Technical Rising Oil Level

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Technical Rising Oil Level

if you check it right after you stop the engine, and check it again after sometime, you'd certainly observe a rise in oil level.
 
Any reasons why my oil level might be rising?

1.3 diesel - 75

I believe unburnt fuel from the regen process is dumped into the sump. Level rises & oil is degraded. Oil degrade can be checked via examiner (or alt) & oil change will be indicated on instruments. I believe in some extreme cases engine can go into `runaway' mode & destruct if you can't shut-down. Do a search. Terms: oil degradation, DPF, regeneration.

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Nuova Croma 1.9/16v 150hp
 
Thanks for those replies. I noticed the rise at about 3500 and at first thought I was losing it - mind not oil. At 5500 I took it to the garage when I was sure it was rising.

The garage then told me that I hadn't given it long enough and asked me to come back in ~500 miles as the mechanic - knew exactly where the level was. Having checked in the morning on level surface, I am certain it is well above the max and it was - I checked - about 2mm below on purchase.

When I asked the garage whether the oil could be contaminated, I was told it wasn't. When I asked how they knew that they said because the dpf parameters were OK. So apparently no physical examination of the oil has taken place.

My concerns are: if the oil has risen, then it might keep rising and therefore cause an overfill problem. If the oil is contaminated then it will affect its lubrication. If I have to keep a close eye on this, return to the garage etc - over 2.5 hour round trip - then it is not really in keeping with the 18K service interval I was hoping for. Finally how does this problem bode for the long term prospects of the car?

Other than this, the car has been running well and I am returning 62mpg average and that includes up and down steep hills on a regular basis.
 
Any reasons why my oil level might be rising?

1.3 diesel - 75

Keep a record of this photo or measurement of dip stick with date, that way you have data to pass over and they are less likely to fob you off.

As mentioned diesels can do this, there has been at least one other on here with the same symtoms. Obviously the oil will need to be changed, if you can attribute this to a fault and not "driving style" then you should get it changed free.
 
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When I asked the garage whether the oil could be contaminated, I was told it wasn't. When I asked how they knew that they said because the dpf parameters were OK. So apparently no physical examination of the oil has taken place.

It’s an estimated value – not actual. Examiner (or alternative – my garage uses Omitec) will indicate oil degrade by percentage. When the car estimates your oil is degraded or `exhausted’ – then at switch-on your flight deck will display (something like) [exhaust oil]. (See Owner Handbook).

Diesel engines running uncontrollably.
Honest John/Telegraph 2009.11.21

Mazda sicks
I bought my 2006 Mazda6 2.0 diesel in November 2007. On the M74, the engine revved uncontrollably and I noticed a lot of smoke coming from the rear. I managed to get the car to the hard shoulder and eventually managed to switch the engine off.

After a few minutes I started the vehicle but again the engine revved uncontrollably. After waiting 10 minutes I was able to drive off - only to notice the DPF light was on, then later it started to flash and the engine management light came on.

My Mazda dealer told me it only needed an oil and filter change. I explained what had happened on the motorway and they said was that it was probably due to the high oil level and oil filter. They checked the car but found nothing wrong, changed the oil filter and oil and reset the computer.

I have had the car in many times since, all relating to the DPF, smoke and high oil level.


M.C., via e-mail

The DPF is both passive and active. In passive mode it burns off particulates through heat generated by the engine and exhaust system, so will do this on fairly long motorway journeys at 2,000rpm-plus.

It also has an active function, where extra diesel is injected into the combustion chambers to create enough heat to burn off the particulates as it is exhausted.

If it doesn’t burn completely, the excess diesel sinks into the engine sump where it contaminates the lubricating oil and raises the level.

Since diesels are compression-ignition engines, once this level gets too high they will start running on their own lube oil and can only be stopped by stalling them or by stuffing the air intake with rags (which few people are willing to do against a raging engine).

Mazda strongly advises in the owner’s handbook to check the oil level regularly, and if it rises to the ‘X’ mark get your car to the dealer for a check and an oil change.

