Ducato Series 8 Oil Level ( difficulties and nightmares )

chris3086

chris3086

Joined
May 16, 2023
Posts
7
Likes collected
15
Location
Kinver, UK
Funster No
96,006
MH
Dethleffs 6717
Exp
Since 2016
We were fortunate to have a new Motorhome at the end of June 2022. Routinely checking the oil level in August and before a long trip I was surprised to see only 2 bars from 8 registering. Following the handbook procedure I added 250ml of oil but the display did not alter, a further 250 ml was added but no change to the display and I made a note to keep a careful eye on the display. The next week we drove to Folkestone and had an overnight stay before catching Le Shuttle. 250 miles after topping the oil up and now in France the display jumps to 8 bars and a red warning to stop. We were recovered and had two nights in a Calais hotel. The French mechanic explained they had made sure the oil level was correct but the display was a complete work of fiction, ok to continue our trip but book in when back in the UK. Ok so booked in and the gauge was recalibrated, no need to replace we were told. Jump to March this year and another warning light, oil pressure/level sensor not responding. Back at the Fiat Professional Dealership and the sensor is replaced under warranty. Recently checked display and guess what, 2 bars showing level is low and needs top up, 250 ml added no change in display, spoken to dealer who says do not add any further vehicle needs to go in for diagnostics and from what I can make out the only way they can be certain of the oil content is to drain and refill. Anyone still reading this may be wondering if I still feel much like a Funster, the answer unfortunately is no especially as I have now been told that any work is chargeable as my warranty has expired .
If you have a Series 8 Ducato please keep an eye on the oil level. I despair that no resolution seems available for this problem.
 
chris3086 said:
is no especially as I have now been told that any work is chargeable as my warranty has expired .
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Asthe fault was there prior to the warranty running out you should let them start the work then state in writing that no parts are to be fitted until Fiat agrees to foot the bill .They cannot reassemble the vehicle until you or fiat say so.You should also contact Fiat via the italian number & speak to them regarding the fact that it has been repaired twice under warranty & is not fit for purpose under eu regulations regarding repairs.
 
As this is an “on going” problem which surfaced whilst it was in warranty I can’t understand how they can now say it’s chargeable.
Surely they must accept that the problem was never solved properly.
A right pain, good luck.
I would put everything in writing to Fiat, don’t rely on the spoken word.

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The Service Agent who I suspect has some knowledge of this particular problem is telling me that any warranty work is only guaranteed until the base vehicle warranty expires even if the last sensor change was a few months ago however if I had paid for the repair it would carry a 24 month warranty.
 
chris3086 said:
The Service Agent who I suspect has some knowledge of this particular problem is telling me that any warranty work is only guaranteed until the base vehicle warranty expires even if the last sensor change was a few months ago however if I had paid for the repair it would carry a 24 month warranty.
Click to expand...
This surely can’t be correct in consumer law. Work carried out under warranty and the actual work does not fix the problem. Agent then says but your vehicle warranty runs out in a weeks time so that is the extent of the warranty for the work carried out?
I can’t believe Fiat will try to fob you off when they read the full account.
 
chris3086 said:
We were fortunate to have a new Motorhome at the end of June 2022. Routinely checking the oil level in August and before a long trip I was surprised to see only 2 bars from 8 registering. Following the handbook procedure I added 250ml of oil but the display did not alter, a further 250 ml was added but no change to the display and I made a note to keep a careful eye on the display. The next week we drove to Folkestone and had an overnight stay before catching Le Shuttle. 250 miles after topping the oil up and now in France the display jumps to 8 bars and a red warning to stop. We were recovered and had two nights in a Calais hotel. The French mechanic explained they had made sure the oil level was correct but the display was a complete work of fiction, ok to continue our trip but book in when back in the UK. Ok so booked in and the gauge was recalibrated, no need to replace we were told. Jump to March this year and another warning light, oil pressure/level sensor not responding. Back at the Fiat Professional Dealership and the sensor is replaced under warranty. Recently checked display and guess what, 2 bars showing level is low and needs top up, 250 ml added no change in display, spoken to dealer who says do not add any further vehicle needs to go in for diagnostics and from what I can make out the only way they can be certain of the oil content is to drain and refill. Anyone still reading this may be wondering if I still feel much like a Funster, the answer unfortunately is no especially as I have now been told that any work is chargeable as my warranty has expired .
If you have a Series 8 Ducato please keep an eye on the oil level. I despair that no resolution seems available for this problem.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks for this, I have a June 22 Ducato and I have had an identical problem as you. I have just taken it (yesterday) to my trusted garage who drained and refilled completely. They also attached a diagnostic computer which couldn't detect a problem, yet it read as overfilled even when emptied!!
They unplugged the sensor and found it had some oil in it. They cleaned the plug and socket with brake cleaner and they plugged it back in.
I drove home and the fault had gone. It is now/currently reading almost full, which is correct.
Ours may well go faulty again, but it may be worth trying thouroughly cleaning plug/socket with contact cleaner first??
Good luck.
 
