Measuring Oil

[jennyjoan]

I ran out of oil some time ago and do depend on this guage stick thing on the side of the big tank. This guage is now old and full of condensation so I don't know where I am with the oil.

Apart from sticking a big stick into the tank is there a way of gauging the oil. Thanks

[EcclesCake]

When you say you 'ran out of oil' do you mean the warning light came on or something more serious?

Your car is just a few years old if I recall rightly ~5yrs maybe?

Why do you think there is 'condensation'?

When was you car last serviced?

[jennyjoan]

sorry Eccles - I meant the heating oil for the house.

[ummmm]

Eccles I think she might mean for the house. No mains gas in most of Ireland.

[jennyjoan]

snap ummmmm

[EcclesCake]

Sorry, now realise that this isn't in motoring.......thankfully!

[EDDIE51]

If the oil level is below the 'sight gauge' there can not be more than an inch or so left in the tank. You need to fill up before the cold weather starts.

[jennyjoan]

this is the point Eddie - sight cannot be seen any more with age and condensation. May start use a clean stick.

[EDDIE51]

The condensation on the gauge tube shows that the tank is empty!
Once you refill it the condensation will be replaced by the brown colour of the oil.

[paul1763]

is it possible to fit a 'watchman' tank alarm/guage to the tank? your local heating engineer should be able to tell you, transmitter is fitted to top inside the tank(i assume ts got a battery in it) and the guage is plugged into a socket inside the house and left switched on it displays a number of bars relating to the oil level. also if the ol level drops faster than (i think more than 2 inches in 24 hours) an alarm sounds indicating either oil theft or possibly a leak. i top my tank up when it drops to 1 or 2 bars.