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79SuperVert
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002
Posts: 9758
Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
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 Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:45 am Post subject: Oil Level Fluctuates between half and full on cold engine? |
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I've had my stock 40hp 1200 for 3 years now. I always change the oil twice a year. In October I put in 10W-40 for the winter. Now this fall for the first time I am seeing this:
Before starting the car, I pull the dipstick, and it is at the full level (top notch). I wipe it clean, put it back in, pull it again, and it is at the half way mark. This happens every time I check it before starting the car.
My first thought when I saw it at "full" was that I have a leaking fuel pump and that the high level is due to gas in the oil. But then why does it return to "half" at the second check?
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norcalmike
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 4784
Location: Marina, CA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:58 am Post subject: |
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i would trust the second check.
possibly after running, the oil doesnt run down the dipstick all the way giving you a false reading on the first check without wiping clean first |
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mharney
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Joined: June 01, 2002
Posts: 8353
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| I put the dipstick in and rotate it a couple times. Then I pull it out for the reading. |
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79SuperVert
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2002
Posts: 9758
Location: Elizabeth, NJ & La Isla Del Encanto
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. I was just wondering why it started to happen this season and not anytime before. Maybe as you say, some oil "sticks" and needs to be "unstuck" by pulling the stick and re-inserting. I remember that was always the recommended procedure anyway, I just hadn't needed to do that with the Beetle up to now.
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JasonBaker
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2010
Posts: 1642
Location: Cleveland, TN
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| mharney wrote: |
| I put the dipstick in and rotate it a couple times. Then I pull it out for the reading. |
Same here. Mine does funny stuff too. I over filled it a few weeks ago because I didn't spin it around to get the proper level on the stick. Not good to be overfilled and really cold outside. Poor little motor had oil leaking from behind the crank pulley... |
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RockCrusher
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2010
Posts: 4596
Location: Parkesburg, PA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Best to check the oil with the engine hot and having just shut it off. Tends to make the cold fill a bit higher but your engine won't complain. Those with long hoses and coolers and such have to do it that way anyway due to drain back. Mark your stick with a punch to indicate cold fill level after you're satisfied with the hot run level.
RC
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j8bug
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2008
Posts: 1700
Location: When we were all (213) Los-Angeles
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| Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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i sometimes get 3 different readings within 1 minutes time  |
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