Mondeo TDCi Oil Level

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Sat 29 Apr 2006 16:10
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - Wales Forester
I've recently bought a 6 month old Mondeo TDCi 130 with 8000 miles on the clock. The car isn't due it's first service til 12500 miles. After owning it for three weeks I've only just dipped the oil and am a tad worried as it's well over the maximum mark.
The dipstick is a wire type with a plastic gauge piece at the end. The whole of the plastic gauge part is covered in oil when dipped, well over the max mark, and I'm pretty sure the dipstick is coming out without dragging on the sides of the tube. I've dipped it whilst stone cold and it's parked on the level.
The handbook doesn't specify the best time to dip, should I only dip after the engine has been run after waiting for a couple of minutes? I've always had petrol cars previously and they've never over-read on the dipstick when dipped cold.

Any other Mondeo TDCi owners got any ideas? I know there may be a few around the forum ;-)
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Sat 29 Apr 2006 16:14
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - jc2
Get your oil level corrected;diesels can "runaway" if they suck engine oil thro' the ventilation systemn;ie. they start running on sump oil rather than diesel.
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Sun 30 Apr 2006 21:28
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - googolplex
I'm aware of the opposite situation - that new TDCi's tend to use a couple of litres of oil whilst the engine is running in. When you get it corrected - which I presume you will - make sure you continue to check regularly. Mine has stopped using oil now, but I had to top up a few times when new.
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Mon 1 May 2006 11:16
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - Quinny100
I'm on my second TDCi now and I've always found it difficult to get an accurate oil level from the dipstick. The design of it with the flexible cable means that it will always drag against the tube no matter how hard you try.
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Tue 2 May 2006 18:47
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - Wales Forester
Thanks for your replies.

My partner took the car into Ford today, they wouldn't just drop some oil out (surprise surprise), so she paid for an oil & filter change.

I have dipped it this evening and lo and behold the oil is still showing way over the plastic gauge part of the dipstick.

I telephoned the dealer and spoke with the fitter who did the oil change, he assures me that as he was aware of the 'overfill' reason for the car being in the garage he was extremely careful measuring the new oil.

Quinny100 mentions he finds it difficult to get an accurate oil level from the dipstick, does anyone else with a TDCi have similar problems? I can't get a level at all, ending up with oil all over the gauge and on the actual dipstick wire.

Help!
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Tue 2 May 2006 19:17
Mondeo TDCi Oil Level - cheddar
does anyone else with a TDCi have similar problems? I can't get a level at all, ending up with oil all over the gauge and on the actual dipstick wire.>>


Must say it seems to work for me, I always measure when the car has been left standing for an hour or so.
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