Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: In Missoula, overfilled oil
From:Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Date:Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:02:18 -0700

"did this to him"

no body 'did' anything to anyone.
Rocket just reported on how things looked to him, and that his trust level
is lower now for that shop.

seemed to me he had a reasonable concern.
perhaps over-concerned a bit ..but reasonable.
and he didn't say anything like 'they messed up my westy engine ' ..
so no big deal.

and of course, oil level should be checked with the same method each time.
A cold reading is not the same as warm, obviously.

the ideal way to read the dipstick oil level to  me is..
engine warm, van sitting level, has been shut off a few minutes.
then wipe dipstick, take reading.
you want it between the marks.
if it's close to the upper or even 'on' the upper mark .....temporarily
acceptable but not ideal.

hope you're having a great trip Squirrel !

s.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob" <becida@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: In Missoula, overfilled oil

> At  7/31/2010 10:00 AM, Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" wrote:
>>Thanks, David (and all who have responded) -- I just called Steve and
>>left a message. I'm briefly in town where I have Internet and cell
>>service, the cabin is too remote for that fancy stuff.
>>
>>200 miles ago, with a pretty darn cool engine -- it was 95 (F) so cool
>>is relative -- the dipstick showed oil too high. This morning the level
>>is good, below the upper notch. Operator error?
>
>
> I'm guessing you didn't check it before you started the trip..
> Did you check it again after you noticed it high? Oil still in the
> tube shows up on the dipstick giving you a false reading, it
> happens.  Finding too much oil during a refuel stop and just right
> after sitting overnight is not anything I'd be worried about, the
> overnight check is probably correct ... I would be worried about my
> mechanic ever having time to look at anything of mine after I just
> did this to him on the Vanagon list.
>
>
>
>
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net