Hi guys,

This might seem like a lame question but I am stumped.

I`m getting the car ready for a long drive down to Sables D'Olonne, near Nantes on Monday.

I cannot see the Min & Max levels on the oil dipstick! It`s a flexible stick with a sort of coiled wire pattern

Any pointers?

I don`t normally need to do this as I get the car serviced regualrly and that`s all it needs on an Island, but for long journeys (this is the 1st one I always do.

Thanks.

There should be a bit at the bottom, not nessecarily marked with the words min/min, but upper section is max, lower min.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

There should be a bit at the bottom, not nessecarily marked with the words min/min, but upper section is max, lower min.

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Thanks MEP

Yes, there is a flat bit at the bottom but I couldn`t read anything on that either. However, the oil level is much higher than the flat bit, about5inches from the base of the dipstick.

Is there such as thing as far too much oil?

Jerseywurzel said:

Thanks MEP

Yes, there is a flat bit at the bottom but I couldn`t read anything on that either. However, the oil level is much higher than the flat bit, about5inches from the base of the dipstick.

Is there such as thing as far too much oil?

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Yes there is, and it can cause damage, although if it's been run like that for a while and damage it can cause would have already been done I'd have thought.

You did wipe the dipstick with a rag and then reinsert it and remove to check the level I take it?

If it's like mine the flat bit in it's entirety represents min and max. 5" from the bottom is vastly overfull. Check again. Pull out, wipe and reinsert to get the level. So overfull is highly unlikely TBH but if it really is that full do you have plenty of coolant and do you have mayo under the filler cap?

Thanks guys. Yes, I did wipe the dipstick, put it in then pulled it out but I will do it again, as 5inches overfull can`t be right. The garage I use has a very good reputation, I certainly don`t think they would make a basic mistake as to overfill the oil.

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated, though don`t understand the mayo bit ?

Jerseywurzel said:

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated, though don`t understand the mayo bit ?

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i think they were wondering if the head gasket had gone and the oil filled with coolant.

If your dipstick is coiled like a spring, then at the end of the coiled part should be a flat plastic section about 4cm long. The 'full' mark is at the point where the plastic and the spring join. My Mulitpla had a dipstick like this and it was tricky to clean it sufficiently to be sure where the level was, as capillary action woudl draw oil along the springy part