possibly overfilled oil...

[timmer3]

hello.
i've done 2000 miles on my 2005 A2 1.4 petrol since it was last serviced at 5000 miles when i bought it. i have tried and failed to read the dipstick and decided to wait until Audi Ireland send me the handbook to figure it out, but they don't seem like a very competent bunch.
anyway my "min oil" light came on today so i pulled over in the nearest garage and phoned Audi, they said i should use 5W30 so i bought a litre of Mobil 5W30 and added small amounts, starting the engine each time to let it into the sump. i couldn't see any difference each time so i ended up adding the full 1 litre. the light is gone off, but i don't know if i've overfilled, i gather this can be bad for the catalytic converter. is it worth taking to the dealer right away or am i ok to drive on since the engine is supposed to take 4 litres anyway and i only added 1?
by the way, i gather the min/max readings on the dipstick are the 2 lines in the last inch of the dipstick, mine has a small orange ball fixed about 8 inches up, which i thought may have been the max reading. the min max range seems very inaccurate if it's just a half inch.

thanks for any help!
tim

 

[Poor_John]

Adding Oil

Hi Tim,

Page 174 of the owners manual states that you should "put in oil 0.5 litres at a time and check the level with the dipstick."

The manual does not state what the volume is between maximum and minimum marks. All I can suggest is that you check the oil level in daylight, giving the end of the dipstick a good wipe before fully inserting it for a few seconds and then taking it out. If there is oil on the end of the dipstick it should reflect more light.

John.

 

[Xiter]

I think the dipstick sometimes bends a little in the tube which leads to it not reaching the oil. So, I always rotate it a few turns. That usually does the trick.

 

[timmer3]

thanks for the tips Xiter and John. it was a bit easier to read in proper daylight alright. it's just over the top line so it's probably not too bad. i'm going to drop it in for a check up anyway because i noticed a small amount of oily fluid on the floor/tray thingy under the engine.
cheers
tim