Engine Oil - Slight over fill?

[Salty_Dog]

Hey guys, I have BMW X5 3.0d (2006)
Today i serviced it, but slightly over filled the engine oil.

On the dipstick, there is the Low and High mark
My oil level would be 2mm higher than the high mark

Is this a concern?
I am generally very particular with oil levels, but today i had a brain fail.
I don't want to over pressurise anything.

Thank You

EDIT: Oh dear, i never realised it was meant to be in the middle
I have always done it as close to the MAX as i can, without going over it

[williamx5]

Good day!

Maybe I shouldn't chime in here, but I'll give my thoughts and a fix for your dilemma...

I think all vehicle manufactures put gray areas in where they can... I don't believe the engineers would put the MAX mark on the dipstick so close to the "engine damage level" that even a millimeter or two would ruin your motor... There would be so many ruined motors out there... I fill mine as close to the fill mark as I can as well... And I have overfilled mine on many occasions...

If you are super concerned, you could pull the filter and let it drain in a small bucket... One or two times would bring you down below the MAX line... That is if you didn't feel like crawling under the vehicle...

Cheers!!

[Salty_Dog]

Thank you williamx5, yes those were my thoughts too.

I could also suck some out of the dipstick hole
Or getting back under the vehicle is no real issue.
In my entire life, i have never over filled to the point i needed to drain off some oil.

But with the very low tolerance BMW X5 3.0d, i just wondered what other people thought of a slight over fill?

[andrewwynn]

I overfilled recently when I checked too quickly*. At the time I had an oil leak so I left it since it will be down in the zone all but itself. If your car consumes oil, were it my car I would do the same.

*The oil was still working itself to the oil pan. I'm betting after a short drive it won't be as high (fills the oil filter etc)

[Salty_Dog]

Done the short drive thing.

And this X5 3.0d doesn't use any oil, it will be at the exact same level when you go to dump it at the next service interval.

[andrewwynn]

In that case I'd aim for optimal quantity. The drain hole is easy to access or siphon from dip tube. $10 for a siphon bulb


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[sandbagger]

you wont hurt anything unless you really over fill it.

not familure with the specifics of this diesel but

If you get so much oil in it that the crank starts to hit it and froth it up that is when you will cause damage. The oil will have all kinds of air in it going to the bearings. almost every autocross guy with a straight 6 bmw runs with a full extra quart and I do too.

The only other thing extra oil will do is cause windage and reduce power a very small amount, but for a daily driver you will never notice it.

[andrewwynn]

That's great feedback


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Salty_Dog]

Thanks guys
I checked it again today, on what i thought was "more" level ground
Still the same reading
1 to 2mm over the High marking on the dipstick

[blakamin]

It'll be all good. Don't stress.