Nissan Micra (1992 - 2003) - 01 1.0 Oil warning light

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Fri 3 Oct 2008 10:27
01 1.0 Oil warning light - mikem004
I bought this car 3 weeks ago. When the mornings started to get cold a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the engine was loud on cold starts. Also, the gear change was a bit metallic and clunky. There was also a noise as it went round corners, which I thougtht was the radiator rattling. Now I know why...
The oil warning light flickered on this morning when I had driven 400m from home. I drove back home 400m and checked the oil. The first time the dip stick came out, there was plenty of oil. The next time the dipstick was very low.
So, I started up (!) and drove 800m to the local garage. The light flicked on briefly during the journey. I put 2 litres of 15/40 oil in. The car then started up and drove without problems. A lot quieter, with smoother gear change. Maybe less power when you get to max revs. in 5th. Maybesome vibration when pulling away at low revs in 2nd. But I don't know if I am imagining this.

Have I got away without permanent damage? I suppose only time will tell...
Incidentally, when I bought the car, I measured the oil using the measure-wipe-measure dipstick technique and there was plenty of oil in the car. My older 95 Micra never needed any oil top ups whatsoever.
There is no apparent oil leak. So I will have to keep checking the level regularily.

Fingers crossed.
Mike
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Fri 3 Oct 2008 11:39
01 1.0 Oil warning light - mikem004
Now, after reading up on the web, I am worried that I may have put too much oil in! (However, the dipstick only registers normal oil level and the oil is not up to the brim when I open the filler cap.

Anything to worry about? Otherwise, I was thinking of booking an oil & filter change tomorrow to get the whole system drained and refilled.

Mike
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Fri 3 Oct 2008 17:11
01 1.0 Oil warning light - mikem004
Correction. The dipstick level is 1 inch over the max. A bit too high methinks...

Mike
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Fri 3 Oct 2008 17:27
01 1.0 Oil warning light - jc2
Much too high.
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Fri 3 Oct 2008 18:28
01 1.0 Oil warning light - Armitage Shanks {p}
In many cars the distance between Max and Min on the dipstick represents 1 litre. May be a Micra, with a smaller engine, would not do this. What you describe is an overfill for sure. What does the handbook say?
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Mon 6 Oct 2008 10:07
01 1.0 Oil warning light - mikem004
The Haynes manual says the oil capacity is 3.5litres, including the oil filter. So it looks like I overfilled it.
Anyway, I got an oil + filter change at Kwik-Fit at the weekend, so the level is now OK.
However, I reckon there is some damage done. The car drives OK about town. But over 50mph, there is an ominous vibration from below the driver seat.

Mike
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