I fill the crankcase with 4 quarts to start with.  Run the engine for a bit,
let the oil settle into the sump and add enough to fill just below the full
level on the dipstick.  When I change the oil, I let it drain for at least
an hour, but it seems like there's always a bit more old oil in there
somewhere, so I fill per the dipstick, not with the quantity indicated by
the specs.  That being said, you probably haven't filled it to a dangerous
level.

Donald A. Baxter,  Graphic Designer
724 Westgate Street, #1
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
Phone: 319 337 0494
www.mindspring.com/~onanov
________________________________________________________________
Poetry is good for the corn.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory W. Baskin" <gregbaskin@BIZ-DIRECT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2000 9:23 PM
Subject: Oil Change - Too Much Oil?

> I just did the first oil change (with filter) on my new 85 1.9L.  The
specs
> call for 4.8 qts. of oil.  I put in 4.5 qts but the dipstick shows the oil
> level at least an inch above the top "full" notch.  Could this be simply
> because, since I haven't yet started the motor, the filter has not yet
been
> filled?  I don't want to start the motor if there's too much oil in there.
> Is this "looks like too much oil" thing normal?
>
> Gregory W. Baskin
> Writer & Graphic Designer
> 1891 High St., Apt. 7
> Eugene, OR  97401
> (541) 341-1781
> (509) 271-1147 (fax)
> gregbaskin@biz-direct.net