View Full Version : Overfill of engine oil
NCF 110
18th December 2012, 09:29 AM
I change the engine oil in my 200tdi Defender on the weekend , I`v over filled it :o, the oil is covering the danger mark on the dip stick , (fully across the danger sign ) will this be OK or should I remove some oil . And if so whats the easiest way to do this .
Thanks Stewie
disco2_dan
18th December 2012, 09:39 AM
If its covering or even close to a DANGER sign then its pretty self explanatory I would think..... Take out some oil or there is a danger you will ruin something... Undo the sump plug and let some oil out.....
GILLOVERLAND
18th December 2012, 09:44 AM
Swap the oil filter for a new one. There only cheap and doing this will remove about a pint of oil.
Overfilling the engine with oil can cause serious damage!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
NCF 110
18th December 2012, 10:30 AM
Used the sump method , first go took to little out , so undid sump bolt again , but this time just about emptied the lot could not get the bolt back in :o
Back to normal level now . 
Thanks Stewie
disco2_dan
18th December 2012, 10:50 AM
Used the sump method , first go took to little out , so undid sump bolt again , but this time just about emptied the lot could not get the bolt back in :o
Back to normal level now . 
Thanks Stewie
Lol done the same myself a few times now, it's a little messy but hey if your not getting dirty then your not havin fun!
manic
18th December 2012, 03:21 PM
How much oil did you put in?
I done mine recently, I put in 6 liters and a bit more in the filter. When checking the dipstick before starting it was over the MAX level, just up to the twist in the stick.  I knew it had been completely drained and that less oil had gone in than stated capacity so I started it up.
After an idle and then checking it again, the dipstick showed around the minimum oil mark.  The car hadnt moved off the drive, and there were no leaks. So whats that about!?
Now my dipstick is impossible to read, it has a drop of oil at the tip and then a streak up the side like its run off, oil so clear you cant tell where it was.
I suspect after messing around with the position of my disptick I have rendered it useless.
Just saying, the dipstick can read false.
ugu80
18th December 2012, 03:39 PM
You will never have to worry about overfilling again.
Fumoto Oil Drain Valve - Something good for a change (http://fumoto.com.au/)
uninformed
18th December 2012, 06:39 PM
How much oil did you put in?
 
I done mine recently, I put in 6 liters and a bit more in the filter. When checking the dipstick before starting it was over the MAX level, just up to the twist in the stick.  I knew it had been completely drained and that less oil had gone in than stated capacity so I started it up.
 
After an idle and then checking it again, the dipstick showed around the minimum oil mark.  The car hadnt moved off the drive, and there were no leaks. So whats that about!?
 
Now my dipstick is impossible to read, it has a drop of oil at the tip and then a streak up the side like its run off, oil so clear you cant tell where it was.
 
I suspect after messing around with the position of my disptick I have rendered it useless.
 
Just saying, the dipstick can read false.
 
If the dipstick is in the origial postion and the original brand/type, how is it going to read false......have a think about it.
uninformed
18th December 2012, 06:42 PM
Do not over fill. 1mm above the max mark is going to be ok, but it doesnt take much over it to ruin an engine....ask me how I know :angel:
 
Depending on how well you drain the oil, how much you charge the new filter with, will determine how much you actually pour in the top to hit the full mark on the DS. Remember the engine should be final checked, sitting 5mins AFTER it has reached operating temp.
 
BUT DO NOT run up to temp if the DS is reading above max, when cold after filling....drain required amount.
 
