In brief

• In some new cars, the dipstick for checking the oil level has been replaced by an electronic sensor whose reading is shown on the screen.
• Stellantis and Audi warn that in some engines the oil level rises instead of falling.
• According to manufacturers, the usual cause is fuel diluting the oil, and excess oil can damage gaskets.

The end of the dipstick era

Checking the oil level the old way is going out of use. Until now, you had to park on level ground, wait about 15 minutes, pull out the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert it, and only then read the result (Mechanik ostrzega: Bagnet znika, a oleju przybywa. Lista popularnych modeli – Dziennik.pl) (Bagnet znika, a oleju przybywa. Stellantis i Audi ostrzegają kierowców – Dziennik.pl). More and more new cars no longer have this dipstick, and an electronic sensor takes over its role. The driver reads the result on the on-board computer or infotainment screen. BMW and Audi.

Oil rises instead of falling

In new engines, the most surprising thing is that the oil level starts to rise. According to manufacturers, the phenomenon usually results from fuel diluting the oil, not from oil leaking out. Excess oil can lead to increased pressure in the system and damage to gaskets, so it should not be ignored.

What the driver should do

Since there is no dipstick, it is worth regularly checking the oil level indicator in the on-board computer. If the reading keeps rising and there is no obvious cause, do not delay a visit to a service station. Diagnostics can be ordered at an authorized service, which will check the oil condition and any causes of dilution.