Overfilled V6 with oil?
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Overfilled V6 with oil?
Hi,
Serviced the V6 for the first time myself today. I filled up with the recommended 5 litres of oil, however looking at the dip stick, I am concerned that I have overfilled
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4ie5u2wo1nu3 ... 9.jpg?dl=0
I presume the second notch is full (no indication on stick).
Engine was completely emptied of old oil, and oil filler replaced. Reading taken on level ground after running for several minutes and letting it settle for a few minutes afterwards.
Any ideas if this looks like I need to drain some off?
Serviced the V6 for the first time myself today. I filled up with the recommended 5 litres of oil, however looking at the dip stick, I am concerned that I have overfilled
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4ie5u2wo1nu3 ... 9.jpg?dl=0
I presume the second notch is full (no indication on stick).
Engine was completely emptied of old oil, and oil filler replaced. Reading taken on level ground after running for several minutes and letting it settle for a few minutes afterwards.
Any ideas if this looks like I need to drain some off?
- Simon Jones
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 9341
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Salisbury (ish), Wiltshire
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
What oil have you put where? That appears to be the gearbox dip stick and it's massively overfilled. The engine oil dipstick is on the passenger side as seen with the yellow ring:


Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
I would say don't drive it until its sorted.
So many horror stories here start with a drive of 'Just a short distance, I had to...'
So many horror stories here start with a drive of 'Just a short distance, I had to...'
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
DorsetSi ,regarding the gearbox fluid level this requires to be checked / tested with the engine Running and the selector in Park after ranging through the gear positions a couple of times.
- mikeWalsall
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 3075
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:11 pm
- Location: Walsall West Midlands
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
Like in Simons picture the engine oil dip stick is at the N/S front of the engine (by the dizzy) ..
It looks like you are dipping the Dexron3 auto fluid .. and not the engine oil ..!!

Mine is a V6 and it takes the full five liters .. but the level is usually a touch .. under .. the top notch.
It looks like you are dipping the Dexron3 auto fluid .. and not the engine oil ..!!

Mine is a V6 and it takes the full five liters .. but the level is usually a touch .. under .. the top notch.
JAL Mushroom roof,12/240v, fridge, cooker, sink, LPG V6 .. (written off @ £5500 Nov 2016)
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?

I will check the level with the correct dipstick this evening.
I will also check the transission fluid with the suggested procedure to ensure that looks OK too.
Thanks again.
- Simon Jones
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 9341
- Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Salisbury (ish), Wiltshire
- mikeWalsall
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 3075
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:11 pm
- Location: Walsall West Midlands
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
Don't feel to bad ..
I have had my Bongo three and a half years .. took it in today to have the tracking done ..
Driving it back home something was definitely not right .. a kind of grabbing on ..off feel ...
I was thinking about turning round to go back .. looked down .. the mechanic had put the handbrake on ..!!
With having to put it in 'P'ark to get the ignition key out.. that's all I normally do ..!!
I have had my Bongo three and a half years .. took it in today to have the tracking done ..
Driving it back home something was definitely not right .. a kind of grabbing on ..off feel ...
I was thinking about turning round to go back .. looked down .. the mechanic had put the handbrake on ..!!
With having to put it in 'P'ark to get the ignition key out.. that's all I normally do ..!!
JAL Mushroom roof,12/240v, fridge, cooker, sink, LPG V6 .. (written off @ £5500 Nov 2016)
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
^^^^^^^
He he Mike
With reference to the dip stick piccy at top
My dip sticks like that and that does seem abit high
Do the check with engine running as has been said
But also the colour of that dex111 should be pink / red might just be piccy
He he Mike
With reference to the dip stick piccy at top
My dip sticks like that and that does seem abit high
Do the check with engine running as has been said
But also the colour of that dex111 should be pink / red might just be piccy
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
- mikeWalsall
- Supreme Being
- Posts: 3075
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:11 pm
- Location: Walsall West Midlands
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
The reason for having the engine running and moving the lever through the 'L' to 'P' several times is so that the oil ways / valve block / torque converter are all full of fluid and it's not all in the sump ..
I assume the auto fluid dipstick picture .. is when the engine is off .. fluid would have flowed back into the sump giving a high reading .. at a guess when you do a proper gearbox check with the engine running your level will be 'rightish' ..
Like Simon says .. with having to dip the auto box with the engine running there is a certain amount of 'splash' on the dip stick ..
I usually dip quick .. push the dip stick right in and withdraw in a split second .. check .. wipe with a clean rag then another dip in / out as quick as possible ..(errrm we are checking Dexron3 auto fluid) ..!!
Usually after a few .. very quick dips you get an accurate fluid level ..
In an ideal world the fluid should be a transparent cherry red .. but .. it's very hard to judge true colour on the metal dipstick ..
As a rule of thumb .. if it is still transparent and not obviously a smelly / muddy brown colour it will live for a bit longer ..
The best way of physically checking, is to suck some fluid out into a clear glass .. then check in a good light ..
I assume the auto fluid dipstick picture .. is when the engine is off .. fluid would have flowed back into the sump giving a high reading .. at a guess when you do a proper gearbox check with the engine running your level will be 'rightish' ..
Like Simon says .. with having to dip the auto box with the engine running there is a certain amount of 'splash' on the dip stick ..
I usually dip quick .. push the dip stick right in and withdraw in a split second .. check .. wipe with a clean rag then another dip in / out as quick as possible ..(errrm we are checking Dexron3 auto fluid) ..!!
Usually after a few .. very quick dips you get an accurate fluid level ..
In an ideal world the fluid should be a transparent cherry red .. but .. it's very hard to judge true colour on the metal dipstick ..
As a rule of thumb .. if it is still transparent and not obviously a smelly / muddy brown colour it will live for a bit longer ..
The best way of physically checking, is to suck some fluid out into a clear glass .. then check in a good light ..
JAL Mushroom roof,12/240v, fridge, cooker, sink, LPG V6 .. (written off @ £5500 Nov 2016)
Re: Overfilled V6 with oil?
Using white piece of kitchen roll or tissue will give you an idea to the colour and condition of the fluid .mikeWalsall wrote:The reason for having the engine running and moving the lever through the 'L' to 'P' several times is so that the oil ways / valve block / torque converter are all full of fluid and it's not all in the sump ..
I assume the auto fluid dipstick picture .. is when the engine is off .. fluid would have flowed back into the sump giving a high reading .. at a guess when you do a proper gearbox check with the engine running your level will be 'rightish' ..
Like Simon says .. with having to dip the auto box with the engine running there is a certain amount of 'splash' on the dip stick ..
I usually dip quick .. push the dip stick right in and withdraw in a split second .. check .. wipe with a clean rag then another dip in / out as quick as possible ..(errrm we are checking Dexron3 auto fluid) ..!!
Usually after a few .. very quick dips you get an accurate fluid level ..
In an ideal world the fluid should be a transparent cherry red .. but .. it's very hard to judge true colour on the metal dipstick ..
As a rule of thumb .. if it is still transparent and not obviously a smelly / muddy brown colour it will live for a bit longer ..
The best way of physically checking, is to suck some fluid out into a clear glass .. then check in a good light ..
