Anyone experience low oil levels after service?

[Delboyarapaho]

I have a FIAT based Burstner A class. I always have it serviced by reputable garages and this year I changed dealer as I wanted to see if the first company I had been using was doing an inferior job. For two years running I experienced the "check engine oil" light coming on within 1000 miles of the vehicle being serviced. When I checked the dip stick (after the van had stood some hours) both times was bone dry! Hence I changed to another company and they serviced it a couple of weeks ago. At the weekend to satisfy my curiosity I checked the dip stick (only done 150 miles since service) and I couldn't convince myself that the dip stick had a clear film of oil on it, certainly anywhere near the "max" level. But The gauge on the dash shows full. I have self leveling jacks and air suspension so I can get the van level. I checked the dip stick both on jacks and off and no discernible difference. I have begun to wonder weather my leveling is giving me an erroneous measure but what do i trust? The dash gauge or the dip stick (which almost never shows a good oil witness on it until I add a couple of pints of oil).

I don't know what to believe any more. Three services and twice the oil gauge says top me up very soon after and i am pretty confident we aren't burning much oil (no smoke anyway). I haven't done enough miles this time to see if history repeats itself but given the dip stick is not obviously wet with oil I feel it might only be a matter of time. However with the dash gauge telling me it is full I don't want to risk over-filling.

Obviously I can only keep an eye on whether in the near future I get asked to top the oil up again but I guess I am asking if others have had similar experience? Does your dip stick show a clear witness of oil on it or do others have difficulty determining that there is oil up the marker?

 

[Figaro]

It might be due to the very thin oil used these days in modern engines that makes it difficult to see on the dipstick ?
When dipstick is pulled out, place horizontally on a piece of kitchen roll, that should tell you if oil is present and where it's up to on the level marks.

 

[Stealaway]

Other good reason why I am happier changing my own oil.
My engine takes 6.5 ltrs.
If they just put in 6 ltr and then they start the engine and fill the filter the oil going to be well down the dip stick

 

[Delboyarapaho]

It might be due to the very thin oil used these days in modern engines that makes it difficult to see on the dipstick ?
When dipstick is pulled out, place horizontally on a piece of kitchen roll, that should tell you if oil is present and where it's up to on the level marks.

Interesting thought as when i rub my fingers on the dip stick I get a trace of oil on them but not an amount I feel I should. Hadn't considered the viscosity of the oil might be an explanation. That doesn't explain why I should get the check engine oil early doors though unless they are skimping the amount they put in but I can't believe two garages would do that. Thanks for taking the effort to reply though

 

[Just smiffy]

Unless the wrong dipstick is a wrong one and showing short.. (very unlikely) I would trust more the mechanical side of the dipstick procedure then an electronic gauge.
As for the oil in a Diesel engine, new oil will turn black within ten minutes of running and should be very easy to see on a dipstick…
Therefore I would fill till I had a clear indication on the dipstick at the right level…

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[phase3begins]

Might be worth asking the garage that did the service. There might be a simple explanation

 

[Raul]

I have experienced the same twice, during warranty I have serviced it with the dealer. Both times had to add 1L and first time they haven’t reset the service clock. I pointed this to them, and they always fob me that it has been serviced by the book specification. If technician reads 7l in the book he will add 7l, without checking dipstick. In my case, was a reputable vw commercial garage that I will never go back there. The state of the cab after service was appalling.

 

[old-mo]

Does your dip stick show a clear witness of oil on it or do others have difficulty determining that there is oil up the marker?

Withdraw Dipstick............ Wipe clean and then get a bog standard piece of chalk and mark dipstick...

Insert dipstick into tube push firmly home and withdraw straight away...

Then you will have a clear indication of how far the oil is up the dipstick..

 

[chaser]

Just one thing, over filling can be almost as bad as under filling, the oil level should be between the marks not bang up to the top one.

 

[Landy Andy]

The garage will auto fill from a machine. So it will just put in the litres it is told too, then not checked. I’d be filling to the dipstick level. I wouldn’t want too little in there.

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[Coolcats]

It might be due to the very thin oil used these days in modern engines that makes it difficult to see on the dipstick ?
When dipstick is pulled out, place horizontally on a piece of kitchen roll, that should tell you if oil is present and where it's up to on the level marks.

Just to say fluid is never thick or thin, it is measured by viscosity which is the rate of flow at a given temperature, which means a litre is a litre no matter how fast or slow it flows

 

[Figaro]

I think the OP understood my point which is what matters.

 

[jockaneezer]

Why not drain it out into a clean container and measure how much has been put in ?

 

[Emmit]

I think the OP understood my point which is what matters.

I think someone is due a 'Pedant of the Week' for the post in response to yours..

 

[Coolcats]

I think someone is due a 'Pedant of the Week' for the post in response to yours..

Is it Pedantic or factual ? but which ever can I have the award now please

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[Trevor Wbm]

The relationship beween the dipstick and the oil sensor in my 04 Boxer is a turbulent one to say the least. I've used the sensor as a guide and ended up under the van draining oil out, and used the dipstick as a guide and then panicked when the sensor shows it as low when I've checked after a few miles out of curiosity.

I've settled on the dipstick as the final arbiter, but top a bit at a time and wait for it to settle.

 

[KUSKUS]

On most modern engines garages deliberately don't fill to the top of the line on the dipstick as during the DPF regeneration process some fuel can raise the oil level.
Doesn't apply to older engines like mine.

 

[Tanya_and_Mick]

Just one thing, over filling can be almost as bad as under filling, the oil level should be between the marks not bang up to the top one.

My level on the dipstick sits at 2/3 between both markers.

On start-up the electronic sensor measure full, after a run it drops and shows too thirds.

So would you say my dipstick reading was OK?

 

[Coolcats]

On most modern engines garages deliberately don't fill to the top of the line on the dipstick as during the DPF regeneration process some fuel can raise the oil level.
Doesn't apply to older engines like mine.

If I am paying for 7 litres as per manufacturers guidance I want all of my 7 litres not a guesstimate by a garage

 

[Landy Andy]

Why not drain it out into a clean container and measure how much has been put in ?

But does it matter how much is put in if it’s not reading on the dipstick?

I would trust the dipstick over anything else personally.

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[Steve devon]

I’m the other way around, when my Kia Sorento goes in for a service they put a bit to much in it. Not motorhome related I know but worth a waffle