[TerryT]

What a difference a new day, a 24” computer monitor and computer glasses can make.  Yesterday afternoon I had my home carpets steam cleaned and had to wait until now before I could access the room with my main computer and computer glasses (accidentally left in there). 

I figured my ancient 15” laptop on the kitchen table would be good enough to temporarily handle the day’s important stuff (like emails) and interesting stuff (like forum post about oil levels).  Well, the smaller screen with its average resolution coupled with my less-than-good vision caused me to mistake a “shadow” on DarraghR’s dipstick as oil!  D’oh!!

Now back on my big computer screen I can clearly see that the oil level on the dipstick is at the Green arrow, not at the Red arrow where I thought is was. See photo below. D’oh!, again,  (I wondered why no-one else was seeing the same issue I was seeing 😊).  Sorry, DarraghR, for misleading you.  As others have said, that level over the F mark is ok and just check levels say, weekly.

@DarraghR - But I’m still a bit confused by the final sentence in your last post: “Current level is on F mark when cold and about 85% after engine was running hot.”  I assumed the “85%” refers to the distance along the dipstick from Low to Full, i.e. the level is about 15% below the Full mark.  If so, I don’t understand how the same oil when checked hot can be lower on the dipstick than when checked cold UNLESS you didn't wait the 5 minutes after turning off the engine and you checked it straightaway.  But, I thought you were checking oil levels according to the owners manual?

What have I missed (apart from taking my meds)?  Anyone? 😊

[TerryT]

My head hurts! but thanks anyway Terry! 

Dazzler,

I've deleted two paragraphs from my original post which, on reflection, weren't necessary and make the post slightly more reader-friendly (just "slightly" ).

[Dazzler]

My head hurts! but thanks anyway Terry! 

Dazzler,

I've deleted two paragraphs from my original post which, on reflection, weren't necessary and make the post slightly more reader-friendly (just "slightly" ).

You didn't have to do that mate! I have a medical condition (Parkinson's ) which seems to make me less able to absorb complicated written scenarios and the like. I can no longer read complicated books or follow complicated story lines on TV shows either! 

[TerryT]

My head hurts! but thanks anyway Terry! 

Dazzler,

I've deleted two paragraphs from my original post which, on reflection, weren't necessary and make the post slightly more reader-friendly (just "slightly" ).

You didn't have to do that mate! I have a medical condition (Parkinson's ) which seems to make me less able to absorb complicated written scenarios and the like. I can no longer read complicated books or follow complicated story lines on TV shows either! 

Nah, mate, I think it needed it .  I'm a chatty person when something interests me and that can be reflected in forum posts.  I'm just a bit embarrassed that through a sequence of events I 'misread' a photo and gave DarraghR some poor advice. 

I am aware of your Parkinson's; I've seen your "I've-been-probed-by-aliens" headpiece; and I'm impressed by your determination to soldier on.    

[Dazzler]

Cheers Terry, you may have noticed I'm naturally chatty too... 

[tw2005]

I'm stuck on the waffles, Hmmmm.

[DarraghR]

It might be hard to tell but it is reading at F. When I pull the dipstick out sometimes it collects excess oil along the edges past the F level.

@TerryT - "But I’m still a bit confused by the final sentence in your last post: “Current level is on F mark when cold and about 85% after engine was running hot.”  I assumed the “85%” refers to the distance along the dipstick from Low to Full, i.e. the level is about 15% below the Full mark.  If so, I don’t understand how the same oil when checked hot can be lower on the dipstick than when checked cold UNLESS you didn't wait the 5 minutes after turning off the engine and you checked it straightaway.  But, I thought you were checking oil levels according to the owners manual?"

This may be some misinformation on my end due to taking the readings in different spots and the car may not have been on completely flat ground. Also I may have mixed up my hot and cold readings.


Right here are the readings I took after my 150k+ drive.

This was taken after the car was running for over an hour.



Taken 5 minutes later



And the next day




I found that I had to put the dipstick in quite a few times to get a reading today. As you can see on the last picture there is some excess oil past the F mark. Would this be an indication that I have a little bit too much in there? Really do not want to f**k up the engine with overfilling.

[CraigB]

Going by the last two pictures it's perfect, check again in a couple of weeks and it should still be the same if all good

[TerryT]

@ DarraghR.

Photo #2 (after 5 minutes) is the money shot, that's what you want, imo.  All good, just drive it.

Photo #3 with the two oil steaks above the Full mark is nothing to worry about, just one of the 'vagaries' that sometimes happens when dip-sticking.

You said: "...Also I may have mixed up my hot and cold readings."  Now that would explain things.

[eye30]

Nowt wrong.

Put dip stick back in and just drive normally.

Check in a week then wekly thereafter.

[DarraghR]

Ok thanks a lot guys and sorry for the confusion on my end

[mickd]

@DarraghR
Hello,  sorry ,  totally missed this thread.
Thanks for sensor update  .
How's the oil going ?

[DarraghR]

Hello The oil level is still sitting at the F or full level after 5 minutes after driving

[mickd]

Hello The oil level is still sitting at the F or full level after 5 minutes after driving

@DarraghR
 

[DarraghR]

Back again 

So about 3 and a half months later the level is sitting in the middle so the oil is going somewhere.

It is due an oil change soon and probably same for the filter. Can a dirty filter cause the oil to burn? Still no sign of any leaks.

Also I can see in the manual that this type of oil should be used  -  API Service SL or SM, ACEA A3 or above
The last batch of oil that went in is  -  API SN, ACEA C3

So by the looks it is a much lower grade oil than what is recommended for my car.

The new oil I picked up today is API SN/CF, ACEA C2/C3 so will more than likely be bringing that back ...

[mickd]

Hello again,
So thats about 200ml in 3 months, not bad. Engines usually use a little. 
How many kms- roughly? Definitely change filter 

[DarraghR]

Did 2,300 mil or 3,700 km. But as previous people have mentioned should the car be using or burning oil at all?

[mickd]

Another age old question.
Oil is to lubricate the system, sometimes some gets through all the bits that are supposed to stop it "disappearing ".
250 ml in 3700 km, roughly, 1 ml per 15km.
Do that oil & filter change, check "once a week or when filling tank"- sure it in the book ,,and keep driving 

[DarraghR]

Ok and finally what about the different types of oil. Based on the manual I should be returning the oil I bought and get a more higher standard 

[nzenigma]

Ok and finally what about the different types of oil. Based on the manual I should be returning the oil I bought and get a more higher standard

Sorry ,     That was before Brexit.

[DarraghR]

According to 3 different motor factors the oil I bought is what they would usually provide. So I guess the manual isnt worth jack shit ;D

[nzenigma]

According to 3 different motor factors the oil I bought is what they would usually provide. So I guess the manual isnt worth jack shit ;D

 


   Jack Shit (1987) said: "Any thread may reach biblical proportions" !