I have a Karoq bought 18 months ago.  A few days ago I checked the engine oil and (clearly wrongly) determined that it was time to add some oil having never checked/added oil till now, I added 1 litre.  The next drive (80km) did not flag up any issues but the following drive flagged up a warning "Reduce Engine Oil".  I have checked oil level again and clearly it is overfilled. 

My question is, is it safe to drive it another 100km to reach a location that I need to return to before having the oil drained / replaced?  

You got time to kill?  My folks did the same, added about the same amount to a full engine.  Their penance?  To get that level down drop by drop using the dipstick.  It took a while but they did it and now know the difference between “checking” and topping up”, but still blaming me.  😱

Most advice is to check the oil 10 to 15 minutes after switching off (the manual says "a few minutes").  This ensures most of the oil in the engine has drained into the sump.

 

Checking when hot i.e. when there is still oil in the system that has not yet drained into the sump can result in over filling.

 

If you can't remove the oil yourself with say a thin tube down the dipstick hole you could look for a local small garage that does oil changes via the dipstick and see if they can remove some.

 

According to model the oil capacity is between 4 and 4.7 litres, so a litre overfill (if it is that much) is quite a lot.  See https://oil-change.info/skoda-karoq-nu7-2018-engine-oil-capacity/

 

The Manual on page 268 says fill 0.5 Litre at a time.

 

"Check the oil under the following conditions and refill.  The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
 The engine operating temperature is reached.
 The engine is turned off.

Checking the level

› Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil trough. › Remove the dipstick and wipe with a clean cloth.
› Push the dipstick to the stop and pull out again.
› Read the oil level and push in the dipstick.

The oil level must be in range A » Fig. 307. If the oil level is below the range A , refill the oil."

 

Tom

Edited 19 August, 20232 yr by Sanqhar

a syringe with a piece of pipe will also get the oil out of the engine via the dip stick tube. Slowly depending on syringe size.

(Dont drop the pipe off the end of the syringe and down the dip stick pipe by mistake.)

 

Like using a Oil change vacuum pump.   

To save taking out the sump plug.

 

Oil level checks are done at Normal Operating temp, once you know enough oil in when cold. 

 

We / i might say safe for another 100 km,  but not our cars.     

*The Low oil or low oil pressure light does not come on for 100 Km after you open the bonnet.*

 

The reduce oil message might not come on for 100 Km after opening the bonnet.

@Sanqhar

 

The point about a few minutes is that all the oil is not back down.

If you want it all down dip the oil cold. 

 

Just try again your cold level, 

your hot /operating temp after a few minutes, 

then the after 15 minutes.  Are the levels different.   Highest level is cold.   Only VW 1.2 44 kW engines with 2.8 litres oil are cold checked.

 

............

Note the bottom instructions and read 'Caution'  

The issue with servicing and oil checks is Skoda said WARM, and VW, SEAT, AUDI said HOT or Operating Temperature or Normal Operating temperature. That is above 80 *oC, 90 *oC.

Too many DIY, Techs, Mechanics get it wrong straight from an Oil & Filter service and underfill with just Cold Checks, or a bit warmed up.

Edited 19 August, 20232 yr by toot

Regarding the timing - it's designed around how long it would take to fill your car with fuel, and then check the oil.  Like people used to do in the olden days.

 

So a couple of mins or so is fine.   My Merc showed the level on the dash and only needed 1 minute of engine off before it would display a reading.  

 

Hot oil runs back into the sump quickly.  It also expands a bit so in practice I find the level is near-as-dammit the same if checking when hot after a couple of mins, or stone cold.

@Rory

Generally correct.

 

Not when you are dealing with different engines TSI / MPI or TDI and oil capacities maybe only 2.8 litres and others 4.6 litres.

Oil filter on top of engine, or oil filters down low.

 

Anyway, easy to check with ones own cars cold, warm, hot.  As long as yu know in the first place the correct quantity oil is in the engine.

 

An Example.

2012 Main Dealership services and Techs / Fitters not aware of the change of 1.2 TSI's from the 3.6 litres to 3.9 litres.

