Well, different folks use different approaches.  I drain the oil when warm (preferably not hot, because that can be painful), refill with four quarts, measure, start the engine, drive a little, rest the vehicle for an hour or so, measure, and bring up to halfway between the two marks.  Usually, when I then start the engine and drive it a bit, then measure again, the dipstick shows to be near the top mark. I live in Oklahoma, but drive all over. Winter temperatures here can run to 10 below F, but vary wildly, with typical January lows/highs being 20/40.  It can be 60 in January, or it can be below 20 for the high for a week straight.  Summer can reach 115 F. Once we hit May, it is unusual for the temperature to drop below 60 F until mid-September.  I use conventional 20W50 oil April through October (changed early this year because I was traveling to Big Bend National Park), conventional 10W40 if I drive the van in winter. This is on a 2.1 boxer.  1991 VW Vanagon GL Campmobile.  Rebuilt engine with 75K miles.  Has a TenCentLife supplemental oil cooler.

mcneely

---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote: 
> On 05/11/2014 07:06 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> 
> "If the oil cooler can really do the job then it should not be problem.
> The excess will burn off."
> 
> So this slight overfill isn't enough to lead to frothing? How much
> overfill is too much?
> 
> I was surprised that 1/2 quart (500ml) raised the level on the dipstick
> from just below the bottom notch to just above the upper notch. I
> checked a number of times a waited to make sure that the new oil had had
> a chance to settle before deciding to add the extra.
> 
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
> 
> On 05/11/2014 07:06 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> > If the oil cooler can really do the job then it should not be problem. The
> > excess will burn off. I'm curious about your winter blend versus camping
> > season blend! An easy way to get rid of excess oil is to remove the filter,
> > pour some out and just re-install it.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> > Rocket J Squirrel
> > Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2014 8:00 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: A tiny overfill of oil -- enuff to worry about?
> >
> > 1.9L, with a tencentlife oil cooler setup.
> >
> > I changed the oil today, as I do every spring, from the winter blend to the
> > camping season blend. Also changed the oil filter. My notes had me put in 4
> > quarts of new oil, which I did. After letting things settle a bit, I checked
> > the dip stick -- it was barely up to the lower notch. I checked it a couple
> > more times, same results.
> >
> > So I put in half a quart (about 500 ml) of additional oil -- and the reading
> > jumped to just above the upper notch. About 1/8'' (3mm) high.
> >
> > Honestly, it kind of surprised me that 500ml would raise the measured level
> > that much.
> >
> > I ran the engine until it got hot enough to open up the oil cooler
> > thermostat and send oil to the remote oil cooler -- but it still measured
> > high.
> >
> > I really don't like climbing under the van. And I am constitutionally lazy.
> > But if the community says that 3mm overfill is Not A Good Idea, I will drain
> > a bit of the oil off.
> >
> > So -- whatcha think?
> >
> > --
> > Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> > 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> > Bend, Ore.
> >

--
David McNeely