Oil top up question

[nigpdreadingfc]

Hi. The oil level in my Cali is about 1/4" above the low level mark. Is it safe to put a full litre top up in, without fear if over fillong, please?
TIA

 

[andyinluton]

Depends if your oil is hot or not.

Check the instructions carefully, personally I wouldn't fill over halfway so perhaps 1/4 litre from where it is now.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Are you checking the level with the engine hot (but switched off for 5 minutes to allow the oil to settle back into the sump)? Hot oil expands and gives a different reading. I still don't know for the life of me why VW insist on a "hot engine" oil reading, it's a pain.

Assuming you have done this, I would just add a bit at a time (maybe 200ml ish) and let it settle for a few moments and re-read the dipstick.

 

[Perfectos]

Min - Max is 1 litre ,
allowing for expansion when hot do not fill past half way on dip stick.
(dealers have been instructed to fill to half dip stick level to prevent “oil overfill “ alerts.

Remember these engines hold 7 litres of oil , no oil showing on The dipstick , would still potentially mean there was a significant amount of oil in the engine.
Aim for half way up dip stick when engine warm (90 deg) park on flat, turn off engine wait 5minutes take the level reading. Top up a little at a time checking after a few minutes.

See link below - Post 21 explains why

Oil alert

For info: Brand new Cali Beach camper (which I love), has had the alert come on for too much oil - reduce level (workshop), since new. Been to our local VW van workshop twice. On second visit informed that there’s a software update required. So, they’ve reset it. The light will almost certainly...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[RockinNRollin]

Min - Max is 1 litre ,
allowing for expansion when hot do not fill past half way on dip stick.
(dealers have been instructed to fill to half dip stick level to prevent “oil overfill “ alerts.

Remember these engines hold 7 litres of oil , no oil showing on The dipstick , would still potentially mean there was a significant amount of oil in the engine.
Aim for half way up dip stick when engine warm (90 deg) park on flat, turn off engine wait 5minutes take the level reading. Top up a little at a time checking after a few minutes.

See link below - Post 21 explains why

Oil alert

For info: Brand new Cali Beach camper (which I love), has had the alert come on for too much oil - reduce level (workshop), since new. Been to our local VW van workshop twice. On second visit informed that there’s a software update required. So, they’ve reset it. The light will almost certainly...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

[/QUOTE

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

 

[Betsycalifornia]

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

German logic. That’s what we are all missing.

 

[Perfectos]

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

Mine is not to reason why!

That is the factory requirement/ instruction

 

[Steve1]

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

I wondered this, it does seem quite common on not only German cars. Do you think it might be because at the service the garage could never get the engine cold enough to do a cold level dip so they calibrate it for a hot test instead? That's the only thing I could think of.

 

[dspuk]

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

Checking oil when hot and having stood in the flat for 5-10 minutes allows all the oil to have gone into the pan for an accurate reading that is independent of external conditions like ambient temperature, time of year etc.

 

[WelshGas]

Interesting but increasingly asks the question why to measure when hot. Surely allowing for the oil to drop back down introduces yet another variable - how long? I really don’t understand why the dipsticks aren’t calibrated from cold. Surely most people check oil before, not after, a journey. Maybe I’m missing something?

But how COLD is cold?
10c, 5c, 0c ?

 

[kurienp]

Also, is your van level? What may appear as level may not be and can give a wrong reading.

 

[TripleBee]

You drive your engine hot (water and oil temperature approx. 90°C. or more for the oil). Stop your engine and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. This allows all the oil to flow down from the top of the engine to the sump. If your engine was not warm enough, part of the oil won't flow back down because the oil is too thick to flow all back down.
Also, warm oils expands a little (7,5 liters makes a bit more expansion).

At that level of oil "missing" you can add 0.5 liters, wait some minutes again, or preferably to for a drive again to get the new oil hot enough to all drop down again.
If you put in 1 liter, the oil will be above maximum, and then you can get trouble with oil being consumed by the engine, clogging the DPF and other filters.
Just to reassure you, a little above maximum won't be a problem, but a few liters above maximum surely will be.

 

[Allard Jongebloed]

VW is actually very clear about this. I use the digital manual, search for oil check and you will be explained in 17 steps how to properly do this. About the why this has to be done with a warm engine, that's how it's calibrated.

 

[andyinluton]

Just to reassure you, a little above maximum won't be a problem, but a few liters above maximum surely will be.

I'm, sure you mean a few millilitres? Even a litre over could cause serious damage.

Any amount over the max on a new van is a problem as there is a very annoying overfill sensor that sounds an alarm & displays a warning message until you reduce the level.

 

[TripleBee]

I'm, sure you mean a few millilitres? Even a litre over could cause serious damage.

Any amount over the max on a new van is a problem as there is a very annoying overfill sensor that sounds an alarm & displays a warning message until you reduce the level.

Yes, the oil level sensor will warn you about too much oil, as it will warn you for too low level of oil.
But still there is room for play, but to play safe, the level sensor will warn you about too much oil.
Will this mean your engine will cease immediately? No. So 100ml above maximum doesn't do harm to the engine, but can trigger the oil level warning.

If you want to stay safe, keep your oil level between half and full mark. Ideally around 3/4.

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

UPDATE.... I drove it long enough to get up to running temperature, parked up nice and flat, waited 10 minutes and did a dip.
The level was 1/2" above the bottom mark, so I think I'll leave it as is for the time being.
Thanks all for your thoughts, comments and advice, much appreciated