oil level

[len]

hi

after doing a recent oil / filter change, i poured in 5 litres of oil ,dipstick now measures 1/2 " (12 -15 mm) above maximum. cant see what ive done wrong. am i right in saying car should hold 5.1 litres.i did drain fo approx 1hour .

len

[mattsay]

imported post

Was the engine hot when you drained it?

Could there be sludge in the sump?

[marshman]

imported post

Have you started the car yet? did you pour any of the 5.1ltrs into the oil filter? If not the filter will be empty so when you start the engine some of the "excess" will go into the filter.

To be safe you could remove the spark plugs and and turn the fuel cut off switch off and crank it over on the starter until the oil light goes out. Then recheck the level after it has settled. If it is still way over then drain some back out.

I must admit when ever I refill any car I go to within a pint (1/2 ltr) of the stated capacity then top up as required/indicated by the dipstick. On an old used engine you can get quite a build up of sludge in the sump etc which reduces the quanitiy of oil needed to bring it up to the mark on the dip stick.

Roger

[flying farmer]

imported post

Do you have a spin on filter conversion? I think they may hold slightly less than the standard filter. I have just filled my freshly rebuilt engine (no sludge in the sump) and I still have part of the 5 litre can left

Neil

[len]

imported post

hi

yes engine was hot when drained

cant imagine sludge build up as oil changed regular

didnt fill oil filter but did remove lead and only started when oil pressure registered

25lbs , i am thinking maybe dipstick ot tube it goes in problem. only drained about 4,5 litres out
no standard filter

[peter f]

imported post

Hi Len,
I read on a thread some while ago that it is a benefit to have and extra half a pint of oil in the sump, so i took the advice, and mine now shows 6-10mm above maximum mark on the dipstick. Gone well for the last 5000 miles like this, but make your own mind up, or listen to those on the forum who know definitively if this is a good idea.
cheers,
Peter f

[mattsay]

imported post

Hi Len

4.5 litres out and 5.1 in means high on the dipstick unless it was low before.

Was it the same last time the oil was changed?

[Gresley]

imported post

Mine never uses a full 5 litres either, ususally taking about 4.5 litres including the filter. I have the original typefilter fitted.

[len]

imported post

i think i did have similar problem last year,cant remember exactly

i think i filled up slower last time ,not like i did this time!

maybe i will just drain some,just worries me a bit to think i have changed oil and then not putting in stated amount of 5.1 lt.

[jleyton]

imported post

On a slightly related issue, I never seem to be able to get the full 18.5 pints of coolant into mine :?

I've just drained my coolant (removed bottom hose), including removing both block plugs and refilled with N/S/F jacked up and heater on hot yet less than16 pints went in.

I have an idea what may be wrong because, after draining, I flushed and reverse flushed but didn't remove block plugs a second time. Has anyone any idea how much water could have stayed in the block?

All thoughts and advice gratefully received. Cheers.

Julian

[StagnJag]

imported post

You are never going to drain all of the oil out unless you are stripping the engine. Some should remain under the cam covers and some in the oil pump and no doubt other places so you are never going to need to add the whole 5.1 litres.

Mine was reading about 10mm above max for the duration of the last lot of oil. (New engine so it isn't using any). I had no problems.

Rgds

Dave

Just a thought, a narrow tube down the dipstick tube and you might be able to syphon some out if you needed to. (Not tried this though).

Rgds

Dave

[Andy Rundell]

imported post

StagnJag wrote:

Just a thought, a narrow tube down the dipstick tube and you might be able to syphon some out if you needed to. (Not tried this though).

A good thought too..... this is how many modern dealerships do their oil changes these days - they actually use a vacuum pump (syphoning thick oil through a thin tube could take a lot of sucking!)

you can buy similar thing for the DIY market, like this:

http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog/info_PL176634.html

personally, i still go for the oil down the arm approach

.......Andy

[milothedog]

imported post

I bet they still charge you for a new sump washer though in the sundry item on the bill :shock:.

On the same theme I recently changed my diff oil using a large oil syphon gun I have had for years, fitted a smaller piece of nylon tube to it and managed to get nearly a litre out .

Ian.

[KOY 23]

imported post

Good idea. I changed the oil on mine when I had it off. The old oil smelt evil.

[DJT]

imported post

Andy Rundell wrote:

(syphoning thick oil through a thin tube could take a lot of sucking!)

??????

Perhaps that's how she got these lips............... :?