Oil level = oil temp?

ALX · 14th January 2002, 06:46

Last tuesday I took my car into the dealership for the 36,000 mile service, which is a minor service if I'm not mistaken. So I pick up the car and head home when not but 10 minutes later, smoke starts to enter the cabin!

I pull over, opened the hood, and noticed oil had spilled out from underneath the oil cap. At first I thought the tech was careless and spilled oil on the engine block, so I went right back to the dealership where they cleaned up the mess and gave me a new oil cap. They claim that the cap's tabs tend to warp and allow oil to seep out. With a new cap in place, the spill cleaned, and an apology from the dealership I went home.

Now yesterday I noticed the oil temp gauge needle nearly at the 210 mark after driving only 30 minutes. This is the first time I've seen it so high. Normally the needle is just past the first dot, even after some of my more spirited driving excursions.

I let the car cool down, for an hour, and checked the oil level. Sure enough, the tech had over filled the engine.

According to the dipstick (after 3 measurements) the oil level was past the full level.

So my questions are: a. I assume the high oil level is the reason for the elevated oil temp and b. can this be damaging to the car?

ALX

PS. I'm going to take issue with the dealership....

MAVERICK · 14th January 2002, 08:30

As long as you take it to the dealer immediately and have them remove the excess oil, you will not cause any damage. How much over the full line is the oil level at?

Shotoverhill · 14th January 2002, 10:05

Sorry to hear about your problem.

I needed to top up my oil last week for the first time, (c.5,600 miles) and I noticed that the oil temp was higher than usual, although only slightly higher, moving from first mark to more central.

I don't know if more oil, or too much oil should up the temp. but it looks that way.

AJ · 14th January 2002, 16:09

arggghhh... let me guess: you went to a fmw???

they overfilled my engine and i;ve noticed that my oil temp is a tad higher than what i am used to (even in the summer)...

you post makes perfect sense

alex
00 m5

ALX · 15th January 2002, 06:30

AJ,

I actually went to Peabody and have to say that this is the first time they've screwed up so consistently. Their service department is starting to suffer.

Maverick,

The "o" is where the oil level is on my car now. The "n" is where I normally have it.

xxxXxxxxxxnxXxxxox================= (this is a dipstick

)

What kind of damage could the engine sustain with too much oil?

Shotoverhill,

When adding oil to your car make sure you let the engine cool at least 30 minutes to allow for an accurate level reading. Otherwise you could over fill.

ALX

Jacob Lee · 15th January 2002, 08:31

i'm just following the manual here so someone clue me in because it wouldn't be the first time the manual wasn't the best way to go.

when adding oil, instead of waiting for the car to cool down 30 min, i thought it said something like make sure your car is warmed up, then stop on a level surface and idle for at least 30 sec to let the oil drain back down before shutting off car and taking a reading.

oil, warm. tires, cold. or so i thought. have i been screwing up all this time?

AJ · 15th January 2002, 15:22

ppl, you want the car at operating temp, on a level surface with the engine being off for at least 15 minutes. this allows the oil to drain back into the crankcase for an accurate reading.

overfilling can cause the eggbeater, err.. the crank to have more contact with the oil in the crank case and to foam it up. oil foaming can lead to loss of oil pressure. loss of oil pressure = really bad thing

alex
00 m5

Marcelo · 15th January 2002, 16:48

AJ, based on your last comment, then it makes sense to me that excessive oil level can cause higher temp:

IF too much oil => foaming => less pressure (pumps aspirates foam instead of fluid) => less fluid through the system => less fluid through the oil radiator => higher oil temp.
Does it makes any sense? I'm just guessing here...

I've always thought that measuring oil was better with coolest possible engine...maybe wrong?

Marcelo

pmiranda · 15th January 2002, 16:52

15 minutes before measuring ? The manual says one.

PhilSeastrand · 15th January 2002, 17:57

I just wait for the computer to tell me the oil is low. Works every time. When the warning comes, I check the oil and it's at the bottom mark. Add a quart and I good to go -- no problems with over-filling.