Help! Think I may have overfilled my R300 with Oil - Advice?
Discussion
Afternoon P'hers,
Bit of advice from the Caterham Clan needed here!
I have a 2003 Superlight 1.8 16v K Series R300 on Roller barrel throttle bodies (if that makes a difference). I was just checking the oil on thursday and as I am sure you are all aware, you have to do this with the engine hot (running temp) and running. The car is fitted with an Apollo tank aswell.
I tried dipping the oil and couldn't get an accurate reading, sometimes it was high, but more often it appeared slightly low. So, I switched the engine off, added no more than 1/4 of a litre of oil, restarted it an then, I re-dipped the oil, 10-15 times and still got the same readings which were all up and down.
I gave up after an hour sweating my t
ts off leaning over the engine and let it cool right down (4 hours left switched off).
I redipped the oil, engine off and cold and the reading on the dipstick is almost spot on! I don't know weather this is good or bad, if the oil looks spot on when the engine is off is this good? There is a plaque on top of the engine stating "THE OIL MUST BE CHECKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND HOT" (but I can't get a sensible reading from the dipstick when it is!?!?!) HELP!!!!
I only use Mobil 1 if that is any help!?!?
Need the car thursday evening so on a tightish deadline!?!?! :S
Any advice warmly recieved!
Many thanks in advance!
Regards
Paul
Bit of advice from the Caterham Clan needed here!
I have a 2003 Superlight 1.8 16v K Series R300 on Roller barrel throttle bodies (if that makes a difference). I was just checking the oil on thursday and as I am sure you are all aware, you have to do this with the engine hot (running temp) and running. The car is fitted with an Apollo tank aswell.
I tried dipping the oil and couldn't get an accurate reading, sometimes it was high, but more often it appeared slightly low. So, I switched the engine off, added no more than 1/4 of a litre of oil, restarted it an then, I re-dipped the oil, 10-15 times and still got the same readings which were all up and down.
I gave up after an hour sweating my t
ts off leaning over the engine and let it cool right down (4 hours left switched off).I redipped the oil, engine off and cold and the reading on the dipstick is almost spot on! I don't know weather this is good or bad, if the oil looks spot on when the engine is off is this good? There is a plaque on top of the engine stating "THE OIL MUST BE CHECKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND HOT" (but I can't get a sensible reading from the dipstick when it is!?!?!) HELP!!!!
I only use Mobil 1 if that is any help!?!?
Need the car thursday evening so on a tightish deadline!?!?! :S
Any advice warmly recieved!
Many thanks in advance!
Regards
Paul
Edited by R300_PM on Saturday 11th August 14:28
Is it dry sumped?
Am assuming not.
Do you have the plastic dipstick?
They're a bugger to get a reading on. Clean the stick carefully and you need to be careful how you put the stick down the tube, trying not to twist it IIRC.
When did the car last have an oil change? Is the oil pressure good?
Am assuming not.
Do you have the plastic dipstick?
They're a bugger to get a reading on. Clean the stick carefully and you need to be careful how you put the stick down the tube, trying not to twist it IIRC.
When did the car last have an oil change? Is the oil pressure good?
The car has a wet sump, oil pressure is very good, oil was changed less than 1500 miles ago.
Think I may have sorted it though with a quick phone call to Dom (Caterham South) who said that even though it says measure the oil with the engine running and hot, you can switch the engine off and re-dip it a couple of times within the next minute... Seems to have worked because doing that, the readings are all the same! He also said, as a fail-safe, you can read the oil when cold just to make sure. So, to clarify:
1. Start engine and get to running temperature
2. Switch Engine Off
3. Dip oil 3 to 4 times within the following minute and they should be all the same
4. Top up if needed (obviously with the engine off)
5. Restart and run for 1-2 minutes
6. Switch Engine Off
7. Check measurements again to make sure correct
Job Done!
Seemed to work as the oil is spot on (not that it was low in the first place, just very cautious!!!!)
Regards
Paul
Think I may have sorted it though with a quick phone call to Dom (Caterham South) who said that even though it says measure the oil with the engine running and hot, you can switch the engine off and re-dip it a couple of times within the next minute... Seems to have worked because doing that, the readings are all the same! He also said, as a fail-safe, you can read the oil when cold just to make sure. So, to clarify:
1. Start engine and get to running temperature
2. Switch Engine Off
3. Dip oil 3 to 4 times within the following minute and they should be all the same
4. Top up if needed (obviously with the engine off)
5. Restart and run for 1-2 minutes
6. Switch Engine Off
7. Check measurements again to make sure correct
Job Done!
Seemed to work as the oil is spot on (not that it was low in the first place, just very cautious!!!!)
Regards
Paul
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