Overfill with Oil

[billythefish]

Checked the oil on weekend and cause the car was on a slight slope it was reading just on the min. Put about half a litre in and checked today at work and it was over the max. Phoned RAC and they came and drained the oil out. The guy reckons there's little chance of doing any damage as it was a relatively small amount and couldn't see any smoke. What's your thoughts?

[alex_123_fra]

Should be ok if it was just a little. Did you drive it hard when over-filled?

Just check for oil drips in the next few days due to knackered seals but I doubt there will be a problem.

[t_urbo]

No smoke, no damage.

[SR71]

If you read back through some of the oil threads you will see that I've observed all kinds of weird behaviour regards oil levels.

The fact is that what your dipstick registers (or perhaps I should say, what my dipstick measures) changes significantly with oil temperature.

You fill it up at 60C to the correct level, and read it at 100C and the oil level is way above max.

To some extent this is basic physics, but I've never seen such huge level changes with temperature as I do with the B7.

I had a crazy time today trying to ascertain the offset of my A3 S-line 18" rims. You'd think it wouldn't be that hard to find out. First dealer, "No idea. You'll have to phone Audi technical. Here's the number."

Phoned Audi technical. "No idea. Speak to your dealer."

Me: "He told me to phone you. F*****s!"

Phoned another dealer. "No idea. But......we do have a dealer only technical help line"

Me: "Ah well. Thanks for offering to call them for me. BTW, whilst your on the phone to them....about the RS4 oil sump capacity. Why the f**k does it say ~8L in the handbook, when we know the capacity is 9.5L?"

I then went outside with a mirror and a flashlight and read the back of the alloys myself to find out the offset because of course I didn't expect to hear a peep from the dealer.

54mm.

20 mins later phone goes.

"54mm Sir"

Me: "Yeah I know that. Thanks. Now about the RS4?"

"The handbook was correct when it went to print."

Me: "*&)(^(&^FFF&%(*&JBFR! Bye."

I'm sorry but Audi are piss poor at customer service. Drives me potty when you've spent almost 6 figures on cars with them in the last 5 years.

Personally, IIRC the difference between min and max (cold) is about a litre isn't it?

If you've checked your oil level at two different temperatures, you've just drained your car of its oil for nothing.

At 100C, my oil level is always reading way above max even though at 60C, and post 2 mins settle time, its exactly where it should be.

FWIW.

[t_urbo]

If you read back through some of the oil threads you will see that I've observed all kinds of weird behaviour regards oil levels.

The fact is that what your dipstick registers (or perhaps I should say, what my dipstick measures) changes significantly with oil temperature.

You fill it up at 60C to the correct level, and read it at 100C and the oil level is way above max.

To some extent this is basic physics, but I've never seen such huge level changes with temperature as I do with the B7.

I had a crazy time today trying to ascertain the offset of my A3 S-line 18" rims. You'd think it wouldn't be that hard to find out. First dealer, "No idea. You'll have to phone Audi technical. Here's the number."

Phoned Audi technical. "No idea. Speak to your dealer."

Me: "He told me to phone you. F*****s!"

Phoned another dealer. "No idea. But......we do have a dealer only technical help line"

Me: "Ah well. Thanks for offering to call them for me. BTW, whilst your on the phone to them....about the RS4 oil sump capacity. Why the f**k does it say ~8L in the handbook, when we know the capacity is 9.5L?"

I then went outside with a mirror and a flashlight and read the back of the alloys myself to find out the offset because of course I didn't expect to hear a peep from the dealer.

54mm.

20 mins later phone goes.

"54mm Sir"

Me: "Yeah I know that. Thanks. Now about the RS4?"

"The handbook was correct when it went to print."

Me: "*&)(^(&^FFF&%(*&JBFR! Bye."

I'm sorry but Audi are piss poor at customer service. Drives me potty when you've spent almost 6 figures on cars with them in the last 5 years.

Personally, IIRC the difference between min and max (cold) is about a litre isn't it?

If you've checked your oil level at two different temperatures, you've just drained your car of its oil for nothing.

At 100C, my oil level is always reading way above max even though at 60C, and post 2 mins settle time, its exactly where it should be.

FWIW.

PMSL

As the car (well mine) sits between 93-103C then surely this is this best temp to be checking your oil level at.

[SR71]

My take on the matter is, just make sure you always check it at the same temperature....whatever that is.

Personally, I wait until the oil temperature display comes "live", shut the car down, wait 2 mins and test it, at, presumably, ~60C.

Not on a hill.

[Jezzer]

I had the oil changed on my car the other week. 9.65 litres was used and cold this sits halfway between the min/max mark. When the oil is warmed up and then the engine shut down and left for 2 mins it sits around 3/4 on the same mark which i think is about right.

[tartan_rob]

Am I not right in saying the oil pressure relief valve will allow oil to drain out...? (as well as excess pressure)

[audijohn]

Mine was changed the other week and it too took 9.6 ltrs!!.

[SimonFV8]

This explains the problem i had - Checked my oil with a cold engine, added a litre, left it for 12 or so hours then checked again, still low so added another 1/2 litre and had a real moan at the dealer as the car was 3 days old (the water coolant level was also below min)

They had it in a day later explaining that the RS4 uses a lot of oil when its new blah blah blah! But never did they explain or even ask if the oil was warm or cold.

Makes a lot of sense now!

[SR71]

My car has 5300 miles on it now and I had an oil change at 1499 miles.

I've just added 1.25L of oil to get the oil reading into the "sensible" range (@ 60C) - it is right on the low end of what is allowable.

Sure enough, take it for a thrash so the oil temp is 95C, shut car down, leave for 2 mins and re-read.

Oil level is way above max.

Bizarre.

[W8PMC]

TBH the manual does state "DO NOT TOP UP OIL WITH MORE THAN 1/2 LITRE AT A TIME".

I guess this if followed would generate the correct results.

[SR71]

I agree Paul.

Thats common-sense in my book, and especially the case bearing in mind such random behaviour.

I measured at 60C. Out of range.

I added 0.5L and found that it was still out of range.

Ran the car again up to 60C. Let it sit. Re-read.

Still out of range.

Add another 0.5L. Repeat. Still not where I'd like the level to be.

Add another 0.25L and its just about in the middle of the dipstick (@ 60C).

Run it up to ~100C and its up over max.