mechanic to do it and watch to see how much comes out. I'd bet the engine is low on oil.

mickward

thanks Pete,

but as said i have changed the oil and tryed to top it up until it shows on the dipstick however i removed alittle less than 4 litres of oil and i put in the full gallon and still no sign, i continued to add more oil and at approx 6 litres i stoped the book in the glove box said 3.5 litres of engine oil, still no show on the dipstick, i let the oil out and topped it up with 3.5 but the dash light will come on if parked on a slope, so i topped it up alittle more.

I am just very afarid i will damage the car oil wise as you said if i cannot track oil usage if any then i could run the engine dry and destroy it!

Ideally if someone could advise the length of the dipstick on a 08 C-max felxifuel engine please.

Grahamb23

mickward wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Graham, I have had the car in the main garage in Dundalk and they have told me that it needs to be put onto the computer to check the oil!!!!! I find their service manager very poor and can be unpleasent!

How would I tell if I have the wrong dipstick?

Really the only way is by bringing it into a Ford garage. If your not getting on with the local one there is nothing stopping you popping into the next one down.