Just checked the oil on our CR140 diesel and found the oil level approx. 15mm above the top mark on the dipstick. Engine was cold when reading taken. This no doubt my fault when topping up some time ago. The car is not using much oil so the level is not dropping. Car has 3500m on the clock. Choice is to leave it and await the engine using the oil to lower the level or draining off the excess. If the latter - is there a tray under the engine that needs to be removed? I do not have the equipment to suck the oil out from the top. Any advice?

Yuo do need to remove the pan under the engine, I believe.

I would strongluý recommend removing the excess, you don't want it coming out the breather tube and you do not want the big ends dipping into theoil pool either.

15 mm sounds like a lot of excess, are you sure?????

How much did you fill in? Logically, I would be surprised if even a whole liter can would bring the level up this much.

How is the undertray removed?

Undertray, although small, looks a pain to undo all the screws. Getting the oil level lowered tomorrow via the dipstick!.

The distance between the 2 marks on the dipstick is normally 1 litre (or half a litre on some vehicles), so 15mm isn't that much. The big ends are probably still clear, but not by that much. Other than draining through the dipstick tube, the other alternative would have been to replace the oil filter, which usually takes half a litre with it.

I have just measured my dipstick:

The distance from the extreme top and bottom - the indents with little dots - is 20 mm.

The cross-hatched area "normal" area is 12 mm. From memory - not always reliable!! - I believe the cross-hatched area is less than a litre, so maybe the 20 mm equals a whole litre of oil.

Sounds like your'e overfilled with close to a litre.

I overfilled my Picasso 1.6HDI engine when the plastic end broke off the dipstick (a common problem). The garage tried to suck the excess oil out via the dipstick tube without success then drained about a litre from the sump drain plug.

The undertray is straightforward to remove with the correct torx bits. The ones at the back of the tray are very difficult to reach unless you put the car on a ramp. There again I managed to reach them when I changed the oil at 10K.

If you have any doubt about DIY, I'd take it to the dealer as it would be a straightforward job for them and you stand a chance of being able to recover that litre of oil to use for future top ups. I'd be cautious about just removing the filter because you are likely to lose a lot of oil over the front of the engine and I think that the sealing washer is a use once item and would need to be replaced.

Edit - I see that you are doing the wise thing by visiting the dealer.

Edited 26 January, 201115 yr by Trevorminor

Check the oil again like it says in the manual. If you check with a cold engine, most of the oil in the engine is back in the sump. If you check the level with the engine at operating temp. when it has been shut off for a few minutes, some oil is still left around on engine internals and you might find that the oil level isn't that far off the specified level?

Worth a try?

:yes:

Excess now sucked out via the dipstick.

Excess now sucked out via the dipstick.

Great, problem solved.

I'll bet you will be very focued next time you need to top-up

Excess now sucked out via the dipstick.

Do you know how much came out?

Do you know how much came out?

I estimate that probably 3/4 litre came out. The car had been run from cold for only about 20minutes to the garage. Dipstick checked when oil removed and seemed to be at the top hatched mark on the dipstick. Having come home and the car standing for 4 hours, rechecked the level and it is over the top hatched mark by about 12mm!

Should the oil level be checked when the engine up to temperature and switched off for say 5-10 minutes or when stone cold. If left to go cold oil will drain back to the sump and raise the level measured on the dipstick.

Check the oil again like it says in the manual. If you check with a cold engine, most of the oil in the engine is back in the sump. If you check the level with the engine at operating temp. when it has been shut off for a few minutes, some oil is still left around on engine internals and you might find that the oil level isn't that far off the specified level?

Worth a try?

:yes:

So are you saying the oil level should NOT be taken when the car is cold?

I estimate that probably 3/4 litre came out. The car had been run from cold for only about 20minutes to the garage. Dipstick checked when oil removed and seemed to be at the top hatched mark on the dipstick. Having come home and the car standing for 4 hours, rechecked the level and it is over the top hatched mark by about 12mm!

Should the oil level be checked when the engine up to temperature and switched off for say 5-10 minutes or when stone cold. If left to go cold oil will drain back to the sump and raise the level measured on the dipstick.

