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Old 01-09-2004, 05:25 AM   #1
volkl23
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Default Oil change from dealer - major overfill **UPDATE**

So I'm rather upset at the dealer and at myself. I had my oil changed at the dealer two weeks ago. I always check my oil after each oil change, but for whatever reason, I didn't do it this time.

500 miles later, I decide to finally check my oil dipstick and what the freak, it's way overfilled. After waiting for an hour on a warm engine, the level is above the kink.

I leave it overnight and check the oil first thing in the morning and it's still an inch over the F mark. It's over the notch and it's a cold engine!

I immediately called the dealer and they told me some BS of how the dipstick is very unreliable blah blah blah and how they use a digital "something" (i forget the exact device) to dispense the "exact" amount required. I am going to bring in the STi first thing in the morning.

Am I freaking out over nothing? I'm trying to figure out how much they overfilled it and why/how it happened.

What should I say/do at the dealership?
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Last edited by volkl23; 01-13-2004 at 03:13 PM.
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Old 01-09-2004, 06:59 AM   #2
Blue04Sti
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It's not good to have it that full but I wouldn't freak out necessarily. There's no way it's a dipstick issue. I'd have them drain out the overage and note it on your ticket that it was overfilled by them - you need something in writing that they overfilled it. I doubt it did any damage but if something happens down the road you'll be able to pull it out and show it to them. Have them show you their handy-dandy digital, laser guided, solar powered oil dispenser. They'll probably feed you so much B.S. it won't be funny - be prepared for a battle. This is why I change my own oil, it's easy in the STi. My STi has never been back to the dealer - I hope to keep it that way.
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Old 01-10-2004, 10:15 AM   #3
Peaty
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Old 01-10-2004, 10:10 PM   #4
singletrack
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Take in a print out of what Peaty posted. That is total BS and simply the result of them being careless if you ask me. They should apologize and admit that they screwed up, but I doubt they will.

Oh and by the way, my car did not take the full factory amount of oil to get to the correct level (I let it drain for a good 5-7mins also). I think I added around 4.5qts and it was perfect. I believe the documentation state 4.8 if I recall correctly. An inch over the top notch might only be an extra 1/3 of a qt or so.

If you aren't satisfied with the guy's answer, go to the service manager, then GM, then SOA.

Good luck man,

-st
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Old 01-10-2004, 10:36 PM   #5
z
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This is why I change my own oil too.

Capacity is exactly 4.5 quarts.

I would drain it and measure how many quarts if it were me.

BTW the distance between the low and high mark on the dipstick is 1.1 quarts, so you can take that distance and figure out how over you are. Make sure your car is level too.
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Old 01-11-2004, 12:42 AM   #6
Peaty
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The manual is not right the 2.5L turbo needs 5 qts w/ filter:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...&threadid=2783
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Old 01-11-2004, 10:09 AM   #7
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Default I had the same problem

I had the exact same problem at my local dealer. They claim that the 2.5 liter engines are difficult to fill to the correct level and that adding the spec 4.8 qts results in different dip stick readings time and time again. I have never changed the oil in a Subaru (just got this one) so I don't know if they're full of it or there is a problem with the accuracy of the 2.5 liter engine's dipstick.

They drained and refilled it to proper level so I was satisfied. I did watch them do the work the second time and they had to drain a little out to get it right on the stick. So it did seem more difficult than it should have been.
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Old 01-11-2004, 10:53 AM   #8
Peaty
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I think it's generally agreed that reading a dipstick on a Subaru is not easy. I've had 4 Scoobies and were all buggers to get a good measurement
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Old 01-11-2004, 11:25 AM   #9
cadillacjake
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Default Oil Fill

I worked in a quick-lube for two years and never once had a problem getting ANY Scooby to read the right oil level. Tell them to follow their own reccomended capaity, put the right amount in this time (their "magic digital gun) may be miscalibrated), and yes, make sure it's documented in case they stressed a seal and it should start leaking later in life.
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Old 01-13-2004, 03:11 PM   #10
volkl23
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I am furious. I went to the dealership on Friday and the tech admitted that he overfilled (but by only half a quart) and apologized. I think it was overfilled more than that, because on a cold engine, the reading was above the notch and near the twist.

