Hi, I've nearly put 400kms on my Focus in its first week.

I wish I'd checked the oil before because I just noticed on the dipstick that the level is above the MAX line (see attached photo).

I checked this a few times and it seems to be about 12-15mm above max.

 

(checked with cold engine, not driven since yesterday, on level ground)

 

I have left a message with the dealer, but does anyone know if this is normal to overfill a brand new engine due to the initial oil loss as it breaks in? (first oil change not due for 12 months)

 

Thanks, this has me a little freaked out.

 

Maybe it has been overfilled, but you should only read the level by the holes in the dipstick as the every time you put the stick in the engine it picks up oil from the dipstick tube and can easily fool you.

Hmm, I hope that's all it is but I checked it a few times and there did seem to be a line settling at that level from several angles.

Gosh, who'd have thought there would have been a technical development in an oil dipstick! Those holes are a great idea! All my cars have only ever had an ordinary stick with a min/max mark LOL

Check when warm

It's better to check 5-10 mins after stopping, rather than a cold engine.

From one of the Ford manuals

"The maximum oil level is between the upper hash mark and the MAX
mark. Oil levels above this range may cause engine damage. Some oil
must be removed from the engine by an authorized dealer."

From the web

THE EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH CAR OIL

https://www.total.co.uk/too-much-oil-car#:~:text=Engine damage – Too much lubricant,on the crankshaft to increase.&text=Overflowing engine oil can also,then need to be replaced.

 

I think you need to get it checked by the dealer or take it to a local garage and have them drain some oil just to be on the safe side - (if you intend any immanent long journeys)

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Check when warm

45 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

It's better to check 5-10 mins after stopping, rather than a cold engine.

Ok I checked it on a warmed up engine, a few minutes after stopping and about 15 mins later...

It had rose about 5mm higher than when completely cold - so about 17-20mm above Max.

I think I am reading it right even though it's only on one side (the other side has oil all the way up from the tube).

If Min-Max is 1 L (?), that would mean maybe 750mL overfilled? (going by cold reading) Could I have done some damage in 400kms on that (no symptoms so far)?

And do they deliberately overfill for break-in loss, or is it likely a mistake was made?

I've had engines overfilled during a service on several occasions. I suspect garages simply put in the prescribed amount without checking the dipstick because they can't be bothered to wait for the level to settle.

I take it that your engine uses petrol?

Does the dip stick smell of petrol? If so, you have major issues!!!

You may have fuel contamination in your oil, very rare for such low mileage. If the oil smells of fuel, petrol or diesel, you need to get it to the dealer ASAP and do not drive unless it's to the dealer.

15 minutes ago, VFR800 said:

Does the dip stick smell of petrol?

I can't tell; I haven't developed my palate for petroleum products 😄

(yes, petrol car)

Also the oil looks normal as far as I can tell when take off the oil cap.

8 minutes ago, Zeeb said:

I can't tell; I haven't developed my palate for petroleum products 😄

(yes, petrol car)

Also the oil looks normal as far as I can tell when take off the oil cap.

The oil will look normal, it's just being diluted by the petrol leaking past the piston rings or another route. It will kill bearings and seals if left and lead to the engine being destroyed!!!! 😉

1 minute ago, VFR800 said:

The oil will look normal ...

I see, yes I won't drive it until I hear from the dealer. I'm hoping for the best-case scenario 😧

Hey Zeeb, I just checked mine and yep, it’s overfilled by the dealer when I took it in for the 15000km service a few weeks ago. Tbh, I’m not going to worry about it. I used to overfill my Falcon and it didn’t die on me 😁
 

Edit: I think you can buy a syringe at the local chemist and a small diameter hose from Bunnings if you really want to siphon some out.

2 minutes ago, red_october said:

I just checked mine and yep, it’s overfilled by the dealer

Hmm, is it overfilled by a similar amount to my photo above? My Pulsar was often overfilled too, but one thing I read said some newer engines are less tolerant.

13 minutes ago, red_october said:

I think you can buy a syringe at the local chemist ...

Yes or maybe a pump kit from Repco/Supercheap etc - I thought about that but I thought I shouldn't touch anything yet in case the dealer has made a serious mistake, so they can see the level for themselves.

