GM has taken a lot of guff recently for eliminating the dipstick on some of their newer V8 engines and replacing it with a sensor. Let’s talk about how those sensors actually work, and how and when they measure the oil level.
It’s not like, for example, a brake master cylinder that has a float and a level that turns on the light on the dash when it reaches a certain level. These sensors are ultrasonic. In other words, it’s sending out a sound wave into the oil pan and determining the oil level that way.
How does it know when to measure the level of oil in the oil pan? If you’re using a dipstick, the vehicle would be parked, it probably wouldn’t be running, and that’s when you’re checking the oil level. The sensor works the same way: It’s only measuring the oil level at certain instances. Let’s say it’s in Park when you first start up. Let’s say you’re sitting at a traffic light; that is when it’s measuring the level.
For more on sensors and how they work, including oxygen and TPMS sensors, watch the video above.
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This video is sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper To Bumper.
