Golf TDI - Oil overfilled

[mtj007]

I have checked the oil in my TDI twice now (picked up the car 2 weeks ago today), both times when the car was cold ie first thing in the morning and parked on a level surface.

The oil is above the maximum point, about half way up the little ball shaped thing. This is the level it was at from the dealer, we have not added any oil to it.

In the manual it says that filling above the maximum point can cause damage to the catalytic converter and not to start the vehicle so I am a bit concerned about it. It has done a bit over 1000km.

I am going to call the dealer today but I was hoping to get some other opinions from you guys/girls as well.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[neil]

I think you will find most TDI have been slightly overfilled for the run in period.
Do a few more searches on this forum and you will find a few threads on it.

Have yet to have my first service and will be interested to see if they do overfill again.

[bazzle]

Im guessing the factory has overfilled them on purpose.
It probably is not an issue with level they fill to.
VW may also expect some to be burnt off and if no one checks it give them insurance re too little.

Bazzle

[Greg Roles]

If you drive it nice and hard ( as you should for run in ) you will use that extra oil. If it's only a little overfull I wouldn't worry, it's a tractor engine afterall. You'd have to overfill it quite a bit to generate the oil pressure required to blow the oil past the rings from below, and produce a ton of smoke that would possibly clog the DPF converter. They are allowing for people with no idea. My mechanic bro has seen cars filled to the top of the oil hole in the tappet cover before....

[Russ59]

I don't know about others but I find the dipstick in the TDI a PITA to see where the level of oil is. Whatever happened to the good old stainless steel dipstick at least you could see the oil level on those.

[mtj007]

My mechanic bro has seen cars filled to the top of the oil hole in the tappet cover before....

I can assure you that wont happen.

Seems it is nothing to worry about then which is good because I am really enjoying the car.

I am not babying it either , once it is warm it gets worked - the only time it seems to have switched into the 'economy' mapping in Drive is after my mum drove it... she still doesn't seem to believe me when I say she needs to work her Passat TDI more and ditto when she is driving the Golf. I guess 30 years of economical driving habits are hard to overcome

Anyway, thanks for your help,

Matt

Edit:

I don't know about others but I find the dipstick in the TDI a PITA to see where the level of oil is. Whatever happened to the good old stainless steel dipstick at least you could see the oil level on those.

Glad I am not the only one who thinks that a black dipstick was a stupid idea... I had to take it out of the garage and into direct sunlight to see it properly.

[vanDub]

My solution

I don't know about others but I find the dipstick in the TDI a PITA to see where the level of oil is. Whatever happened to the good old stainless steel dipstick at least you could see the oil level on those.

2 seconds with some white spray paint I had lying around.

[Russ59]

2 seconds with some white spray paint I had lying around.

I have considered doing that myself but wasn't sure if the (thinners based) paint might react with oil, probably wouldn't do any harm to anything though and certainly makes it a lot easier to check the level.

[gregozedobe]

I have had a long discussion about oil levels in engines with the service people at my dealer, as they always overfill my TDI motor. My TDI uses little or no oil.

Their view is that lots of people complain if they fill to the correct level (? ! ), plus lots of TDIs use some oil so the level needs to be higher to allow for that, otherwise they get even more complaints (probably from people who believe you shouldn't have to check the oil level in an engine at all).

I think next time I'll offer $5.00 cash direct to the technician if he will fill it exactly to the top of the cross hatching on the dip stick (as opposed to 3-4 mm ABOVE the max mark indicated by the arrow at the bottom of the top "bulb" on the stick)

[acdcfan]

Just drive slightly harder after service and you will burn excess oil

[gregozedobe]

Just drive slightly harder after service and you will burn excess oil

As I said earlier:

My TDI uses little or no oil.

[bazzle]

Maybe diesel is bypassing rings and filling sump??

Just joshing.... Bazzle

[acdcfan]

Maybe diesel is bypassing rings and filling sump??

Just joshing.... Bazzle

Oh no......