Reduce oil level

[Peter Guiton Cali]

I have a 2020 T6.1 ocean and the reduce oil level light has come on , had a service recently and a new crankshaft seal , so should be ok but the light has come on. Any advice , I’ve read you can take some oil out with a syringe , drive it for a while and then top up . Any advice please, anyone had a similar Issue

 

[Viktorgeorge]

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

Thanks , brilliant

 

[Viktorgeorge]

There are two Youtube posts on this subject by Campervantime, which complimented each over.

 

[tobyprivett]

Watch out for that video (unless it's been updated). I got in a panic when I watched. T

I had just had the van in for a service at local independent mechanic and they overfilled the oil. They explained that they followed guidelines on some service they use - it wasn't up to date. They put to much oil in.

The manual says where to fill the oil level to on the dipstick.

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

Watch out for that video (unless it's been updated). I got in a panic when I watched. T

I had just had the van in for a service at local independent mechanic and they overfilled the oil. They explained that they followed guidelines on some service they use - it wasn't up to date. They put to much oil in.

The manual says where to fill the oil level to on the dipstick.

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

Toby , thanks , not comfortable with vw servicing had issues with 2 now in the south west , may just get a syringe and take some oil out, checked mine cold and it’s very high so they definitely overfilled it.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Retro Resus might be worth a look for servicing (?)

 

[Defender90]

Toby , thanks , not comfortable with vw servicing had issues with 2 now in the south west , may just get a syringe and take some oil out, checked mine cold and it’s very high so they definitely overfilled it.

Can I ask about the crank shaft oil seal what caused that to fail on a new ish van had a previous garage overfilled the oil?

 

[Blue Yonder]

I too would be interested.

A VW independent garage (who I trust) told me there was evidence of the front crankshaft seal leaking at just 3 years old. That is they saw small pool of engine oil in the under tray directly beneath the front crankcase seal area

However I recall accidentally spilling some engine oil 6 months earlier when I carried out an intermediate oil change by just sucking out the oil through the dipstick using a vacuum oil pump and then refilling without changing the oil filter. Having since cleaned the under tray of oil and buying a funnel it’s now four years 65k miles later. No oil pools in the under tray and the the van still does not consume oil between its 6 month oil change and filter service intervals, which I do myself but always now drop the tray check for leaks and replace oil filter too given easy once the tray is off the van


I know front crankshaft seals they are unlikely to make it past 100k miles before they need replacing. So I will replace it next cam belt service is due regardless. IF the seal fails before next cam belt service is due then I shall do both regardless to save labour cost of accessing this part of engine again in short succession

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I have a 2020 T6.1 ocean and the reduce oil level light has come on , had a service recently and a new crankshaft seal , so should be ok but the light has come on. Any advice , I’ve read you can take some oil out with a syringe , drive it for a while and then top up . Any advice please, anyone had a similar Issue

Absolutely the same.

Came on randomly, got it serviced, lights disappeared.

Lights came back with vengeance. Abs, air con, EPC, infotainment also added their voice to the disco.

I’ve bought a Carista and have identified 10 separate error codes. It smacks of a dodgy wire but perhaps it’s a software update?

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Absolutely the same.

Came on randomly, got it serviced, lights disappeared.

Lights came back with vengeance. Abs, air con, EPC, infotainment also added their voice to the disco.

I’ve bought a Carista and have identified 10 separate error codes. It smacks of a dodgy wire but perhaps it’s a software update?

Anyways, I’ve booked in at the local auto electrics specialist on Tuesday. I’ll try and feedback on what they said

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

Can I ask about the crank shaft oil seal what caused that to fail on a new ish van had a previous garage overfilled the oil?

Hi

No reason was given it just failed I assume poor product , bloody annoyed that seals and oils not covered under warranty . But had to get it replaced . Vw also dropped oil on my carpet in the back , I was fuming they cleaned the carpet and apologised and fully valeted the van

 

[Ernest Driveaway]

I'd be wondering why they'd be in the kitchen area with oil. At least you got a valet done.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

There are two Youtube posts on this subject by Campervantime, which complimented each over.

the other one to #2 above:

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

Absolutely the same.

Came on randomly, got it serviced, lights disappeared.

Lights came back with vengeance. Abs, air con, EPC, infotainment also added their voice to the disco.

I’ve bought a Carista and have identified 10 separate error codes. It smacks of a dodgy wire but perhaps it’s a software update?

Cheers

 

[Peter Guiton Cali]

I'd be wondering why they'd be in the kitchen area with oil. At least you got a valet done.

Yes I think they sat in the back , not happy , all vw seem interested in is rippping you off on tyres and doing the health check video and finding something you can’t even see. Rant over I’m now going to an independent specialist .

 

[colintfcolintf]

Yes I think they sat in the back , not happy , all vw seem interested in is rippping you off on tyres and doing the health check video and finding something you can’t even see. Rant over I’m now going to an independent specialist .

