jimpom23

Checked my oil today and it took me ages to find somewhere nearby that was completely straight for a proper reading.

It looked a bit down so topped it up a bit and got a bit of splashback on the bit of engine surrounding the filler cap which was easily wiped off.

When I took it for a spin though there was a smoky like smell when stood still - do you think its the oil on the engine cooking a bit as it evaporates?

I haven't, but, can you put too much oil in a car?

Kobe

is the cap on ?

AquilaEagle

the oil will burn off if you spill some on the engine.

Check the cap too - an often made mistake

jimpom23

You laugh but I know loads of people who have done that (inc my old man with the V8 in his 7 series - oil everywhere!)

All caps on as I checked all the levels

AquilaEagle

have you checked the cap again, since the drive?

jimpom23

yep, all looks fine

Dan Hale

Yep you can (I haven't either) but you end up with too much pressure and blowing seals etc.. messy & expensive.

mikey k

as expensive as low oil in some cases!

Badger

First time ever filled a car up with oil :

First car (MG Metro Turbo) aged 17, I pulled into Heston Services on the M4 for some petrol and noticed the oil light had come on.

So I fill up with fuel, wander in to pay and pick up the biggest thing of oil I could see. 5 litre jobbie it was. Go back out to the car, drive away from the pumps, pop the bonnet and start to pour the oil in.

All of it.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the oil level reach the top of the hole - "Wow, it must have been low," I thought to myself.

Chucked empty into the trash, secured oil cap, dropped bonnet, got in, turned ignition...and promptly disappeared in a cloud of white smoke

Got the AA out in the end to drain it and I spent half an hour driving around in circles in the lorry park, burning the rest off

GSi

Too much oil kills BMWs. Excess oil causes the oil to foam up as the pistons thrash around and eventually cause air (in the oil foam) to get drawn into the oil pump so JUST like not enough oil

Seem to be very sensitive to it on the 3.2 Evo engine and recommendation is to run them about 2/3rd full.