Official oil fill level on dipstick?

[NotApplicable]

So, the problem I had was that, after a short period of easy cruising at 30mph, I went to accelerate up to 40, a huge - and I mean HUGE - cloud of blue oil smoke engulfed the car behind.

I had my Mk1 Leon FR serviced by a dealer a short while ago (OK, don't beat me up for that decision!) and I think they overfilled it with oil again. They filled it to exactly the same level as they did the last service.

I took it back for them to check and they said: "It's exactly on the line". It is my belief that they are using the wrong line, but I am prepared to be corrected.

I have a good picture of it here (if not available, please let me know):

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=1548&pictureid=5075

The green arrow is where the manual says you shouldn't fill when the level is above (to the left), between the orange arrow and the green one, you shouldn't fill. The red arrow is where the dealer thinks you should put the oil to.

Is there a definition statement from Seat (and/or VAG) where you must fill the oil to in a service?

 

[W11TTX]

Mines on the green as I topped mine up the other day I'd say the red line is way over filled and as the Manual states could fook your cat up, I'd say they have ****ed up mate

 

[NotApplicable]

My view is that the line they are talking about is the one that gets made when the dipstick is 'stamped' during manufacturing to give it the bend and the hashed area imprint.

Does that sound reasonable?

 

[nd-photo.nl]

I fill it up to max the yellow line. Red is a no go imho. Just stay between the bent area and you'll be safe. Also: dont go back to that particular dealer!

 

[Muttley]

The dealer is utterly wrong, bereft of common sense and the ability to read. They have overfilled your sump to a damaging extent - they need to replace your catalyst at the very least. Is this a VAG or Seat dealer? you should get in touch with the national dealer network people in the UK head office.

The owners handbook is one official document that tells you in no uncertain terms that the oil level should never go above the indented section: the hashed marking shows the "OK" area, and when topping up you would normally fill to the top of the hashing.

The indented section represents the full range of levels allowed: the fullest your sump should ever be is at the level you've marked with a yellow arrow.

The Haynes manual will tell you the same thing, shorn of any caveats: maximum is the top of the indent (your yellow arrow): minimum is the bottom of the indent.

Here's a diagram from Elsawin, the VAG documentation.

and the accompanying text:

Dipstick level marks

1 - Max. mark.
2 - Min. mark.
a - Area above hatched field up to max. mark: do not top up with engine oil
b - Oil level within hatched field: can be topped up with engine oil
c - Area from min. mark up to hatched field: fill with max. 0.5 l of engine oil

That's as clear as anyone can make it, and proof if it were needed that the dealer isn't reading the official workshop manual.

On top of all that, I've never come across a vehicle that required you to fill to a level above the range of the gauge: - this sounds like Spinal Tap Motors, going up to 11.

 

[NotApplicable]

That's fantastic info. Thanks Muttley. I will have a go at the dealer now!

Luckily, I have a Milltek turbo back with decat, so that's not a problem. My main concern was that it might do some damage to the turbo seals.

 

[NotApplicable]

By the way, the dealer was Humphris, a SEAT dealer in Rose Hill, Oxford.

Give them credit, I haven't had any problem with them in the previous 5 years they have been servicing the car. Must be a rogue mechanic.

Probably time to use the local garage who says he does a lot of Volkswagen and Seat cars - unless it is easy to get access to the correct sequence of services. In that case, I can probably do it myself from now on.

 

[Muttley]

OK. They advertise as a family-run dealership. Ask to speak to the family member who's Service Manager. Present your case without heat and ask what they think should be done about it. Depending on the level of apology and recompense you get, you may want to take it further, to Seat Customer Care for instance.

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/service/home.html

I'm sure you realise there's nothing to be gained by making threats or storming out saying "I'm going to report you!!!". If they don't make good their mistake, take it up the chain without any further reference - they've lost your goodwill. Indeed, if the Service Manager doesn't recognise straight away that the mechanic has made an obvious and egregious error, I'd cut the conversation short right there, because he/she is part of the problem.

They do this for a living. They shouldn't need to be told what the marks on a dipstick mean.

 

[JMTHurst]

Is your model pre DPF, I think it will be? I know the dealers are now instructed to fill the oil to the lower end of the dip stick to allow the DPF to fill up without reaching the full level in less than the service interval.
Even if you are pre DPF they should not have filled it to the red mark. Get back there and have a strong word in their ear. It could cost you big tme if it has effected the CAT.

 

[Muttley]

No Mk.1 Leon has a DPF.

How does engine oil level affect the DPF? Unless they are acknowledging that overfilling the sump and getting oil into the breather in great quantities happens often enough to require specific counter-instruction?