Am I in trouble? Oil level no longer going down

[lardope]

This might sound crazy or paranoid, but I’m nervous because whenever I check my oil level for the last 6 months, it’s not going down. Meaning it’s fine.

I’ve always had to add oil ever since I bought the car. I even have a calendar reminder set to once a month check my oil level. And in the past, I’ve usually had to add some. This has been the situation for years.

Mysteriously, starting about 6 months ago, every time I check my oil level, it’s fine. I haven’t changed my oil that I use or anything. Any thoughts?

If you’re wondering what I’m worried about, I have no idea… gas leaking into the oil and diluting it?

My car is a 2004 BEW with PD.

 

[Tdijarhead]

Does your oil smell like diesel?

 

[Seatman]

Maybe the leak has gunked up and stopped leaking

 

[Mpaw]

do you loose coolant?

 

[Nickmix]

Did you switch brands or weight of oil?

 

[mjydrafter]

If you are worried, pop the VC, run the lift pump with a power supply and have a look at the injectors.

The other common "fuel in oil" spot for the BEW is the tandem pump.

 

[oilhammer]

Take the engine apart and find out why.

 

[454k30]

I'm going to guess that whatever seal that was leaking has now swelled up and is getting ready to fail completely.

 

[lardope]

Does your oil smell like diesel?

Thank you this is an excellent question....let me go check....no it does not

 

[lardope]

Maybe the leak has gunked up and stopped leaking

That doesn't sound so bad

 

[lardope]

do you loose coolant?

I checked and no I am not!

 

[lardope]

Did you switch brands or weight of oil?

Nope...

 

[lardope]

Take the engine apart and find out why.

Well that escalated quickly! lol

 

[lardope]

I'm going to guess that whatever seal that was leaking has now swelled up and is getting ready to fail completely.

::gulp::

 

[lardope]

If you are worried, pop the VC, run the lift pump with a power supply and have a look at the injectors.

The other common "fuel in oil" spot for the BEW is the tandem pump.

Thanks for your suggestion. What is the VC?

 

[lardope]

Update: I think I was paranoid. I saw a drop in my oil level today after the longest time, and my oil does not smell like gas, and it does not drip off the dipstick, so perhaps I just overpoured oil at some point months ago and wasn't being observant enough to its level and changes. Thanks though everyone. Now I know what to look out for.

 

[Seatman]

Update: I think I was paranoid. I saw a drop in my oil level today after the longest time, and my oil does not smell like gas, and it does not drip off the dipstick, so perhaps I just overpoured oil at some point months ago and wasn't being observant enough to its level and changes. Thanks though everyone. Now I know what to look out for.

Easily done, the dipsticks on these cars are a bit crap to read lol. Also meant to check the level once engine is warmed up according the handbook.

 

[KrashDH]

Easily done, the dipsticks on these cars are a bit crap to read lol. Also meant to check the level once engine is warmed up according the handbook.

Engine warmed up then gotta let it settle for 5 minutes.

Sometimes you can't smell fuel in the oil.
Better to do the white paper towel test

 

[Bradm]

Thanks for your suggestion. What is the VC?

Valve cover