(Worse still some never noticed it was different filters used.)

CAVE / CTHE 1.4 TSI should never have been only 3.6 litres and i put in 3.9 or 4 litres..

Edited 19 August, 20232 yr by toot

I always aim to keep the oil level at the centre of the hatched area on the dipstick or slightly above. Never fill more than ¼ litre in one go, and recheck the level after 2 or 3 minutes, before deciding whether to add more.

 

I often find ½ litre is enough to take the oil level from the bottom of the hatched area to the top, and not the 1 litre often quoted.

 

With fast cornering or significant gradients/tilts or extreme acceleration/braking, if the oil level is too low, there is the possibility of the the level being below the pickup and losing all oil pressure.

 

On the other hand if the oil level is too high, the crank could hit and churn the oil in the sump and aerate it, with the result of total and prolonged loss of oil pressure as oil pumps don't work with aerated oil.

 

To answer the OP's question, if you must drive with too much oil, drive very gently, avoid high acceleration, sharp braking and cornering.

 

47 minutes ago, DSL said:

You got time to kill?  My folks did the same, added about the same amount to a full engine.  Their penance?  To get that level down drop by drop using the dipstick.  It took a while but they did it and now know the difference between “checking” and topping up”, but still blaming me.  😱

Hmm...to remove 1 litre drop by drop by redipping and wiping would take around 3000 redips and wipes assuming 0.33ml removed each time, around 12 - 48 hours if done non stop.

You sadist..😉

The OP only added 1 litre and maybe 1/3 rd of a litre too much.  Who knows, they don't.

 

The Cross Hatch is Area B.  This is an issue. Dipsticks Area A is above the Cross Hatch with some dipsticks.

On the flat bit. 

Some VW Group engines were 1.3 litres low before a Low Oil Warning showed and that was a 1/3 rd of the oil capacity low.

A Low oil pressure warning might come on before the low oil warning Red Can light or message. 

 

 

 

Edited 19 August, 20232 yr by toot

28 minutes ago, xman said:

On the other hand if the oil level is too high, the crank could hit and churn the oil in the sump and aerate it, with the result of total and prolonged loss of oil pressure as oil pumps don't work with aerated oil.

 

That is a theory that does not happen in the real world, even on the track with a not well designed shortened sump without a windage tray you get some loss of oil pressure but not total, the catch tank on a dry sump system is designed to take out the aeration but due to height issues on my all steel X/flow installation in my Westfield my tank did not have the feature, it was never a problem even during endurance racing.

 

An extra litre over a 3.6l capacity is not going to cause problems, its probably exactly the level that a previous generation of that engine had before they started looking for miniscule gains for emissions ratings.

 

A pal of mine who had no Father or male role model bought his first car without anyone looking over his shoulder, he did not even know of the existence of a dipstick, he knew he had to check his oil level so he looked under the oil filler cap, it took all the oil in his can so he cycled to Halfords for another gallon, it took all that so he had to go back again, finally he got the engine filled to the brim with oil and started it 😒

 

It actually ran but sounded lumpy, no oil pressure loss through aeration but a lot of oil splashed around.

Edited 19 August, 20232 yr by J.R.

Thanks everyone for replies/advice, certainly ones feels like a dipstick here.  Interesting, mentioned in one manual extract above it says that typically 0.5l is used per 1000km.  Since buying, this is the first time I've added any engine oil (after 15000km covered) so I'm surprised that adding 1litre resulted in "Reduce engine oil" warning, but the truth is I misread the dipstick and today checked it and clearly it's well above (A)/max.  I will take it to service to drain the excess which I guess is the best resolution but will drive 80 to 100km to before this.

 

Timeline

- almost certainly incorrectly read the dipstick, then added 1litre. 

- immediately drove 80km, with no warning popping up.

- 3 days late drove 20km in hot weather, no warning, parked up for half hour then started 80km journey at which 10km in the "Reduce engine oil" warning flagged up (on motorway doing 120km/h)

- On starting next today, same warning pops up

 

Also, on that journey where the "Reduce oil" warning popped up, unlike previous 2 journeys, there were 4 passengers and suitcases so I guess this might have a bearing on load for the engine at the time.

