Oil level too high in 5.7 hemi?

Biffy · 11-13-2012, 01:09 PM

Hi guys!

I just booked a service today. I got a time next thursday and in the meantime i wanted to check my oil level.

So i parked the car on a flat surface and waited five minutes according to the manual. The engine was warm (had been driving it earlier) when i turned it off. When i checked the oil, it turns out that the level is like 2-3" above the "Safe" marking on the dipstick. Am i doing something wrong here or has the last mechanic done this extremely wrong? It was at service at a Chrysler dealer last time so he should have known what he was doing. The previous owner might have added oil himself, but i doubt it.

This is a 2005 300C 5.7 Hemi. I have no problems with the car otherwise and there are no warnings or red lights from the car.

**MADDOG** · 11-13-2012, 01:37 PM

Check it again after it cools down and all the oil has settled in the pan.

Biffy · 11-13-2012, 01:51 PM

I will drive the car to my mechanic first thing in the morning.

We did wait 5 mins as the manual says tough. Is it normal to get high values on the dipstick if a warm engine only been off for 5 mins?

ivanford · 11-13-2012, 01:55 PM

I find it very hard to check the oil when hot, the oil seems to get up the dip stick tube.
I check mine cold, when the engine has stood all night.
It's very unlikely to be that much overfilled.

Biffy · 11-13-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanford

I find it very hard to check the oil when hot, the oil seems to get up the dip stick tube.
I check mine cold, when the engine has stood all night.
It's very unlikely to be that much overfilled.

I would do that but it is not parked on even ground so it won't give me an accurate reading. Before i had this problem with too much oil, i did test it when the engine was cooler. It had been off for 40 mins or so.

When i checked the oil it was a little bit below safe instead. So i drove off to my friend and then it was waaaaay to high instead.

Im off to my mechanic tomorrow morning.

ivanford · 11-13-2012, 02:42 PM

I have kept my car at the top of the safe (maximum) level with the engine COLD since new, never had a problem and it has never used any oil between changes. From memory it is 6.6 litres for an oil and filter change.

MikeHTally · 11-13-2012, 05:19 PM

2-3"?! That is WAY over what it should be. After five minutes, it might be a hair over the "Full" mark, but NEVER 2"!

Biffy · 11-14-2012, 01:23 AM

So i just gave my tech a visit. I drove about 4 kilometers to the shop so the engine was not as warm as yesterday.

When we checked it, it was instead below Safe. He said that i didn't need to worry but we added about 0.3 liters. The car will be serviced next thursday so i think i will avoid driving it until then.

Also, i must say that the "Safe" mark on the dipstick is very small and it seems hard to keep it within the mark. Especially since the ground can be tilting some without me seeing it and that will matter since the mark is so small.

Biffy · 11-14-2012, 03:14 AM

Ok, checked it again. This time with a completely cold engine. It's below safe, but not much. Added another 0.3 liter. Awaiting results.

The trick here seems to be to check the engine when cold. Thanks guys!

ivanford · 11-14-2012, 10:48 AM

As I told you, it's much easier with the engine completely cold. My car tends to sit for days or sometimes weeks, I dont even need to wipe the stick, just pull it out and it shows the current level.

I have never needed to add any oil between changes.