lexus-is2

when the first warning of low engine oil warning comes on, does anyone know how much oil technically the car has burnt by this point? reason i ask is because i'm finding it extremely difficult to read the dipstick. I know it sounds silly, i've read dipsticks on all my previous cars perfectly fine with the oil level being at a certain point.

However on my IS250, when i pull out my dipstick clean it and put it back in then take it out, it comes out with smudged oil along the measurement area so dont know where the oil is actually at. The only thing i can think of is that the is a certain area where the oil looks more concentrated as apposed to smudged but that seems very low and from what i remember it seemed low even after the dealers did a oil change last.

the car has done about 7600 miles (not km) since last oil change. usually in the UK the oil change interval is every 10000 miles.

i've topped up about 0.6litres and not sure if it made much of a difference on the dipstick. Its very hard to read. Either that or the oil is extremely low. So wondering at what point the electronic alert comes on.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

In our 2IS models, do we have a true "low-oil" sensor or is it like an "idiot light" been oil pressures are below threshold?

Regarding the oil dipstick, the trick is once cleaned off quickly thrust the dipstick into the tube all the way and then pull out quickly. If you think ours is difficult to read, try my wife's Chevy Cruze. Grrrrrr!

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

yea the dipstick sucks in this car to read. Its too smooth so the oil kinda runs off. The honda we have has a crosshashing pattern on it which makes the oil stick and more clearly show the level. I have young eyes and its still hard for me to read, it takes at least 5 attempts to be able to see an interface where the top of the oil is on the stick. Having a bright flashlight helps.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

if the light is on...it's REALLY low