UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

went to top up my oil and it's quite dark and my torch was playing up so couldn't see the maximum and minimum markings but the only thing i seen and felt was a kink at the bottom of the dipstick,please don't tell me that this is the marker for the amount of oil

There is normaly a kink at the bottom which shows the minimum and maximum markings for the oil yes, why what's wrong with that?

it doesn't seen like a huge amount of difference between maximum and minimum,i suspected it was the kink but felt embarassed by asking

Reason there is such a small error margin between the two markers is due to the reason of what oil does in the engine.

The oils job is to stop any metal surfaces in the engine grinding together, which in consequence would cause alot of tear and wear. So, too little oil and this happens as there is insufficient lubrication for the moving parts. Whilst too much oil surprisingly has the same effect, as when too much oil is in the system it expands it causes a higher pressure build up in the engine that can burst seals and gaskets (very bad) and as it expands under pressure its flow characteristics worsen which is why it does not lubricate well if there is too much.

Thought I'd explain why the distance between the markers is so small its for that reason, as the engines a very sensitive mechanism that does not like to much, nor to little. It doe have secondary use such as moving heat away from the combustion process as well as stopping oxygen exposure under heat and pressure but who needs that info

YEAH, polo-sib knows what he's talking about.

THat sh*t happened to me! I had a oil leak,, drove from london to brighton. The car stopped working when I got to brighton.

The car started the next day, but both head gaskets blew.

I didn't realize till I drove the car back... (more problems)

I replaced the top head gasket myself. But the leak didn't stop as the main engine gasket blew too...(costs a bomb to replace!!!!) quotes of £500 to fix it. Luckily found a really safe VW specialist who did it for £180 + replacing the cam belt and did a bit of work to the cam shaft if I remember correctly?

Anyway, its a little thing that can cause BIG PROBLEMS! (( I learn t the hard way ... not good if you haven't got much money!)