So I wash my car yesterday and decide to check all my fluids just for the heck of it. What do you know? The effing oil was below the L mark on a warm engine (just turned off I might add). I am beyond furious at this point. I cannot believe they screwed up TWICE.

I am going to the dealership right now. I just called them and it infuriates me even more that they're not admitting any fault. I explain to them how it was overfilled and the service manager said,

"That is really odd. We filled the engine per Subaru specs which is 4.5 quarts. The tech then measured the dipstick again after he filled it to make sure it was at the correct level and it was. So how it overfilled is beyond me and tech. He's still trying to figure that out, because he filled exactly 4.5 Q per Subaru recommendations"

WHAT BS!!! First of all, he wasn't even there that day when I had my oil changed. Secondly, even the tech admitted he overfilled it and apologized for it.

Then I told him how it was grossly underfilled (by atleast a quart, since it's below L on a warm engine without sitting). He still denies any fault. He explained to me the tech double checked it after he drained the oil (from the overfill) and then put the appropriate amount in and then checked it. Then he goes out and says how it's unfathomable how something like this could happen, because "the tech checked the level afterwards."

I called SOA and they pretty much said there is nothing they can do, since it's a question of worksmanship on the dealer as opposed to a warranty issue. She just told me to have them document everything.

What do you guys suggest I do from here? ME PE'oed!!!!!

BTW, I forgot to ask them to document it for the first overfill since I was really late to work and didn't have a time to talk to them afterwards. I will definetely have everything written in ink this time.
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Old 01-13-2004, 03:27 PM   #11
dsmperformance
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Don't take this the wrong way, but its really not that big of a deal if its only .5 of a quart over. Some auto-x'ers overfill the oil to compensate for oil loss during aggressive driving.

The reason you are getting a low reading is cause you just turned your engine off. You need to give it time for all the oil to drain down into the oil pan. You will need to check the stick several times to get an accurate reading. Just relax and take your time checking your oil, its not a difficult procedure. Maybe you should do your own oil changes?
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Old 01-13-2004, 03:49 PM   #12
volkl23
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Hey DSM,

I know I'm probably overreacting just a little, but I only believe it was considerably more than .5 quart over. On an overnight engine, the disptick reading was near the kink. On a warm engine, with some time to settle, it's way above that. I just hope it's nothing major, although I did drive for 500 miles with the overfill.
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Old 01-13-2004, 05:15 PM   #13
cadillacjake
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Default What to do

Best thing you can do is to get these idiots to get the level right and keep an eye on any possible leaks or consumption that may come up. If it doesn't apper to be leaking or burning, it's probably going to be okay. And yes, the ideal time to check the level is on a cold engine that hasn't been run as this allows all the oil to drain back into the pan. Just check it first thing in the am and see where it's at.
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Old 01-14-2004, 02:11 PM   #14
Blue04Sti
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This hot/ cold oil thing - I have a question. I usually change the oil in all my cars (STi, X5, TDI Jetta) plus a lot of cars before these.

I've never seen much if any difference checking the oil hot or cold - this is after letting the hot car sit for a bit so the oil returns to the pan. How much can hot oil expand - I've never thought it would be enough to show up on a dipstick.
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Old 01-14-2004, 02:15 PM   #15
cadillacjake
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Default Expansion

