V6 Oil Level Measuring

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Jun 2009, 13:10

I'm confused

The stated capacity of the ES9J4 engines is said to be 5.25 litres.

I refilled after the rebuild and put a little less than 5 litres in.

When stone cold and the car has been standing overnight, the oil level is about half an inch ABOVE the Max. mark; right up onto the springy bit of the dipstick. This is after dipping, wiping and redippping.

On checking as per the handbook it says the level must be checked after the engine has been standing for at least 10 minutes. If I check after about an hour, the level is between the Max and Min marks, if anything, toward the Min mark.

So what's the right right way to check the oil level because as I say, I'm confused...

Also, on the subject of levels, where does the water level naturally settle out in the expansion tank when stone cold?

Thanks!

KP · Unread post by KP » 29 Jun 2009, 13:42

Jim,

I usually check a car about 15-20mins after standing in the current heatwaves but usually do as the manuals say and go for 10minutes when i check the oil levels.

Then again i would check both sides of the stick if its anything like the one in my Activa

The wifes Swifty says 15mins and when i check it then its just under max marker, after 30mins or so it goes above that.

I wonder if its the extra time the oil cna drain off the head and back into the sump??

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 29 Jun 2009, 13:48

I usually check mine as per the handbook, warm engine after standing for a while, but having said that I have checked when stone cold and also immediately after stopping and it seems to make very little difference on mine, the level is always between min and max. Perhaps your oil is too thick

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Jun 2009, 18:56

Thanks Both

I'm running semi-synthetic 10W/40 at this time Stempy so I guess that should be OK.

Will, yes, knowing the old two sides of the same dipstick trap on XUs I checked that too but there is a heck of an acreage of heads on the V6 to trap oil so I'm thinking it's like SWMBOs Swift in that respect...

All the fun of finding out about the quirks of a new engine

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 29 Jun 2009, 19:13

I use fully synthetic 5W40 in mine so perhaps that's the difference.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 29 Jun 2009, 19:16

Stempy wrote:I use fully synthetic 5W40 in mine so perhaps that's the difference.

Ahh, yes, because it'll drain down from the top end that much sooner. I'll confess to having quite cheap Halfrauds 10W/40 in mine at the moment as I don't plan to leave it in there too long...

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 29 Jun 2009, 20:24

Jim stone cold should be more acurate,

may be your oil is not drainning straight back to the sump quick enough,

its not the atmosferic presure in Milton Keyens is it

regards malcolm