My '21 Boxer's gauge always reads 2 dots down. My friendly garage said it’s easy for us, we just drain it and pour in the correct amount. I find the dipstick amazingly hard to read. They said only check it when it’s cold which does help. Not much help to you, though, just agreeing that the gauges seem to be as useful as my fresh water tank gauge …
 
I have a 2022 Ducato 2.2 Series 8, 9 speed auto.
17,000 miles on the clock. Not a problem.

The owner's manual actually covers a wider range of regular checks and maintenance. Equally important - have fun 😀.

My gauge. Once added 200ml and level indicator rose though not instantly.

As a warning I would say never add half a litre without an idea where the oil has gone. Overfilling is a no no.



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I had problems with Oil gauge showing 3 bars and not changing when adding 200ml at a time and driving between each fill. I then drained it out - got out an amount that should have meant a full reading on gauge before draining.

After draining I still had 3 bars!!!

I filled with 90% of oil needed - still 3 bars.

Went on 2000 mile holiday to Germany and on way to Folkestone the display showed 80% full.

3 months later I am back at three bars and 200ml makes no difference. I will try cleaning the sensor.
 
Barn1e said:
I had problems with Oil gauge showing 3 bars and not changing when adding 200ml at a time and driving between each fill. I then drained it out - got out an amount that should have meant a full reading on gauge before draining.

After draining I still had 3 bars!!!

I filled with 90% of oil needed - still 3 bars.

Went on 2000 mile holiday to Germany and on way to Folkestone the display showed 80% full.

3 months later I am back at three bars and 200ml makes no difference. I will try cleaning the sensor.
Click to expand...
I'd be back to Fiat Professional with that issue.
From what you say there is a gauge/sender issue.
If you've complied with Fiat service, dealer should at least assist.
 
It can't be hard technology. Surely it's pretty similar to a fuel gauge, just with a shorter range?

Theoretically it could give more accurate readings than a dipstick because it could be ideally situated, rather than in a location that's possible to do the stick path, which might put it in a position that's sensitive to slope.
 
Booking it in when we get back.
 
golly said:
Is the only way to check oil via the display, does it not have a dipstick as well?
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The Fiat engine was adapted from the Jeep/Alfa 2.2.

In moving it across, there's no easy path for a dipstick to reach the sump. Fiat have done their best with electronic sensors instead, but not ideal.

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chris3086 said:
The Service Agent who I suspect has some knowledge of this particular problem is telling me that any warranty work is only guaranteed until the base vehicle warranty expires even if the last sensor change was a few months ago however if I had paid for the repair it would carry a 24 month warranty.
Click to expand...
That’s bollox! Any part fitted should have a 12 month warranty. The van could be out of warranty but not that part, it has its own warranty.
 
Badknee said:
That’s bollox! Any part fitted should have a 12 month warranty. The van could be out of warranty but not that part, it has its own warranty.
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Afraid not, if the part is replaced under warranty the part is only warranted for the remaining period of the warranty.

If you paid for the part you get a new warranty.
 
Boaty said:
Not an Oz secret. Read the manual, and do not overfill.
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Exactly, its in the manual….but do people read it?

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Peavy said:
I believe yours is not yet with the new grill design, which is the one I'm talking about that has the dipstick back.
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That would be the Series 10. I wonder if the parts can be obtained to modify the Series 8 and 9 ones where it is missing?
 
Pausim said:
That would be the Series 10. I wonder if the parts can be obtained to modify the Series 8 and 9 ones where it is missing?
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Interesting; I had heard that too, or at least for Series 10 Peugeot variants so last week I emailed FIAT Professional Customer service to ask and was told by them Series 10 did not have a dipstick.

I am due to collect a Series 10 PVC later this year, I await with interest to see what turns up .
 
I was led to believe that no dip stick is because the design of the engine does not allow for a straight dip stick to read the oil level correctly? Hence the need for sensors.
 
Barn1e said:
I had problems with Oil gauge showing 3 bars and not changing when adding 200ml at a time and driving between each fill. I then drained it out - got out an amount that should have meant a full reading on gauge before draining.

After draining I still had 3 bars!!!

I filled with 90% of oil needed - still 3 bars.

Went on 2000 mile holiday to Germany and on way to Folkestone the display showed 80% full.

3 months later I am back at three bars and 200ml makes no difference. I will try cleaning the sensor.
Click to expand...
Right, I have now got to the bottom of the issue and resolution thanks to HTC in Croydon. In particular the technician who read through all my evidence of what I had done to diagnose the problem and then talked me through all that he did to find root cause and resolve.

Bottom line is - oil level sensor was not faulty but an ECU setting for “lateral …..” was set to “No” instead of “yes”. This suppresses the feed from the sensor. They only ever see this issue on campervan conversions of Fiat Ducato.

They have changed ECU settings and then drained and refilled oil in stages to check the gauge is moving. It all looks good.

I have had the best service I could have hoped for from HTC. When I arrived there I had an OMG moment as I saw all the commercial trucks in parking area. Don’t let that put you off, service on the phone and face to face was best I have had from any dealer garage. Seat was covered and carpet protector put down. And they are open 24 hours most days.

I initially called Fiat Professional for details of my local Fiat Professional service centre. The first two they gave me had stopped being Fiat agents many years back! The third they offered was the service centre that told me on phone to keep adding oil (which I didn’t). So I was lucky to end up with the fourth suggestion of HTC.
 

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