If your oil has been in the car for 18 months why not put fresh oil in and a new oil filter while your at it ?

10 hours ago, ADG2023 said:

Thanks everyone for replies/advice, certainly ones feels like a dipstick here.  Interesting, mentioned in one manual extract above it says that typically 0.5l is used per 1000km.  Since buying, this is the first time I've added any engine oil (after 15000km covered) so I'm surprised that adding 1litre resulted in "Reduce engine oil" warning, but the truth is I misread the dipstick and today checked it and clearly it's well above (A)/max.  I will take it to service to drain the excess which I guess is the best resolution but will drive 80 to 100km to before this.

 

Timeline

- almost certainly incorrectly read the dipstick, then added 1litre. 

- immediately drove 80km, with no warning popping up.

- 3 days late drove 20km in hot weather, no warning, parked up for half hour then started 80km journey at which 10km in the "Reduce engine oil" warning flagged up (on motorway doing 120km/h)

- On starting next today, same warning pops up

 

 

With an oil capacity of, say, 4 litres and an oil consumption of 0.5l/1000km, your oil would all be consumed in 8000km or 5000 miles. As I rarely have had to top up any of my recent cars between 10k and 16k scheduled oil changes the real world oil consumption of a modern car should be much, much lower than 0.5L/1000km. I do seem to remember though that some manufacturers would not consider warranty claims until the consumption got up to very high levels. A friend of mine had to trade a 2.0 petrol Audi A4 due to high oil consumption, and Audi would never take responsibility despite many cars having this issue. allegedly due to a duff batch of piston rings.

20 hours ago, toot said:

@Rory

Generally correct.

 

Not when you are dealing with different engines TSI / MPI or TDI and oil capacities maybe only 2.8 litres and others 4.6 litres.

Oil filter on top of engine, or oil filters down low.

 

Anyway, easy to check with ones own cars cold, warm, hot.  As long as yu know in the first place the correct quantity oil is in the engine.

 

An Example.

2012 Main Dealership services and Techs / Fitters not aware of the change of 1.2 TSI's from the 3.6 litres to 3.9 litres.

(Worse still some never noticed it was different filters used.)

CAVE / CTHE 1.4 TSI should never have been only 3.6 litres and i put in 3.9 or 4 litres..

 

This different levels/capacities for different engines emphasises the importance of reading and abiding by the vehicle manual.  

 

I have a motorcycle that uses a 450cc BMW engine originally designed to race the Paris Dakar.  The engine oil capacity for this effectively race engine is 1litre (not a typing error).  Of course the oil would probably be changed daily in its designed for use.  The engine has been seriously detuned for road use  

 

There is a set procedure for checking the oil level:

 

"Always make sure that the oil level is correct. The oil level varies with the temperature of the oil. The higher the temperature, the higher the level of oil in the sump. Checking the oil level with the engine cold or after no more than a short ride will lead to misinterpretation; this in turn, means that the engine will be operated with the incorrect quantity of oil.

In order to ensure that the engine oil level is read correctly, check the oil level only after a lengthy trip or sufficient engine warming.

Allow the engine to idle until the fan starts up then allow it to idle one minute longer. Switch off the engine.

Make sure the engine is at operating temperature and hold the motorcycle upright.

Check the oil in the oil level inspection window."

 

On this particular engine when cold no oil shows in the inspection window.  Many new owners seeing this, and without having read the manual, would then top up. The result was the excess oil blowing out through the breather into the airbox which then drained all over the engine.  For those unfamiliar with bikes, many do not have dipsticks just a window in the side of the sump so the level can be visually checked.

 

This is an extreme example and I post it just to illustrate how different things can be for different engines.

 

Back to the old adage RTFM.

 

tom

 

 

 

The F**** Manual from Skoda said 'WARM' when the same engines in the VW Group models said HOT.

