I had my stilo serviced last week at a franchised Fiat dealer. I just checked the oil levels today after about 1200 miles driving and have found that it is well above the max level on the dipstick. Having checked the invoice I see they have invoiced me for 8 litres of oil even though the car (a 1.2) has a total capacity of 5.3 litres. i.e there is probably 150% of the recommended maximum oil in the car now. What should I do, the delaer claim they havent got an appointment time for at least two weeks and say its no issue really anyway. But the manual claims it is a serious issue.

My main concern is what the potential damage has been to the engine from running it with too much oil. Also is it technically my fault, as I should have checked the car after picking it up from the service?

I take it this is an issue that needs to be dealt with directly with Fiat rather than the dealer as from past experience Customer services are actually more responsive to complaints than my dealer?

It can be a BIG problem and do a lot of damage having drastically overfilled the oil. It can pressurise the crankcase and blow out oil seals resulting in very expensive total strip down of engine to repair. Take the sump plug out and drain some off straightaway. After 1200 miles though anything that should have blown out would have probably gone wrong by now. Depends how much it is overfilled and how much the engine can take without problems.

Garages always seem to charge for the whole can even if they don't use it all

It seems to happen quite a lot with garages overfilling the oil. It's not so easy to see the oil on the dipstick as it's almost clear oil but that's no excuse for a decent garage. Also the warning message seems to come up "low oil" after changing the oil so stupid persons just pour it in until the message stops

Get it seen to straight away. Anyone with two hands should be able to take out a drain plug

just wondering whether you should just leave the iol in and call the dealer to collect.just incase of future problems if its covered under warrenty.if you take the oil out then its just your word

Agreed, best to get the excess oil removed ASAP.

As for fault, you are paying them to undertake a professional service, which they have failed to do therefore they are at fault if this causes a problem.

Not much help on a Saturday afternoon, but rather than ringing them asking for it to be resolved just turn-up and insist someone rectifies the incorrect level.

Basically it IS the dealer who is responsible for this mess, so...

Contact Fiat customer services (0800 717000) immediately and tell them everything, including that you were overcharged for the amount of oil and that the dealer in question now refuses to deal with their mistake. Monday morning, or 1st thing phone the dealer and ask to speak to either service manager, or preferably the Dealer Principle if they have one. Make an official complaint, and ask that they deal with it immediately as you have paid for a 'quality service' which they have not provided.

On a 1.2 stilo you have about 3.1 -3.3 litres oil capacity so getting rid of the excess is a priority as it will damage the catalytic convertor.

If it was me, i would turn up at the dealer 1st thing monday and demand, loudly and calmly so everyone else can hear, (there will be more people 1st thing on a monday morning than any other), that they rectify their mistake.

Fiattech may I know the oil capacity for the 1.8 if possible?
They have charged me for 5 litres, does it sound right to you?
Thanks a lot.

5 litres sounds about right, a bit low possibly as the total for a 1.2 is 5.3 litres and a 1.8 has a bigger sump. I tells you exactly how much on the back page of the car manual.

OK, my owners manual (i have an Abarth) says:

1.4 16v 2.8 litres
1.6 16v 3.9 litres
1.8 16v 4.2 litres
2.4 20v 4.7 litres

1.9 JTD 80 4.7 litres
1.9 JTD 115 4.7 litres
1.9 M-jet 4.7 litres


These are for engine sump and filter, and didn't have listing for 1.2 16v but assume that its similar to a 1.4 16v as its just a 1.2 bored out slightly.

1.2 16V 2.8 Litres

Mine doesn't list the 1.4 16V

leehndrsn said:

1.2 16V 2.8 Litres

Mine doesn't list the 1.4 16V

Click to expand...

I think its because from '04 on, the 1.2 was replaced with the 1.4 engine.

..basically 5 litres for my 1.8 sounds right in the end...

another question, I have tried to check the oil stick but it is impossible to see the oil, it is very very clean and I cannot figure out if the line is in between the 2 marks on the stick....techfiat any suggestion?
the oil is very very clean, clear and thin...I cannot see it!
Is this normal?
Does this happen to you as well or it is my eyes?

apierdomi said:

..basically 5 litres for my 1.8 sounds right in the end...

another question, I have tried to check the oil stick but it is impossible to see the oil, it is very very clean and I cannot figure out if the line is in between the 2 marks on the stick....techfiat any suggestion?
the oil is very very clean, clear and thin...I cannot see it!
Is this normal?
Does this happen to you as well or it is my eyes?

Click to expand...

Yeah the oil is very clear...when I first looked I thought bloody hell there's no oil in it till I looked closer

Use a kitchen towel to wipe the dipstick in the first place, redip the dipstick and then, with a dry corner of the towel, just slide down the dipstick until it hits the oil. You'll know for certain when you've struck oil

When topping up give enough time for oil to drain down through the engine before rechecking

deckchair thanks for your suggestion im gonna try that right now!!!
it is really impossible to see the oil visually despite the fantstic weather in london now over 32 C degrees and very sunny, i do not see it...it seems Italy here in London bloody hell! What's going on?
another question which I am not sure as I had different people telling me different stories:
shall we check the oil with a cold, warm or hot engine....?
I have been told all of them but I think the correct answer is B, warm engine.
Is this right?
Can anybody confirm this?
Car must be levelled of course.

I have treied with the kitchen towel before but I did not think to use the corner of the towel instead of my eyes...I am going to try this tecninque now.
Thanks for the idea. ill let you know.

I think this is a problem only of new cars as in old cars the the oil gets darker pretty soon even after an oil change.

<shall we check the oil with a cold, warm or hot engine....??

i don't think it makes an awful lot of difference as long as
a) you're on flat ground
b) if you've just turned the engine off then wait 5mins for oil to drain down
c) if you've changed the oil filter, you run the engine to fill up the filter

When i got my liscence the book said that the oil level must always be checked with a cold engine on flat ground.

The oil level's really not going to alter by 1/2 litre from hot to cold. As long as you allow time for the oil to drain down after turning the engine off then it will be fine either hot or cold. Manual says wait 5 mins after turning off engine

Doing it with a warm engine isn't a problem, so long as you leave it 10 minutes of so for the oil to pool back in the sump, it'll be negligable difference from cold.