S2 Oil Overfill

[evoboy69]

I recently had a local garage perform the relatively simple job of carring out a oil and filter change (I provided all the parts).

I don't get to use my S2 as much as I'd like, I keep it stored in a residential garage nearby. I connected the battery and it fired into life as it always seems to. After I'd driven for several gentle miles, when I came to a stop I noticed a really erratic idle. I have since checked to oil level and it's substantially above the top mark on the dipstick!!

Is the erratic idle connected and what's the easiest way of draining out some oil?

 

[robwright]

The easiest way to take oil out is by way of the drain plug. Do you have the means to do that? Trouble is it can be quite tricky to get the drain plug back in whist the oil is flowing out. If you caught it an extremely clean i.e. brand new container you could then put it back in the top to the correct level. Any doubt as to contamination though and you will have to discard it. Not sure how that would affect your idle though. Usual culprits are the Idle Stabilisation Valve or the throttle position switch.

 

[Hairyarse]

Make sure you let the garage know about it, even if sorting yourself, just in case there's issue shortly with it - perhaps take a pic of the level on the dipstick for their reference

 

[evoboy69]

Thanks for your helpful response. You are probably right about the oil level not being related. I have also noticed that if say I'm doing 30 ish mph in fourth gear, I get like a surging sensation, meaning I tend to change down to third to pick the revs up to stop it.

I might need to use the car as a daily driver for a few weeks so i might look to sort it if I can identify what's causing it. Could it be either of the two things you mention?

 

[simkin911]

There is a thread about a similar sounding erratic idle issue on TIPEC at present - worth a look.

 

[evoboy69]

Good spot that, sounds like it could be my idle stabilisation valve.

 

[Octoposse]

What fuel do you use? If it's cheapo supermarket 95 octane might be worth putting in half a tank of one of the premiums brands, to let the detergents do their stuff.

 

[Copperman05]

When you say overfill by how much are we talking? Most engines are designed to accept a slight overfill with no bad after effects. Some peeps even do it on purpose to increase the oil in the engine and minimize effects from fuel dilution.

I would have thought you could add a quarter to third of a Lt over max with no ill effects.

Edd

 

[944 man]

Is the car smokey? If the car is breathing the oil in then itll certainly affect running.

 

[bmnelsc]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Is the car smokey? If the car is breathing the oil in then itll certainly affect running.

Agree with 944 man - if your exhaust is showing oil smoke then the overfill is probably overpowering the Oil/Air/Separator and oil is building up in the intake manifold. Then - lower rpm means higher oil to air ratio - rough running - higher rpm giving lower oil to air ratio so running smoother

If this is the case - I would think you would notice oil smoke out your tailpipe.

 

[zcacogp]

Lots of interesting ideas as to the cause of the peculiar running, but you have found something that is wrong with the engine (too much oil). Correct that, and see if it solves the problem.

Only hunt for faults when you have returned the machinery to base condition in as many respects as possible.


Oli.

 

[evoboy69]

Thanks for all the suggestions, got the car booked into a friends garage to have some oil drained off and a new Air Filter fitted.

 

[evoboy69]

Took my S2 to a proper garage today and had them drain off the excess oil. The level is now spot on!

Also fitted a new air filter at he same time. Still surges slightly at idle but seemed to drive really well after the minor surgery.