Just had my 2nd oil change done by the dealer. The level of the oil is over the fill line. Over the flat part. Into the fat part above the flat (narrow) part where the low/high lines are. I'm guessing, if the volume per length of dipstick is consistent even about the full mark, that it has an extra .5 - .7 quart - so a total of about 7.6 - 7.8 quarts in my 7.1 quart (I believe that's the total) capacity. Does it take more 'too much' before it's really 'TOO' much?

update on my oil change today: "4.5" quarts they added, said it was a hair above the level where it was when I brought in.

BS! I brought it in - I checked it .7 miles from the dealership - with the level .9 quarts low, midway between L and H. Now it's about 1/3" ABOVE 'H'. Over the flat part of the dipstick. that's a little part of what else we (the first owners of the first rotary here in 8 years) "get" to deal with.

 

go to a different dealer next time

 

trust me, that's a strong thought. They do have one enthusiast in the svc.dept. - I talked to him later this afternoon; I'll take it back Monday. They'll drain it, add 3 quarts, run it a few minutes, see where the level is. Experiment on mine, basically. Perhaps learn that the owner's manual is correct?! I'm pretty sure at this point the tech(s) just glanced at the service manual (CD?), saw 4.5 quarts not noticing it might not pertain to the 6speed sitting near him, and then added the extra quart.

But what I want to try to get them to understand is that I may not feel too confident in their abilities for really difficult things if an oil change is challenging.

As for another dealer - this one is less than a mile from my office. I just walk to/from most of the time for service. Despite free loaner availability.

 

sorry if you might find this a dumb question but, what exactly happens when you put too much oil? is it because it might spill that we should be worried about it?

 

Its probably the statement in the owners manual that says overfilling with oil could cause engine damage that has him concerned.

 

exactly. so the question remains: if one were to (or one's dealer were to) over fill the crankcase, then how much extra in the crankcase begins to be a real problem - 16 ounces, 1 quart, 2 quarts, 3 quarts? Obviously, as I drive it, the amount will reduce. Mine seems to be using around 1 quart per 3500-4000 miles, +/- depending on the aggressiveness of driving. Almost any car will use more under consistent WOT conditions.

 

If I were you. When you go in Monday, I would have a letter ready for them to sign, stating that they sent you out of there with an improperly serviced car. You don't know that bringing the car up to presure and temp one time has not already done the damage the owners manual warns of. With your major overfill, you are probably submersing engine components that were not intended or designed to be submerged, hence the warning.

Letter should contain time, date, mileage at service, mileage at discovery of problem, technician talked to, advice given, anything pertinent to this event. Including the cars performance prior to service.

 

so does that mean you don't have to add oil yourself then, if you go every 3000miles to get an oil change. that's cool.

 

whether you feel you don't have add is up to your judgement. Two things are highly important with a rotary : oil and coolant. The 6speed holds 7.1 quarts. If you go 3000 miles and use 1 quart, for discussion, that's approx 1/7th down, or around 14% less than max oil. The full 1.8 to the "L" on the dipstick is 1.8/7.1 or 25% low. I prefer to keep it close to full - say within 10-20 ounces if possible.

 

I got my first oil change yesterday. Just to be sure I checked the car this morning and found it to be substantially above the F line. I called the service writer and he claims that, despite the warning in the manual, that it was done intentionally.

After reading this, and several other threads, I believe I will revisit the issue with the service manager on Monday.

Is anyone aware of a "policy" to over-fill the RENESIS engine at oil change time. It is hard to believe that incompentence is as wide-spread as it appears to be, based on what is reported in differents parts of this forum (a lot of people have been over-filled).