Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDI oil level

John T Carroll

A friend has one of the above from new in 2010 and is serviced by the main dealer. He regularly checks the oil level by the book he says "Run the engine until warm/hot, leave standing for 5/10 minutes on level ground and then dip the sump", the level is then at the top mark but if he again checks the level a few hours later or when cold it is well over the mark to the point of appearing to be "overfilled". Has any one else experienced this I wonder, I have never noticed any appreciable differences in my cars over the years either hot or cold, I would be slightly worried in his case that the oil is draining down out of the cartridge oil filter due to a faulty shut off valve (flap). On my cars a little spring loaded flap opens in the filter housing when you unscrew the filter allowing the oil to drain down to the sump and is reclosed by the filter cartridge bottom when you replace/retighten it.

biko

Yeah it's a bit strange to check when warm as many cars require oil to be cold when checking.
I suppose the stick is just designed that way (for measures to be taken when car is warm).

CarFan100

biko wrote: »

Yeah it's a bit strange to check when warm as many cars require oil to be cold when checking.
I suppose the stick is just designed that way (for measures to be taken when car is warm).

I thought most cars had to have engine up to normal operating temp

biko

For some, like some VW and Merc, it's when warm but I'd say the majority is when cold.
For anyone who's unsure, check your owner's manual. It'll say there.

John T Carroll

biko wrote: »

For some, like some VW and Merc, it's when warm but I'd say the majority is when cold.
For anyone who's unsure, check your owner's manual. It'll say there.

Yes, one of my VW manuals, while not specifically saying so (re being hot), says to stop the engine, wait for a few minutes for the oil to drain back to the sump, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and then check the level. This is all common sense stuff, its just that I check the oil level after changing it when it is basically cold and just running it for a minute or two to fill the filter and I have then never noticed any real difference in the level when checking it hot a few days/week later, will check it more thoroughly one of these days.
If the oil level in any vehicle is higher when cold than hot then in my opinion there are only two reasons for it, either it takes hours for all the oil to drain back into the sump or the cartridge filter (if fitted) housing isn't retaining the oil which isn't good.

John T Carroll

biko wrote: »

For some, like some VW and Merc, it's when warm but I'd say the majority is when cold.
For anyone who's unsure, check your owner's manual. It'll say there.

Checked 1.2 Polo after ~ 8 km trip last night and then this morning at 1C without moving car, this mornings level was 3 to 4 MM lower than when hot.

Greyfoot

Hot oil flows a lot more better so it drains back into the sump quicker. Cylinder heads will always retain some of the oil due to casting/design, trapping more cold oil than hot. Leaving oil under the maximum mark is just good practice anyway, will not cause starvation and gives less resistance on crank counter weights. As for the OP it is very likely that during service they just filled it up to the max mark without waiting for the oil to drain hence overfilling it.

dooroy

I would suggest that what the OP describes is normal .
If you want an 'accurate' reading of the oil level check it before starting in the morning on a level surface.
When you switch off the engine the oil begins to drain back into the sump - and this can go on for a long time , even when the oil gets cold.
I have removed sumps from engines that were idle for hours and noticed that oil will continue to drip for ages. Not a lot maybe but noticeable.
I know that handbooks etc often advise that on a warm/hot engine wait one minute after switching off and then check level. If doing it this way I would always leave it a bit below the max .
I read recently where some car manufacturer (can't recall which ) were advising owners of new cars to keep oil level halfway between min and max .

John T Carroll

A bit of a strange one alright in that if you check/change the oil as per the "book" then it apparently can actually be over filled with oil.

John T Carroll

Greyfoot wrote: »

As for the OP it is very likely that during service they just filled it up to the max mark without waiting for the oil to drain hence overfilling it.

It wasn't overfilled if one uses the manufacturers recommended method of checking it which my friend did as per the first post, that's why he mentioned it to me in the first place, its really hard to see them issuing a recommended checking method if it results in overfilling, maybe the maximum level takes this into account (the slow drain down).

dooroy

I have seen people 'topping up' the oil and they pour in ,say, half a litre and check the level immediately - and may express surprise at how little it has risen ; so they pour in some more .
No time given for the oil to make its way from the filler down through the various paths to the sump. If the car were to be checked a while later you would probably find it well over the mark.
Some also think that overfilling is no harm - not thinking of the possibility of blown oil seals etc.