Ford Focus oil top up

OffalyMedic · 08-09-2016 7:30pm #1

Hi,

Looking for advice, have an 09 1.6l diesel titanium focus. Driving yesterday a warning message came up to check oil level. Done so this evening and I'm almost sure some of my dipstick is broken!!! Havnt changed/checked oil level before, left that to mechanic on regular services.

So with my ?broken dipstick I don't know how much oil to put on to fill it??

What should I do?

porsche boy · 08-09-2016 7:41pm

Why do you think the dip stick is broken? Was any oil showing up on it? The dipstick is metal and quite hard to brake as opposed to Renault for example who use plastic.
There should be two notches on the dipstick, a maximum and minimum level. Add oil through the oil filler cap in small amounts until the level reaches the top notch.

Also it's a good idea to check levels & tyre pressures weekly, I do mine when I fill the tank every Friday for example, you could spot something before it causes damage. Good habit to get into.

JakeBell · 08-09-2016 7:43pm

Wasn't there another dipstick member who thought the same recently?

Look up dipsticks for your car online and see if they look the same.

Atlantic Dawn · 08-09-2016 7:43pm

Depends how much is gone, it there a full and empty indicator on the stick? Half a litre at a time and then wait for about an hour and recheck should give a good measure. Don't over fill it past the maximum mark.

Dipstick should look something like this...

OffalyMedic · 08-09-2016 7:48pm

The bottom bit is jagged and crocked i.e not a ball or straight like most dipstick.

I must get into hobbit of checking tyres when refuleing and oil levels too

Atlantic Dawn · 08-09-2016 7:51pm

Is your car automatic? Any chance your looking at the transmission fluid dipstick and not the oil.

OffalyMedic · 08-09-2016 7:56pm

Atlantic Dawn wrote:

Is your car automatic? Any chance your looking at the transmission fluid dipstick and not the oil.

No its a manual and I'm 99.9% sure it's the oil dipstick

porsche boy · 08-09-2016 8:51pm

shaunac93 wrote:

I must get into hobbit of checking tyres when refuleing and oil levels too

T'is a good hobbit to get into!!

shietpilot · 09-09-2016 8:34am

Post a picture of the dipstick so we can see what you're working with.

OffalyMedic · 09-09-2016 8:43am

shietpilot wrote:

Post a picture of the dipstick so we can see what you're working with.

At work now, will do when I get home

allthedoyles · 09-09-2016 8:48am

Be better to buy a new dipstick

jca · 09-09-2016 9:20am

Be even better to put some oil into it. If it's on minimum a half litre would bring it to maximum although I suspect it's a lot lower than that if the low level warning is activated. Oil is cheaper than bearings.

biko · 09-09-2016 10:30am

Last time we had a thread like this the OP was looking at the wrong side of the stick. He thought it was broken because he couldn't see the markings.

It is highly unlikely a metal rod will break so do check this.

OffalyMedic · 09-09-2016 11:53am

biko wrote:

Last time we had a thread like this the OP was looking at the wrong side of the stick. He thought it was broken because he couldn't see the markings.

How do you look at wrong end?? There's the bit you pull out and the other end?

shietpilot · 09-09-2016 11:55am

shaunac93 wrote: »

How do you look at wrong end?? There's the bit you pull out and the other end?

Not the wrong end, the wrong side. There's a level marking only on one side generally!

Kencollins · 09-09-2016 12:14pm

If it is the 1.6hdi engine then it is plastic at the bottom. Nice bright orange plastic!

OffalyMedic · 09-09-2016 12:30pm

Kencollins wrote:

If it is the 1.6hdi engine then it is plastic at the bottom. Nice bright orange plastic!

I have about 1cm of orange then a jagged edge

Kencollins · 09-09-2016 12:57pm

oh crap, you have lost about 6 or 7 cm of the orange bit so.

All is not lost though.Have a look at the attached pic and see if your dipstick has any of the "crosshatched" area between the arrows. If you do just fill it to the top of the crosshatch area.

If you can't see any crosshatched area just fill the oil until it is TOUCHING the bottom of whatever you have left. This will do until you get a new dipstick.

As for where the rest of the orange bit is, don't worry too much. The oil strainer will stop it getting sucked into the engine.

biko · 09-09-2016 2:17pm

Kencollins wrote: »

As for where the rest of the orange bit is, don't worry too much. The oil strainer will stop it getting sucked into the engine.

*boards are not mechanics. We cannot be held accountable for any advice given

Consult a professional for a second opinion.

Ford Focus oil top up

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