PS, we are talking diesels here
justinc
18th December 2012, 06:50 PM
In the OP's defence, the 200 Tdi is notoriously easy to overfill.
The dipstick enters the oil level at an oblique angle. This means a 200 Tdi engine will take less from low to high level that a 300 Tdi. Almost 500ml compared to 1 litre.
I always add 6 litres, and after running and leaving for  a few minutes, you find it will only take  about another litre. Of course, I have had to use 7.5 litres in the odd one, too.:o
JC
123rover50
18th December 2012, 07:11 PM
I was going to ask this too but did not bother.
Dipped hot, like just stopped. its on the low mark.
In the morning , cold its above the high mark.
I think its more important to keep it above the low when hot as I figure on start up it drops straight away.
manic
18th December 2012, 11:23 PM
If the dipstick is in the original position and the original brand/type, how is it going to read false......have a think about it.
I've heard of stories where people have had the tube drop deeper into the sump or have had them refitted incorrectly. Also because of all the bends on the 200tdi disco dipstick tube it seems to fudge the reading by the time you get the bloody stick out and clear of the tube. I cant get consistent levels with mine, its bloody crap to read especially when the oil is fresh clean and clear.
Mine was above max by quite a bit more than 1mm after initial fill, but dropped to something nearer minimum after having been run up to temperature. 
So thats why I asked how many liters were put in. My dipstick tries to **** with me so I'm more comfortable knowing that I have put in the required amount.
uninformed
19th December 2012, 07:09 AM
I've heard of stories where people have had the tube drop deeper into the sump or have had them refitted incorrectly. Also because of all the bends on the 200tdi disco dipstick tube it seems to fudge the reading by the time you get the bloody stick out and clear of the tube. I cant get consistent levels with mine, its bloody crap to read especially when the oil is fresh clean and clear.
Mine was above max by quite a bit more than 1mm after initial fill, but dropped to something nearer minimum after having been run up to temperature. 
So thats why I asked how many liters were put in. My dipstick tries to **** with me so I'm more comfortable knowing that I have put in the required amount.
Do you fill the filter up before fitting? What are you using to measure the amount of oil going in?
Blknight.aus
19th December 2012, 09:04 AM
the solution is surprisingly simple.
take to the distick with some very coarse sand paper and sand it across the stick in the oil indication area.
when filling the tdi200 I just add the first 5l straight from the bottle then top it up in 250ml shots.
manic
19th December 2012, 12:49 PM
Do you fill the filter up before fitting? What are you using to measure the amount of oil going in?
Yes filter filled as best as possible given it needs to be fitted at an angle. I measure by container, I purchased oil in a 5 liter bottle and a couple of 1 liter bottles, all of them had a side level indicator. The dipstick read too high after 6 liters in but I knew I had under-filled if anything.
Another thing I just thought about, my rover suspension has it slightly lurched over to one side, so perhaps another way for the dipstick levels to get skewed!
---
Love the sandpaper idea Dave! Will give that a go, and then take a reading with a spirit level on the top of the engine to be sure. I refitted the dipstick only recently at the correct height but will check it again to make sure it hasn't slipped since.
The overfill danger is running on oil, engine run away right?
ugu80
19th December 2012, 02:07 PM
Technical Q.  Does soot in the oil settle to the sump overnight?  
My last oil change on the 300tdi I fitted a sump valve/tap in place of the plug.  Did a short run and the next morning checked the oil level.  As you would expect, oil on the dipstick clean and hard to see, but a little high (nothing you would normally worry about).  With the new tap, decided to drain maybe 200ml off.  Opened the tap (cold oil) and out came a thick black sludge as 5000km+ oil.  I know a half litre or so is left in the sump after draining so this was on top of that again.  I drained around litre until I got clean oil.  Maybe it should be my future practise to have a short run and drain the cold sludge the next day and top up after a change.
When I drain oil I drain it hot with the filler cap off and just let it drip for an hour or so until nothing comes out, so I didn't 'short' drain the sump.  I always change the filter at every oil change.
uninformed
19th December 2012, 04:02 PM
Yes filter filled as best as possible given it needs to be fitted at an angle. I measure by container, I purchased oil in a 5 liter bottle and a couple of 1 liter bottles, all of them had a side level indicator. The dipstick read too high after 6 liters in but I knew I had under-filled if anything.
 
Another thing I just thought about, my rover suspension has it slightly lurched over to one side, so perhaps another way for the dipstick levels to get skewed!
 
---
 
Love the sandpaper idea Dave! Will give that a go, and then take a reading with a spirit level on the top of the engine to be sure. I refitted the dipstick only recently at the correct height but will check it again to make sure it hasn't slipped since.
 
 
The overfill danger is running on oil, engine run away right?
 
seems there is always one more variable.............:angel: 
 
Like I said if all things are in good orginal condition (not modified, buggered, moved or sagged) then there will be consistancy in the dipstick.
 
I get that its on an angle and not dead easy to read, but If you are doing your oil changes on hard, flat, level ground, using the same filter and oil, then after a few you are going to get a good idea of how much is needed. Given hot oil will drain well, and removing the filter will allow for some oil loss in passages, then when you fill, check cold and then run, there is going to be oil in places other than filter and sump, and there are going to be 2 diffferent readings.  If your DS reads high, but your 100% sure that you have not put enough in, do what works for you, either add more, or run it and check......quite simple.
 
As the manual says, check on flat level ground, get upto running temp (not 50c....) and let sit for 5 mins then check. If each time all things are same you then have some consistancy to go from.
 
yes diesel engine can and will run on its own oil....no way of stopping it with the key and can result in full distruction of engine.
disco2_dan
19th December 2012, 07:00 PM
Technical Q. Does soot in the oil settle to the sump overnight? 
 
My last oil change on the 300tdi I fitted a sump valve/tap in place of the plug. Did a short run and the next morning checked the oil level. As you would expect, oil on the dipstick clean and hard to see, but a little high (nothing you would normally worry about). With the new tap, decided to drain maybe 200ml off. Opened the tap (cold oil) and out came a thick black sludge as 5000km+ oil. I know a half litre or so is left in the sump after draining so this was on top of that again. I drained around litre until I got clean oil. Maybe it should be my future practise to have a short run and drain the cold sludge the next day and top up after a change.
 
When I drain oil I drain it hot with the filler cap off and just let it drip for an hour or so until nothing comes out, so I didn't 'short' drain the sump. I always change the filter at every oil change.
 
my personal "guess" at this one would be thats all the rubbish left in the engine from the old oil, you can actually get a bottle of stuff i think nulon or one of those brands i think its call engine flush or engine oil flush and you put it in the oil run it for 5 or 10 mins then service it as usual, every time ive used it, its really amazed me whats come out lol
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