Dealer Overfilled my oil!
 

I had my oil changed the other day, and checked it this morning before I started the car, and the oil level was above the max, approximately to the top of the plastic piece(the piece's bottom is the max line). Is this harmful to the engine, or not enough over to worry about?? Thanks,
Dave

warm up car first
 

suggest very strongly you warm up car before checking the oil level, as it can give a false reading when cold. take it for a nice long spin then wait a good 5 mins before pulling the dipstick. then you will have and acccurate reading. oil should not be overfilled (above the max mark on the dipstick).

This happens more often than you would think. Make sure the oil is hot and you are on level ground. If the oil level is high when it is cold, it will probably be even higher when the oil is hot due to thermal expansion.

Not sure about possible engine damage, but too much oil would put the oil level in the pan within reach of the bottom of the crankshaft counterweights. With the crank in motion, they will agitate the oil, causing foaming.

Foaming oil does not travel through the various oil passages very well... :confused:

Anyway the car was in today at the dealership getting a few minor warranty things fixed, brake fluid flush/change, etc. I told them about the overfill and they confirmed it, and extracted the overfilled oil., it was a half quart too full. The dealer explained to me that the oil level rises as the car gets hotter, as Ali had noted. Anyway I should have known, as I provide the dealer with my oil for the oil change, and usually get a quart back half full. This time I got back only full quarts, so that would explain it. E320's have a 8 quart capacity if i'm not mistaken. Mine's 7.5, and they rarely see diesels for service, so thats probably the cause of the mixup. Oh well, level adjusted!

G-Benz:

My understanding was that foamed oil doesn't get *pumped* very well.....THIS being the primary concern.
Please correct me is this is incorrect

Foamed oil also does not have much oil. It is a mixturte of little oil and a lot of gas.

One problem with overfilling (if overfilled enough) is that it can damage both crankshaft seals. The front seal isn't too bad, but a rear main seal ain't cheap to replace.

One of our dealers REALLY overfilled the crankcase on our C230, and it blew both seals. Replaced under warranty, but it was the last oil change not done by me.