It’s a common problem with the Mazda6 2.0 diesels with DPFs, with Subaru Legacy diesels, with Fiat 1.3 Multijets in 500s and Vauxhall Corsas, and increasingly with Peugeot and Citroen 2.0HDI 16v engines.

Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring...65/Diesel-engines-revving-uncontrollably.html

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Nuova Croma 1.9/16v 150hp
 
It’s an estimated value – not actual. Examiner (or alternative – my garage uses Omitec) will indicate oil degrade by percentage. When the car estimates your oil is degraded or `exhausted’ – then at switch-on your flight deck will display (something like) [exhaust oil]. (See Owner Handbook).

Diesel engines running uncontrollably.
<snipped>

Hmm. Same thing can happen when turbos wear out. Doesn't mean they're rubbish. Look after your car properly and you won't have problems with too little or too much oil.
 
Honest John talking BS and not saying "Why the hell didn't you check your oil level regularly?" shock horror!

People these days just get in their car every day and think that the only time any maintenance is needed is at service time and then they wonder why things go wrong with their cars.....
 
urban myth - this is no longer the case

Rare, but it does happen if the oil level is massively over-filled. We had a badly maintained (non-DPF) Doblo dragged in which had reached 8k rpm after it's owner had "just topped-up the oil".

Thing is, during a regeneration some fuel will enter the sump. Over time and numerous regens the oil level will rise slightly (which is why Fiat recommend after an oil change to fill-up to 2mm below the max mark to allow for this increase). Think of it as a controlled and monitored form of 'contamination'.

The engine ECU knows how many regens have been done, and calculates the degree of oil degradation. When it believes it is required, it tells the driver an oil change is due by flashing the oil pressure warning lamp and a message on the dash "change engine oil". Because of this monitoring system, the oil change intervals are flexible, and often fall outside of the 18k schedule- some need doing earlier, some last 2 years between changes. Therefore the first service will not necessarily include an oil change unless it is near its 'limit' and making you come back in a month or so would inconvienence you, at which point they'd speak to you and give you the option of an early change.

A Dealer can read the degradation data off the ECU and will even be told an estimated mileage left until the oil change is due. If you really are concerned enough, ask your Dealer Tech to print out the screen showing the oil data so you have an idea when it will be due.

(y)
 
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This thread gives a great overview of rising oil dpf issues. Garage acknowledged that oil had risen above the max and said they would log this with Fiat. I do wish that they'd not tried to fob me off originally with comments about checking the oil level at the right time, I think I'd be more trusting of any efforts to address this if indeed it develops further. Thanks and keep checking the oil!
 
I have same problem on my punto 2004 1.3 multijet. I changed oil yesterday and deliberately poured oil to half of the dipstick, beacouse I suspected that my oil level was rising. So I drove it for a while and parked it. This morning when I checked oil was well above the max on the dipstick. Btw it is not losing any coolant.
 
Well i removed my dpf and resofted the car. My last regen cicle was done the day i removed it(checked it on ecu scan yesterday and the dpf was removed in may), but the oil level still goes above the max after oil change..
 
Well i removed my dpf

Diesel exhaust is a grade 1 carcinogen and is thought to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths annually.

The DPF reduces the most dangerous emissions (particulates) by at least an order of magnitude.

IMO removing a DPF is the equivalent of chainsmoking in a roomful of newborn babies.
 
Geez man.. Really? I thought this forum will help me with my problem, but instead i get this.. Thanks a lot man. Go save the world somewhere else.
 
Geez man.. Really? I thought this forum will help me with my problem, but instead i get this.. Thanks a lot man. Go save the world somewhere else.

Yes, really. Recent research has shown just how serious the problem is.

Having provided end of life care to two close family members who died of cancer, this one is very personal.

I deliberately confined my first post to a statement of the facts. That diesel particulates cause cancer and are a serious risk to the environment is beyond dispute, which is why legislation has been passed to ensure all cars manufactured after a certain date meet specific emissions requirements. If you choose not to maintain your DPF so that your engine continues to meet these requirements, then IMO your car should be seized and crushed.
 
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