It's not really a matter of thermal expansion, just allowing for all the oil to drain back into the pan. I'm sure it does expand a bit when hot, but not by an appreciable amount.
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Old 01-14-2004, 02:48 PM   #16
WRXterminate
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I've owned four subarus including an STI and according to the dipstick they have been overfilled at every oil change. The only time I've ever been able to get a reasonable reading on a subaru was when my STI was burning oil during break-in. Then the oil got low enough to see it at the F mark when cold. I think it's just an artifact of the subaru boxer engine design.
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Old 01-19-2004, 05:00 PM   #17
Dougie01
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I find the dipstick quite difficult to read. The oil gets smeared on the stick as you pull it out. Usually takes a few tries to get a good reading...
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Old 10-20-2004, 11:25 AM   #18
UGoWeGo
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I agree very difficult to read the dipstick on my XT. I put in exactly 5 qts of oil and it always reads over the F mark when cold. I tried putting 4.5 qts in, but it reads below the L. I just drain it, put in my 5qts and try not to think about it.
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Old 10-20-2004, 11:36 AM   #19
8Complex

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There is an easy solution... do your own oil changes. Chances are it will take you less time then it does to call & go to the dealership to complain about it being overfilled.

Overfilling shouldn't hurt it, though, unless you fill it to the point where oil splashes up into the cylinders, at which point you'd see smoke out the exhaust pretty easily.
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Old 10-20-2004, 11:38 AM   #20
DISCOPOPE
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trust but doubble check.

if they keep ****ing it up, swith dealers.

personally, on my 15k service, they put in dino oil.... even though we switched to synthetic two oil changes ago...
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Old 10-20-2004, 01:53 PM   #21
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I also do my own changes, and have developed a way of checking the oil that I feel offsets the disparities the crummy dipstick seems prone to. I always check in the a.m., in my garage, and the car's usually been sitting cold for at least 8hrs. I also get inconsistent readings, but have found that by wiping the dipstick thoroughly, letting it sit in the pan for 2-3 seconds, and taking 3-4 measurements gives me a real good idea where I stand w/oil levels. Once I get a consistent reading I stop and add as necessary. I recall someone else taking a file and scratching some lines in a X pattern across the dipstick where the "L" and "F" are, in order to get more consistent readings....IIRC they had good luck with that fix.

Stu
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Old 10-20-2004, 09:51 PM   #22
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Mine reads a little over the 5 when putting the suggested amount of oil in myself, and when the dealer did my oil changes. If its not low and not smoking I'd say your car is okay. The service you got from your dealer was not and I would switch of ots convenient to do so.

.:Ronin
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Old 12-22-2004, 02:04 PM   #23
AndyH
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peaty
The manual is not right the 2.5L turbo needs 5 qts w/ filter:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...&threadid=2783
5.1 quarts according to an e-mail response I just rec'd from Subaru:

Quote:
Dear Mr. Hedin:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. The engine oil capacity specification in your owner's manual (4.2 quarts) is the capacity of the engine oil and not the capacity of the engine oil when replacing the engine oil filter. The capacity of engine oil when replacing the oil filter in your 2005 WRX STi Sedan is 5.1 quarts.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance. If you need any future assistance, please feel free to contact us again.

Happy Holidays,

John J. Mergen
Subaru of America, Inc.
-----------------------------------------------------------
YOUR ORIGINAL MAIL:

Hi,

I'm a bit confused about the proper amount of engine oil needed for my '05 STi. My Owner's Manual says that an oil & filter change will require 4.2 quarts, but after changing my oil and filter and filling with 4.2 quarts the level appeared a bit low. Adding another 0.5 quarts seems to have brought the level up to the correct level. Is there a typo in the owner's manual? Please advise, thanks!

-Andy Hedin
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Old 12-22-2004, 02:33 PM   #24
joflewbyu2
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fumoto oil drain plug is the simple solution. too much, slide the valve open.
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Old 12-22-2004, 03:11 PM   #25
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I did 7 oil changes so far for every 3k miles on my 04 STI. I put 4.8 quart with filter change and it's been dead on "full" mark on the dip stick (as printed on the owner's manual to use 4.8 quart).

** I measure the dip stick after running the engine for 2 minutes and shut it off to cool off for a while (cleaning up the floor, drain the dirty oil to the container off to pepboys - nice test drive after oil change...etc)

I am not sure why SOA is recommending 5.1 quart?
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