Strange Oil Reading/Engine noise.... Help?

[safeforever]

Hey everyone, sorry if this is a REALLY stupid question, but:



Today, was driving home and my engine (4age, aw11, cams HC pistons etc) started making a slight ticking noise.
now, as the engine is usually very thirsty for oil i assumed it had somehow run low, and so i pulled into a servo, bought the oil she uses and topped her up, even though i put a fair bit in a week or two ago.
Problem being, it doesnt seem to have helped at all. It was still ticking when i got it home (maybe a 5 or 10 minute drive, kept revs low etc) and i havent started it since. (had to run of with GF to see a movie/dinner).

Now, i got home just now and thought ok, i'll check the oil level, see if it has just strangely lost a heap of oil, and i took several readings and i cant understand whats going on. The dipstick didn't return a reading so much as it was saturated to about 3 or 4 times past the little indicator on the stick.

I have no idea if it can have that much oil in there, and if i've just been a total idiot and put way too much oil in (last time i checked, before and after i topped it up a week or 2 ago, was fine) or if theres something wrong with it?

any thoughts people?


thanks, and i did a quick search but couldnt find anything directly related so sorry if someone's asked a similar question!!
also sorry if im being a car hypochondriac.

[LeeRoy]

Check the oil level when its cold by removing the distick, wiping it clean, then reinserting it after which a reading can be had. If your just pulling it out after running the car then your going to get an incorrect reading.

Hook up an oil pressure gauge as theres no point assuming it has pressure. Know what its doing and it will help you find the problem and save time on speculation.

[safeforever]

It had about 3 hours to cool down before i took the reading, though i will admit the engine was still a little warm. Also, there's what im assuming is an oil pressure guage of some sort built into the instruments, as i know for a fact its not an oil level, and that's been showing from medium to high.

I did fill up on fuel before this noise started to make its presence known, and ive been warned not to put anything under 98 octane into it (which is something i stick to religiously) as anything under could cause pinging. Im not sure what this sounds like even though i have an idea of what it is in principle, could this possibly be the case? May BP have inadvertantly had something less than 98 in their 98 pumps?
Just an idea, no idea if its a good/valid one.

thanks

[oldcorollas]

if there is lots oil in there, when you pull ti out the first time, you can get oil up the dipstick.. so then subsequent readings have a smear of oil....

try wiping clean, then lift up maybe 4 or 5cm and wait a few seconds.. then pull out

[progkamol]

try checking the oil first thing in the morning (with engine off and the car nice and cold) ... take out the dip stick and wipe it clean with a rag or newspaper and try checking it again ...

The noise from the engine can be cause by many reasons ... got to listen to the noise to say what it is (but not always 100% right). It may be dirty/sticky tappers, bearing knock and etc.. just depending on what does it sounds like.

[safeforever]

ok, so took a reading this morning, and had the same result. Oil is still reaching three or four times the markings. it's like a quarter of the whole stick. Im not game to start it either to see if the ticking's still there as i dont want to blow something up etc.

thanks for the help so far guys

[LeeRoy]

Dump the oil out and start again.

Should take just under 4L.

Excessive oil is also bad for engines.

[safeforever]

Dump the oil out and start again.

Should take just under 4L.

Excessive oil is also bad for engines.

yep, was thinking i might try this. Then i could see for sure the oil level anyway.

cheers