gremlins at work again!

[tassie wombat]

gday,bit of a strange one here,the oil level on the dipstick (04' 4.2 tdi)changes depending on the ambient temperature, e.g. if I check it this morning(before start up) and the outside temp is say 6.c,the level might be 4/5 mm below the full mark,and then the next morning if the outside temp' is say 12.c the level will be spot on full,now its not causing any problems at all,but I was just curious as to why this would be as ive never had this strange thing happen on any other vehicle that ive had over the past 22 years:confused: thanks in advance.

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

Must be a Tasmanian thing. what oil are you using?

[tassie wombat]

Must be a Tasmanian thing. what oil are you using?
might be because im using both of my 2 heads to read it!! was using Valvoline diesel extra 15w40 but have now changed to delo 400 15w40 with no change.

[sil3nt_dr3ams]

Does this do if the car is stationary over a week?

[tassie wombat]

that I don't know,its driven every day to work.

[Col.T]

G'day Tassie
just a thought. Diesels take about a month of Sundays to fully drain oil back down to the sump. Dunno why. Just seems to me though.
Only time to accurately check the level in my experience is after a run when it's TOTALLY cold and therefore had yonks of time to settle.
Try it each morning only and see how it goes.
Regards,
Col

[taslucas]

maybe, just for interest sake, try testing the level when you get home each day when its warm.

[growler2058]

maybe, just for interest sake, try testing the level when you get home each day when its warm.

X2 With the oil being hot it should drain down quicker........maybe, dunno?

[tassie wombat]

G'day Tassie
just a thought. Diesels take about a month of Sundays to fully drain oil back down to the sump. Dunno why. Just seems to me though.
Only time to accurately check the level in my experience is after a run when it's TOTALLY cold and therefore had yonks of time to settle.
Try it each morning only and see how it goes.
Regards,
Col
that's what I do,cold engine in the morning before startup

[nissannewby]

Temperature. Like water, air etc as it heats up it expands when it cools it retracts so this would be why the difference with the temperatures. Just like your coolant, it expands when hot, pushes the coolant into the reservoir tank, then as it cools the water retracting will then pull it back into the radiator so its always at a correct level.

[tassie wombat]

I can't work out why no other engine that I've had has done this though?

[Col.T]

G'day all'
Jeeeeeeeeeeez, you've just got to love all the mysteries life throws at you, don't cha reckon?
Col