Yep, looks like it’s the same level as your pic. 
 

Good point about taking it back for them to check before siphoning some out. Didn’t think about Repco or Supercheap 👍

2 minutes ago, red_october said:

Yep, looks like it’s the same level as your pic. 

Thanks, that's a bit of a relief to hear.

Give the dealer a call tomorrow and mention that you noticed the oil level is over the MAX level and ask them if it’s something to worry about. Hope that’ll put your mind at ease 👍👍👍

As stated previously there is always an excess of oil on the tube. If you pull the dipstick out and leave it out for 10 minutes before reinserting it you may get a more accurate reading. 

The other thing I have noticed about the Dragon Engine is that the dipstick must be to one side of the Sump, because the level it shows is heavily influenced by any cross fall. As an example my car is parked on a road that looks to the human eye to be level longwise but has a noticeable camber. If I check my oil when facing one way it shows it to be 2/5th full, but facing the other way it is overfull. Try checking the level with the car facing the other direction.

Good grief, I think everyones getting carried away here. If car is new then oil will probably be exactly as it left the factory. Dealer wouldn't touch it unless it was very high/low same as coolant. Most likely scenario is it could be slightly high or the OP is misreading the dipstick or a combination of both. When I first had my MK4 I found it hard to read the oil level until someone on here pointed out that you check which hole in the stick the level is up to and not what's on the stick.

The dealer has asked their workshop to advise and sent them the dipstick photo, so I'll hopefully get info tomorrow. Will update.
 

19 hours ago, Tizer said:

If you pull the dipstick out and leave it out for 10 minutes before reinserting it you may get a more accurate reading.
...
Try checking the level with the car facing the other direction.

Leaving the dipstick out for a while did make it easier to read. Also a good tip about facing the car the other direction - turned out to be the same for me.
 

19 hours ago, Comares2001 said:

Good grief, I think everyones getting carried away here. If car is new then oil will probably be exactly as it left the factory. Dealer wouldn't touch it unless it was very high/low same as coolant. Most likely scenario is it could be slightly high or the OP is misreading the dipstick or a combination of both. When I first had my MK4 I found it hard to read the oil level until someone on here pointed out that you check which hole in the stick the level is up to and not what's on the stick.

Interesting that they may not have touched the oil, but my car was built in January and delivered in May to Australia (usually only takes about 2 months without the delay I think)... so maybe it was refilled or topped up (?)

Yes this type of dipstick with the holes might be good within the MIN-MAX range, but I found it's a bit tricky for seeing over-MAX. The tip to leave it out of the tube for a while helped, but even then only the sides showed a clear reading while the front and back still had oil from the tube above the reading...

I think I know how to read it now and I found my level is about 14mm above MAX completely cold and about 18mm above MAX with a hot engine.

The MIN-MAX scale is about 18mm which I'm guessing is about a litre or a quart, so if the sides of the sump are vertical there, I'm estimating I'm maybe 750-800mL overfilled.

A rule of thumb with engines generally I've been seeing is that up to a litre over is usually not a big deal, but hope to hear something more accurate for the Dragon 1.5L.

37 minutes ago, Zeeb said:

A rule of thumb with engines generally I've been seeing is that up to a litre over is usually not a big deal, but hope to hear something more accurate for the Dragon 1.5L.

I did read on this Forum that with the 1.0 engine Ford did state a maximum overfill amount that should not be exceeded. You might find something with a search.

So the top banana at the dealer's workshop had a look and said it was a bit over but it's not a problem. He didn't take any out. I should have asked what's the most extra it can tolerate but I forgot or chickened out because they were busy and it was what I wanted to hear. He really didn't seem concerned though.

19 hours ago, Tizer said:

with the 1.0 engine Ford did state a maximum overfill

I found some info for the 1.0L saying 4mm over is okay and another 10mm. This morning I got a cold reading of about 11 or 12mm over with the car facing in the other direction - but it's the bigger 1.5L.

I don't want to take any out unless I hear definitively it's harmfully overfull, because at the first service they might think it's been burning a lot of oil if they deliberately overfill new cars.

Mine doesn't seem to be burning any oil at all, which is great  🙂