The oil should be check 3-5 minutes after switch off.

It doesn't matter if you have a 'two balls' or a flat dipstick, the following is correct.

Withdraw the dipstick and wipe it clean. Insert the dipstick, wait 5 seconds and withdraw it again.

If the oil level is below the lower kink/top of lower ball the the engine has been operated with insufficient oil.

If the oil level is above the lower kink/ball you must top up.

If the oil level is in the hashed area, there is no need to top up.

If the oil level is between the hash area but doesn't reach the upper kink/ball you should not top up.

If the oil level is above the upper kink/bottom of upper ball the engine has been operated whilst overfilled.

Edited 27 January, 201115 yr by rwbaldwin

The oil should be check 3-5 minutes after switch off.

It doesn't matter if you have a 'two balls' or a flat dipstick, the following is correct.

Withdraw the dipstick and wipe it clean. Insert the dipstick, wait 5 seconds and withdraw it again.

If the oil level is below the lower kink/top of lower ball the the engine has been operated with insufficient oil.

If the oil level is above the lower kink/ball you must top up.

If the oil level is in the hashed area, there is no need to top up.

If the oil level is between the hash area but doesn't reach the upper kink/ball you should not top up.

If the oil level is above the upper kink/bottom of upper ball the engine has been operated whilst overfilled.

Thanks for this. The oil level is now at the top of the hatch marks after the engine has been switched off for 5 minutes. If left to go stone cold, the level will be higher.

My Yeti showed it needs a service after only 9,000 mls so I checked the oil - very low so topped up and overfilled it by about 12mm!

Did not dare to drive it after looking at advice on this thread. Tried to get a syphon pipe - without success over Christmas holidays, so took it to local garage at first opportunity.

They drained it by undoing one screw at the rear of the sump - took 10 minutes and charged me a fiver. They reckoned it was about half a litre over.

Worst is the service indicator is still showing 12 days to service. But many thanks to all those who have contributed to this thread it really helped me.

Excess now sucked out via the dipstick.

The oil should be check 3-5 minutes after switch off.

It doesn't matter if you have a 'two balls' or a flat dipstick, the following is correct.

Withdraw the dipstick and wipe it clean. Insert the dipstick, wait 5 seconds and withdraw it again.

If the oil level is below the lower kink/top of lower ball the the engine has been operated with insufficient oil.

If the oil level is above the lower kink/ball you must top up.

If the oil level is in the hashed area, there is no need to top up.

If the oil level is between the hash area but doesn't reach the upper kink/ball you should not top up.

If the oil level is above the upper kink/bottom of upper ball the engine has been operated whilst overfilled.

All the above is correct, but reading the .PDF version of the manual (P192) It says Vehicle on the level (fairly obvious) and when the engine has reached "its operating temperature" - Switch the engine off....

The next page there is a caution: "The oil level must on no account extend beyond the range (A) (which has been described as above the hatched area, but below the kink or ball.) - Danger of damaging the catalytic converter"

I must admit I had not thought of that and I have only ever checked the oil level (now 3000 miles) when it has been standing around for a day or so... It has always been in the (A) range and I have not ever added any oil. I'll have to check it again - properly!

Peter

I always remove the dipstick wipe it and then re dip to take the reading. The first pull of the stick can give an exaggerated reading on any engine.

I always remove the dipstick wipe it and then re dip.

Oh, me too!

Oh, me too!

"Bob" but as its new years eve you can have that one. You don't miss the celebrations and beer by being in the corner, unless Graham thinks different

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL :cocktail: :beer:

"Bob" but as its new years eve you can have that one.

What? What did I say?

You should only check your oil level when the engine is cold, to get an accurate reading, because as someone else stated most of the oil will then be in the sump. This is very basic knowledge which I thought most people would have known, it's the same as not checking tyre pressures until they are cold, as you won't get the correct reading.

Debatable! Cold to get a rough idea yes, but 5 minutes after a stopping is what the manufactures all seem to say. I will stick to their guidelines I think.