[Solved] What do you do when oil level gets above the max level on the dipstick?

Last time I got my oil changed, it got filled to the max level on the dipstick. Not an uncommon thing to do on oil changes.
However due to the slight oil dillution that is occuring with these engines, the level gets pushed slightly above the max level on the dipstick over time.
I change my oil very frequently (twice a year, about every 7000KM), and I am not worried about the dillution itself, but the negative effects of having to much oil (and gas) in my engine that can cause problems in the long run like blowing headgaskets and premature wear.

I'm concidering my options here, and for future oil changes.
Should I use a long tube and pump to extract some of the excess oil to get the level down to the recommended level on the dipstick?
When doing oil changes, should I try to stay closer to the minimum level on the stick to compansate for the expected increase of oil levels over time?

Valkyria90 said:

Last time I got my oil changed, it got filled to the max level on the dipstick. Not an uncommon thing to do on oil changes.
However due to the slight oil dillution that is occuring with these engines, the level gets pushed slightly above the max level on the dipstick over time.
I change my oil very frequently (twice a year, about every 7000KM), and I am not worried about the dillution itself, but the negative effects of having to much oil (and gas) in my engine that can cause problems in the long run like blowing headgaskets and premature wear.

I'm concidering my options here, and for future oil changes.
Should I use a long tube and pump to extract some of the excess oil to get the level down to the recommended level on the dipstick?
When doing oil changes, should I try to stay closer to the minimum level on the stick to compansate for the expected increase of oil levels over time?

Click to expand...

Honda now says (e.g. in their youtube video) that it's OK for the oil to exceed the "full" level.



However, they did not change anything in the manual, which still says:

NOTICE
Do not fill the engine oil above the upper mark.
Overfilling the engine oil can result in leaks and
engine damage.

Of course, this is still technically valid (the engine should never be filled above the top mark when changing oil).

Exactly how much excess is OK Honda doesn't say. I want to believe up to 10 mm is acceptable in my civicx and I wouldn't let it get any higher. I hope Honda actually did take into account oil dilution when designing the engine. Otherwise, in my other cars, I would allow maybe up to 4 mm over the top mark only if the engine was consuming some oil. In new cars I would not allow any amount above the top mark.

But sucking out the oil via the dipstick tube is very quick and easy. All that's needed is some flexible tubing and a large syringe.
I would not go too low with the oil level either. At the lower dipstick mark it is fine for the level itself, but the effects of dilution will be greater if there is less oil to start with.
So the best is to just to check it as often as needed and not let it go to crazy levels.

Thank you friend!
This was exactly they type of answer I was looking for. I will order a syringe with a long tube from ebay or something and remove a bit of the overfilled oil and replace it with some fresh oil to be sure.
Now I can rest easy

I’m gonna go with this! $9 and ships here in 2 days, been worried about this too, eve though the latest flash is not supposed to allow this anymore!!!

Yobett Large Plastic 100ml Syringe with Tube + 120cm (47in) Handy Plastic Tubing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J26U3R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6mabDbMAK3BT2

For maximum performance, satisfaction and pleasure when sucking out the oil, I use this 150 ml syringe (I guess 200 mm would be fine too, but if the tubing is too thin, a big syringe is counterproductive).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C71C1LH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJ9P8F...&pd_rd_r=7068a7de-8f85-11e9-b0df-5fce2ecb2018

The tubing they include might work OK, but it's thinner inside and out than what would fit in the dipstick hole. It might be 3 mm inside or even less. I'm using a full 1/4" OD tubing which is about 4 mm ID. This makes the oil flow quite fast. It is also harder and more rigid (polyehelene, such as used for refrigerator or water cooler water lines) which is easy to insert. The tubing they usually include with such syringes is soft clear vinyl (thicker walls). My tubing will not fit directly on the standard Luer fitting of the medical syringes. I'm using a short piece of rubber fuel line to connect it to this syringe which has a large cone (not Luer) fitting.

The tubing will go at least about 27" (69 cm) in the dipstick hole.