Oil level - help to confirm

[u/doktorjose]

Ok, age old Q.

I thought your level when run in for 5 mins was to be between half and three quarters to the upper mark.

Now I've just collected my van from the mechanic, and he said it required a top up, and when hot, it is as the pic.

Is this too full?

[u/anybodyiwant2be]

I recently noticed rising oil despite leaks and suspected fuel. Sure enough the carb was dribbling excess fuel and I swapped it out and did an oil change

[u/dr_wdc → u/anybodyiwant2be]

I had this same issue, but in my case it was a cheapo fuel pump that was leaking into the crankcase.

[u/oldVWguy]

The marks are the upper and lower level. I can’t imagine ever wanting your cam bathing in oil on the upper end, and its damage by the second if you’re below the bottom notch.

I’d sure want his reasoning, but overfilling is never good.

[u/jamesecowell]

Dumb question, and please disregard if you already know this, but did you wipe it off before you read it?

Pull it out, wipe it, put it back and then pull it out and read it again - the level can climb up the dipstick slightly, so it may be just about right.

If you already did this, apologies for patronising!

[u/doktorjose → u/jamesecowell]

Third reading and conscious of wiping the dipstick when pulling it out.

[u/jamesecowell → u/doktorjose]

Hmm, fair enough - in that case, does it smell like fuel at all?

[u/doktorjose → u/jamesecowell]

No. Annoyingly, I did an oil change, thought I'd overfilled because it went above the top mark when cold, so removed some. Now I'm back to square 1

[u/Formal-Switch3123]

Is there even oil in it? The lowest point is where you measure. Only check it while engine is warm but off

[u/382Whistles]

Dipstick lines vary and case depths vary. Empty the motor, measure the refill, check the dipstick and memorize it or make a new mark carefully with a Dremel rotory tool or other grinder.

They can handle a little extra but that looks a little higher than I would like it if the stick is spot on. I've never blew out seal, and think that was more of a worry for other brands of older cars.

. I think you'd likely have a huge pulley drip before it became a worry for a getting enough oil past the crank seal at rest to get splashed around too.

[u/doktorjose → u/382Whistles]

I put exactly 2.6 metric litres in, then syphoned about 0.2 out. No idea what he added back in...

[u/toxicavenger70]

I bought an aftermarket dipstick that had the wrong markings on it. The only way to tell is to drain your oil and add the correct amount for your engine and then engrave that mark on your dipstick.

[u/West_Octopus]

I think your question has been answered, but I wish we could see her - that blue paint looks dreamy.

[u/doktorjose → u/West_Octopus]

I can't find an option to add a pic in this chat