Retro Resus might be worth a look for servicing

 

[Chris Ratay]

I have a 2020 T6.1 ocean and the reduce oil level light has come on , had a service recently and a new crankshaft seal , so should be ok but the light has come on. Any advice , I’ve read you can take some oil out with a syringe , drive it for a while and then top up . Any advice please, anyone had a similar Issue

I had this twice in S. America (Ecuador/Argentina) in my 2023 - it doesn't take a lot of extra oil for the sensor light to come on. Mine was literally measuring just over max, maybe 1/4" above when the engine was warm, which is probably 1/4 of a liter as both times the dealers had filled to the mfg recommended 7.25 liters.

If I pulled the dip stick out/in, the light would go off for a long time, so I learned to live with it.

Removing extra oil is a hassle as I have a engine plate which is pretty cumbersome, and traveling remotely. The first time I had a shop remove some oil which was very messy (spill), the second time I just waited until the next service, which I was doing every 7,500km in South America

Going forward I just made sure they only put in 7 liters, and topped up on my own, so didn't have any more issues.

 

[Stevewint]

Thanks , brilliant

Hi, have you managed to wotk out how long the DPF cleaning cycle is?

 

[Stevewint]

I have a 2020 T6.1 ocean and the reduce oil level light has come on , had a service recently and a new crankshaft seal , so should be ok but the light has come on. Any advice , I’ve read you can take some oil out with a syringe , drive it for a while and then top up . Any advice please, anyone had a similar Issue

Hi, have you managed to work out how long the DPF cleaning cycle is?

 

[B J G]

Can I ask about the crank shaft oil seal what caused that to fail on a new ish van had a previous garage overfilled the oil?

Front crank oil seal is part of the plate that it is mounted in. These are composite material and distorts causing oil leak from the actual plate or the seal as it can be off centre (oval) due to this 'cheap' plate.
If having a timing belt replaced it can be cost effective to have this seal assembly replaced at the same time as all belts & pulleys need to come off. VW won't admit this poor quality fault.

 

[Resfeber]

Front crank oil seal is part of the plate that it is mounted in. These are composite material and distorts causing oil leak from the actual plate or the seal as it can be off centre (oval) due to this 'cheap' plate.
If having a timing belt replaced it can be cost effective to have this seal assembly replaced at the same time as all belts & pulleys need to come off. VW won't admit this poor quality fault.

Second that. I had a T6 that was 6.5 years old and 60,000 miles Seal was just starting to weep and coat the crankshaft pulley.
Had cam belt, water pump and crankshaft seal done as one job at Liverpool van centre
Around £1140 in Nov 2024
The opinion was “Par for the course and they always have them in stock as it is so common a replacement”

 

[John Rowson]

I have a 2020 T6.1 ocean and the reduce oil level light has come on , had a service recently and a new crankshaft seal , so should be ok but the light has come on. Any advice , I’ve read you can take some oil out with a syringe , drive it for a while and then top up . Any advice please, anyone had a similar Issue

I had this problem on my Ocean. If you knew that the oil level was ok you have to ask yourself how does the oil level rise? It's not due to more oil coming from somewhere. It's probably due to Adblue and or fueling problems. The way I understood it ( and I know other manufacturers have had similar issues) during regeneration extra fuel is used to get the heat into the dpf to burn off the spot. If the Regen is cut short by perhaps switching off the engine. Unburnt fuel can be injected into the cylinders. This unburnt fuel can get past the pistons and into the sump. If you do lots of short journeys this could happen a lot. It not only raises the apparent oil level it also degrades (waters down) the oil. I think mine was worse because of a faulty sensor. If it happens a lot you need to replace the oil completely. I think there have been some software updates. Whenever you get the chance, on a motorway, drop it down a gear and try and keep above 2000 rpm to get the exhaust temperatures up. Keeps the dpf clear. The Germans are lucky. They they have Autobahns to let rip on! I may not have explained this too well and there may be some other, more technical reasons, but just think that if the oil level is rising it's not extra oil it's probably fuel.

 

[Resfeber]

I had this problem on my Ocean. If you knew that the oil level was ok you have to ask yourself how does the oil level rise? It's not due to more oil coming from somewhere. It's probably due to Adblue and or fueling problems. The way I understood it ( and I know other manufacturers have had similar issues) during regeneration extra fuel is used to get the heat into the dpf to burn off the spot. If the Regen is cut short by perhaps switching off the engine. Unburnt fuel can be injected into the cylinders. This unburnt fuel can get past the pistons and into the sump. If you do lots of short journeys this could happen a lot. It not only raises the apparent oil level it also degrades (waters down) the oil. I think mine was worse because of a faulty sensor. If it happens a lot you need to replace the oil completely. I think there have been some software updates. Whenever you get the chance, on a motorway, drop it down a gear and try and keep above 2000 rpm to get the exhaust temperatures up. Keeps the dpf clear. The Germans are lucky. They they have Autobahns to let rip on! I may not have explained this too well and there may be some other, more technical reasons, but just think that if the oil level is rising it's not extra oil it's probably fuel.

Agree with dilution by fuel.
I tend to check the oil level quite frequently and had noticed in my previous T6 that after a series of very short running and interruption of the DPF regeneration in the winter months I can see an increase in the oil level, where as in summer, as the runs are much longer I saw a small drop in oil level and a small top up after 5 or 6000 miles.
In my present T6.1 the regenerations are much more in the background with only a slight change in engine note and absence of the coast function until the regeneration has completed. They also seem a bit shorter.
No change in oil level after 2500 miles from brand new