 

The Wait a few minutes, is just that, a few.  a handful or less, 4 or 5 minutes. 

Check at a fuel fill up as it used to say. 

 

/Normal Operating Temperature is correct and 1.2 44 kW engines checked cold.

 

There is an official UK Video that is just not right, and a US one that is nearer being correct. 

(There is a Skoda NZ check engine oil video that has the engine running...)

 

Be aware what an actual US Quart is...

 

 

No mention, of Warm, Hot or Normal operating temperature.   Because simply 'Not Clever', or correctly illustrated.

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 August, 20232 yr by toot

Did a cold start 8km journey today and no "Reduce engine oil" warning popped up so not sure what triggers the warning, seems inconsistent as this was the same journey as yesterday when it did pop up immediately on start.  Maybe suggests the oil level is only on the edge of being too much.

If you never opened the bonnet in between times or even did it is likely the same as the Low Oil or Low Oil Pressure and it does 100 km sometimes before a warning, 

but then first time it was 110 km you did.

 

So where is the oil showing now with a cold dip or a at Normal Operating temperature dip after stopped a few minutes?

Still above the cross hatch so indicating overfill.  Will be sorted tomorrow before longer journey.

On 20/08/2023 at 21:13, ADG2023 said:

Did a cold start 8km journey today and no "Reduce engine oil" warning popped up so not sure what triggers the warning, seems inconsistent as this was the same journey as yesterday when it did pop up immediately on start.  Maybe suggests the oil level is only on the edge of being too much.

Maybe you had parked on an incline or car was leaning to one side. I reckon you parked facing uphill?

 

The level sensor is mounted at the rear of the sump on the 1.5 tsi so will be affected by gradient. I think it probably can only take sensible measurements when the engine is not running, so probably measures just before you start it.

 

Note that opening the bonnet allegedly resets oil level warnings for a period, not sure if time or mileage

 

So long as the level is not showing significantly above the top of region A (see pics below) you're ok. By that I'd say 5mm max.

 

 

Edited 22 August, 20232 yr by xman

The last 2 sentences in the previous reply ( "opening the bonnet..." and the "...5mm max") seems to be the case as after the first bonnet opening the warnings ended and today's mechanic check concluded that it's over but by such a small amount to not be significant to be of concern.  It was only parked on a very slight downhill after the warning flagged up so suggests not a factor.  

Edited 21 August, 20232 yr by ADG2023

That's a relief. 

@ADG2023You were lucky finding a mechanic but what a lazy **** to not just suck out a bit of oil via the dip stick tube. IMO.

 

It is a concern, it concerned you and your car appears not not be an excessive oil user so that over fill no matter how small amount will stay high for a good while.

No concern to the mechanic if a bit too much oil in enough to give a warning because it is not their vehicle bought or paid for with their hard earned money.

 

I wonder if their boss / employer would be impressed if it was their Management car / Demonstrator giving a reduce oil warning and the Technician / Fitter / Mechanic said just ignore it.

 

PS

If a 1.5 TSI ACT then no idea what a 1.4 TSI has to do with anything.

Edited 22 August, 20232 yr by toot

1 hour ago, toot said:

PS

If a 1.5 TSI ACT then no idea what a 1.4 TSI has to do with anything.

Thank you for pointing out my fat finger issues.

The "Reduce Engine Oil" warning came on again yesterday, so I went to the same mechanic and this time he took out a vacuum pump and sucked out a litre, so the dipstick now reads at max level but not above. 

 

One comment in a reply above suggested that the warning system is reset when the bonnet is opened and will flag up again after 100km or so, this tallies with what I've seen but when I mentioned this to the mechanic he didn;t seem to believe it.   Anyway, hopefully no warning will pop up again no the excess oil is removed. 

 

I'm a Brit living in the "birthplace of Škoda" (pronounced here with a "sh" at the start for those that don't know) so all communication with the mechanic was in the native language.  Also. although not connected to the founder Emil Škoda, the local phrase "Škoda!" translates to "what a pity!". 😄

Edited 26 August, 20232 yr by ADG2023