Oil level too high...

[farmer giles]

I bought my FR150 TDI on Friday and gave it a once over today checking fluids and stuff. Too busy driving it over the w/e

After warming the car up and then leaving it on a level carpark for 1/2hr the oil level was 5 to 6 mm over the top bend on the dipstick. I presume this is not right and it should be between the bends.


Apart from the risk of having too much pressure in the oil system could it cause the car to smoke more than normal and would there be any other adverse effects on running, MPG etc... ??


Also noticed the 24 month brake fluid change has not been done and the light switch is broken 'cause I can't turn the front fogs off when the lights are on.

Back to the dealer then...


Ta

 

[zygoma999]

i had same problem on my tolly 110 tdi. i presume yours has a vertical oil filter like mine. mine has done 114k miles and when left to stand the oil drains from the filter into the sump so causing the oil level to read high.
check your oil level a couple of mins after turning the engine off and then again half an hour later. if after a couple of mins the oil level is ok then i wouldn't worry coz the excess will be taken up in the oil filter itself.
hope that helps and puts your mind at rest!

 

[glynnd]

That last reply is incorrect.
lots of garages make this mistake when changing the oil.
The following must be adhered to
1. Get the car up to working temp.
2. leave to stand for at least 15 mins.
3. The level must not be above the top bend on the dipstick.
If you check it cold the level must not be above the hatched area on the dipstick.
There are 4 liters of oil in the sump which expands when its warm, so its best to check the level when the engine is hot.
When it bought my car the garage changed the oil and the level was about 5mm above the top bend hot. First thing I did was get the oil out and replace it. If a good mechanic does not know about oil expansion he is not going to know about using the right oil (505.01)

 

[ChrisGTL]

Yeh, my oil level was far too high when I bought my Leon from SEAT.

I told SEAT that I wanted a free 2nd service to rectify the oil level problem.

 

[JamesL]

so what effect does having too much oil have on the engine? I know its not good for the cat.

 

[ChrisGTL]

Risk of blowing seals, too much pressure or low pressure becasue of air the in the oil and bubbles getting forced through the pump system.

 

[JamesL]

hmm, better get my car up and get rid of some of this excess oil then. Will it make the car perform any worse, having too much oil?

 

[andycupra]

glynnd gives good advice.

The hatched area is the recommended levels which give you some allowance. The bends in the dip stick are the outer limits which must not be exceeded.

you may not see a difference performance wise with too much oil, but it may lead to other issues which you will see.
If you have too much oil i strongly recommend driving the car sensibly, so no giving it the beans until you get the level correct.

 

[ChrisGTL]

hmm, better get my car up and get rid of some of this excess oil then. Will it make the car perform any worse, having too much oil?

Will have some performance issues. Remember all that extra oil is creating more drag (alot worse when the engine is cranking cold oil in winter)

 

[JamesL]

3. The level must not be above the top bend on the dipstick.

So should it ideally be sat in the hatched area? I think at the moment mine is sat below the top bend but above the hatched area, going to go and check it in a minute and see.

I always thought the hatched band is the ideal, as close to the middle as possible basically.

 

[strugers1]

simple answer to the question just do the oil yourself me and scotty do its cheaper and we get it right

 

[glynnd]

So there is no confusion

With the engine warm the level can be between the top of the hatched area and the top bend on the dipstick

With the engine cold the level to be anywhere in the hatched area.

The level does not be topped up if its above the hatched area but below the top bend when the engine is warm

Glynn

 

[Muttley]

ChrisGTL wrote

Risk of blowing seals, too much pressure or low pressure becasue of air the in the oil and bubbles getting forced through the pump system.

and

Will have some performance issues. Remember all that extra oil is creating more drag (alot worse when the engine is cranking cold oil in winter)

Balderdash. You're imagining what would happen if the oil was so high that the crank webs dipped into it. It would need to be a LOT further up the stick than the top bend for that to happen.

Too much oil in the sump mostly means that a lot more oil vapour and even some liquid oil will get forced out of the crankcase breather, into the intake charge and make the engine smoke a lot. There's a small possibility that the engine could run away on the oil in the intake.

If the oil were up to the crank webs, you'd notice it as power loss, and a horrible noise.

 

[ChrisGTL]

ChrisGTL wrote

Risk of blowing seals, too much pressure or low pressure becasue of air the in the oil and bubbles getting forced through the pump system.

and

Will have some performance issues. Remember all that extra oil is creating more drag (alot worse when the engine is cranking cold oil in winter)

Balderdash. You're imagining what would happen if the oil was so high that the crank webs dipped into it. It would need to be a LOT further up the stick than the top bend for that to happen.

Too much oil in the sump mostly means that a lot more oil vapour and even some liquid oil will get forced out of the crankcase breather, into the intake charge and make the engine smoke a lot. There's a small possibility that the engine could run away on the oil in the intake.

If the oil were up to the crank webs, you'd notice it as power loss, and a horrible noise.

Oh, can you link me up then, wouldnt mind reading this

 

[JamesL]

mine now sits between the hatched area and the top bend when warm, although I will be double checking it later. I was a bit surprised at how dark the oil was already, considering it had only been changed on Sunday, yet it only had a slight gold tinge to it.

 

[ChrisGTL]

mine now sits between the hatched area and the top bend when warm, although I will be double checking it later. I was a bit surprised at how dark the oil was already, considering it had only been changed on Sunday, yet it only had a slight gold tinge to it.

Diesel engines do produce alot of soot quickly.

A black oil tells you that is doing its job well, displaced all the soot and held it in suspension so it doesn't form clumps of sludge

 

[farmer giles]

Sounds like the oil level is a common problem, how do they get it so wrong it ain't rocket science is it...

Anyway..

I have spoken to the dealer and they have booked it in for a oil and filter change, I told them I didn't want them just draining off the excess oil.

Hopefully it won't smoke as much now..

Lets hope the cats are not damaged, they can test them as well while they have got it..

 

[ChrisGTL]

Sounds like the oil level is a common problem, how do they get it so wrong it ain't rocket science is it...

Anyway..

I have spoken to the dealer and they have booked it in for a oil and filter change, I told them I didn't want them just draining off the excess oil.

Hopefully it won't smoke as much now..

Lets hope the cats are not damaged, they can test them as well while they have got it..

I don't think SEAT drain the engines, and use the full amount of oil needed to refill with oil filter empty. Resulting in far too much oil becasue the old stuff wasn't emptied completely.

Thats my view on it, don't actualy know if they drain through sump or suck oil out using one of them suckery jobbies.

 

[glynnd]

It does not matter how you put it Chris, most of them do a poor job anyway.
Glynn

 

[ChrisGTL]

Cr@p job with a big bill.

Too many places operate like this now, i'm going on a dinner time strike. Balls to it all.