Oil level slightly too high. Should I be concerned?

SeagullFTB

Hi. I'm new to driving, so please forgive my stupidity.

I had a warning light on my Kia Sportage 2017 to say the oil was low. The lipstick was below the bottom line. I put it in 2 litres and run the engine for a few minutes. I retested and it was about 8-10mm above the maximum line. Is this a problem? Do I need to drain some oil out?

Barkin

Personally... I'd drain some out. 

Actually, I wouldn't - 2 litres is a lot to be glugging in all at once without checking. I'd top up with small amounts so that I didn't put too much in... 

The handbook probably tells you how much is needed to go from min. to max. on the dipstick. 

england99X

I would also drain it.maximum is there for a reason.park car on a flat spot and add oil gradually in small batches.giving it a couple of minutes each time for oil to filter down into the engine before checking dipstick

SeagullFTB

Barkin said:

Personally... I'd drain some out. 

Actually, I wouldn't - 2 litres is a lot to be glugging in all at once without checking. I'd top up with small amounts so that I didn't put too much in... 

The handbook probably tells you how much is needed to go from min. to max. on the dipstick. 

england99X said:

I would also drain it.maximum is there for a reason.park car on a flat spot and add oil gradually in small batches.giving it a couple of minutes each time for oil to filter down into the engine before checking dipstick

Thank you. I realise that I messed up. Would it be okay to drive on short journeys for a day or so, until I can get a suction pump to remove some oil? 

binao

You need to reduce the level.

Excess oil on some cars etc can find its way into the clutch area, housing.

The clutch plates can then become  contaminated with oil on some models.

Also sounds as if you are due an oil and filter  change.

Are you burning oil.

Good luck.

daveyjp

For future reference on most 3 and 4 cylinder vehicles the amount needed to fill from from min to max is 500ml to 1l.  Best way to top up is to add about 250ml, leave for a rew minutes, check level and add more if required.

SeagullFTB

So, we had a friend who knows more about cars, come round to drain some oil from the car. After he inspected the dipstick, he said that we didn't need to drain any oil as it was only marginally above the full line (picture attached). At this time, the car had been stationery for over 3 hours and was parked on flat ground.

Our car parking space outside our home is on a very slight incline (literally a few degrees), so he said that maybe it was causing the oil level to appear higher than it actually was. The car has been driven on 3 trips since the oil was filled, each journey about 3-4 miles. No smoke from the engine or exhaust, no smells and no bubbling on the dipstick. So it sounds like everything should be okay.

CliveOfIndia

SeagullFTB said:

So, we had a friend who knows more about cars, come round to drain some oil from the car. After he inspected the dipstick, he said that we didn't need to drain any oil as it was only marginally above the full line (picture attached).

Yep, if it's literally only a millimetre or two above the max then I wouldn't worry.  For sure, too much oil can be just as bad as too little, but for that tiny amount you'll be fine.

SeagullFTB said:

At this time, the car had been stationery for over 3 hours and was parked on flat ground.

Our car parking space outside our home is on a very slight incline (literally a few degrees), so he said that maybe it was causing the oil level to appear higher than it actually was.

This sounds right.  To get an accurate reading the car does need to be on level ground (not always easy to achieve in practice !).  And if the engine has just been running, you need to leave it 5 minutes or so to allow all the oil to drain back down into the sump.

sevenhills

Just for interest, it went into our garage over Christmas, when it came out it only lasted a morning and then the 'too much oil' warning light came back on. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6493890/too-much-oil#latest