Oil level low, but can't add more!

[jordan_ellipsis]

Hey everyone.


My oil level got so low that my car wouldn't start yesterday... dangerous stuff, i know. After a few tries I got it started, and got it home. I checked the oil level, and it was below the minimum point on the dipstick.

So i went to add more oil, but when i unscrewed the cap i noticed that the oil level was already pretty high in the tank. I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick, but not enough to get it back into safe territory.


Could there be a block between the oil tank and the engine?

The car started OK but i'm a little worried about driving it around and ruining my engine.


Thoughts / advice highly appreciated!

Jordan

[maggspower]

You seem to be mentioning an "oil tank"? What do you mean? There are a few candidates for this in an e30 engine bay, none of which are conected to the oil in the sump.

Engine oil is added via the rocker cover apperture, and I would not describe that as a tank.

Low oil will not stop your car starting.

[staley_turbo]

What cap did you unscrew to add more oil?

[magpie]

pour the oil in slowly .there is a black plastic cover beneath the oil cap that stops oil splash backs off the cam ,this is what you can see when peering in the filler hole .

the only way a car will not start through lack of oil is when the engine is seized or it's banging it's bottom ends right out and all the oil seals have disintegrated .#



you are putting the oil in through the top of the 'engine'rocker cover cap aren't you ...

[eko]

Lol this could get interesting

[daimlerman]

Must admit that I have never had a problem adding oil....via the hole in the top of the engine.

However,whilst in the RAF I did once instruct a young WRAF to 'Check and fill the oil on the Station Commander's Austin 1800'.....


Correct!

I went and checked up after I had seen her walk past the office window 5 times with the gallon oil can....

[German-Whips]

"Tank"?

As mentioned above, you sure its the engine oil you're filling up and not the power steering tank?

I see you mention "I noticed the oil level was pretty high in the tank"....you can't really view any oil level from the rocker cover to see the level was high, but if you unscrew the PAS cap you can visually see a reservoir of fluid, and check the levels by eye.

My bet is you're filling your power steering fluid with engine oil.

[Jim320i]

Lol this could get interesting

Just adding a comment so I can watch the outcome of this

[Rich320I]

i would imagine jordan, is currently, madly trying to work out exactly where he has added oil

[Nobby_N]

Qualiteee! Theres oil in the water, not because of a cracked head because i topped up wrong tank! To many late nights pmsl

[magpie]

"Tank"?

As mentioned above, you sure its the engine oil you're filling up and not the power steering tank?

I see you mention "I noticed the oil level was pretty high in the tank"....you can't really view any oil level from the rocker cover to see the level was high, but if you unscrew the PAS cap you can visually see a reservoir of fluid, and check the levels by eye.

My bet is you're filling your power steering fluid with engine oil.

or worse the brake fluid res ,manky old brake fluid is black as is p/s fluid.

what ever system has been contaminated will need flushed through until the nice new correct fluid is present at all 4 brake calliper bleed nipples and out of the p/s fluid return pipe.


are you Female ?

[daimlerman]

are you Female ?

Blimey,Mick,that's thin ice you are on!

Just hope that Beemerburd does not spot this!

[Topblag]

Methinks the brake fluid reservoir is now enjoying some engine oil.

[magpie]

Methinks the brake fluid reservoir is now enjoying some engine oil.

indeed......she'd never get the lid off the p/s reservoir !

[Captain_Birdseye]

I suppose the PAS tank does sail OIL on it.

[The_Diddler]

So i went to add more oil, but when i unscrewed the cap i noticed that the oil level was already pretty high in the tank. I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick, but not enough to get it back into safe territory.
!

Jordan

I think the above gives the game away!!!!!!!

[Duke137]

[aimlessrock]

im aching to see where this goes...

[magpie]

im aching to see where this goes...

most likely to a big puddle under the car !

[M1k3]

I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick,

Does an auto have a dipstick for the gear oil

uh oh....

[Topblag]

im aching to see where this goes...

most likely to a big puddle under the car !

LOL.

[Duke137]

M1K3, love your sig pic but who is Unkown?

[navi]

the person posting this question what ever gender thay are whats the betting thay are blonde haired?

[M1k3]

M1K3, love your sig pic but who is Unkown?

Not sure mate, me, eko and the lady friends went up and it was in the car part all on its own lol.

[Rich320I]

wouldnt it be unknown not unkown

[M1k3]

Ive never noticed that, i blame devon schools

[Duke137]

Ive never noticed that, i blame devon schools

Classic, I didn't think you realised when I asked who it was lol

[Brianmoooore]

I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!

[M1k3]

Haha, I still think it looks fine, noone will notice

I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!

The proof is in the pudding ;)

[daimlerman]

Haha, I still think it looks fine, noone will notice

I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!

The proof is in the pudding ;)

But where has the engine oil gone?

[Topblag]

[Gert_8]

No posts from the op... I think he/she may have left the zone for good.

[The_Diddler]

No posts from the op... I think he/she may have left the zone for good.

no wonder, imagine admitting to that on here

[Duke137]

I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!

LOL

[bmw9818]

wheres jordan at? dont leave us hanging fill us in! what did ya do?! we dont bite