Engine overfilling advice please

[Lord Sterling]

Bored shitless at work today, I took the opportunity of being the only person in the whole business park around. So I parked my car by the doors and hoovered it and checked the underbonnet fluids to check all was correct and present. The engine oil seemed very low, the dipstick reading was wierd, it was very low, hardly touching the dipstick, but there were traces of it up the very edges up the dipstick.

 

Anyhow, after work I managed (eventually) to grab a small bottle of 10-40 and began filling. I shot the lot in seeing as there was hardly oil and it was a small bottle, but upon checking, I noticed that I'd overfilled it by a slight margain. On the KV6, the dipstick has the 2 markers and above the top marker is a small ball-like object which I think stops the oil getting up the dipstick tube. This is where the oil is up to, so, do I need to release some oil or should I leave it and let the engine eventually consume the slight over fill?

[STUNO]

If the oil is up to or above the level of the bottom of the dipstick, follow this routine:

remove dipstick

block off crankcase breather

start engine

rev to 3000 rpm for 5 minutes.

THAT should considerably lower the oil level in the engine.

Downside is that there will be a bit of oil here and there in the surrounding area.

 

OR you could just leave it if it is not too too full.

[rml2345]

I've slightly overfilled mine on the odd occasion and it's been alright so far so I'd imagine if it's fairly slight the engine will just consume it over time.

I'm a mechanical idiot though so best wait for a more competent shiter's opinion.

[Pillock]

If it's a bit, it's fine. There's usually a litre between empty and full so if its only a smidgen above that's not really massively over full.

[Lord Sterling]

Cheers guys, its only about a thumbnail size over the high mark. It'll probably consume it over time as when I start it I get plumes of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. I think the stem seals are giving up. Another fairly common problem on these KV6s.

[saucedoctor]

+1 on what Pillock said. I'd add that Rover K Series dipsticks are a pain in the arse to read, especially if your engine & oil are clean.

[myglaren]

Buy a shorter dipstick

 

Ed:  Stupid typo.

Edited November 9, 2013 by myglaren

[Pillock]

I've noticed modern VAG dipsticks are pretty good at smearing oil all over it so you can't see the level.

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

 

[sierraman]

If its just a bit you will be fine. If theres way too much, first you would know would be it pissing through crank end seal.

[Split_Pin]

The dipstick on my Corsa is shite and I always end up overfilling it by a few mm by mistake. Been fine so far.

[Stroller133]

I nearly set fire to my Polo Coupe during an oil level confusion event.

I was at parents home,just about to go to Uni, only about 30 mile trip and checking something under the bonnet and had removed oil filler cap, probably to top up. Started to drive and after a few miles it was running rough. I lifted bonnet to find i had not replaced filler cap, in my confused state I thought the engine oil had evaporated and poured in about 3 litres and drove off again wirh cap relaced. Within minutes it was obvious something was amiss and I pulled onto grass verge, as I lifted the bonnet there was a few flames - I started to run away and looked back and it was not on fire so I went back, waited to check it was not going to burst into flames and then still drove the remaining 1/4 mile to the services. My mate towed me home in his girlfriends micra with a tow rope.

I 'm sure your Rover will be fine.