Oil Level Overfull

[DirtDevil]

Good morning! I have an S175 Bobcat with the v2203 Kubota engine. I recently changed the oil and filter, refilled with the proper capacity 9.5 quarts, but the level is showing WAY overfull on the dipstick..... The level is almost to the TOP of the dipstick... Yes, I did run the engine to fill the filter.... I let the engine sit for 10 mins before checking the level again. The level continues to be overfull even with the proper capacity.
Are you supposed to check these with the engine running? Like an old Caterpillar?
Any helpful comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[metaphase]

You don’t check oil level with the engine running on that Kubota. Engine off, machine on level ground, give it some time for the oil to drain back like you already did.

If it is still reading way overfull, I would start questioning the reference point rather than the amount you added.

On those V2203 engines in S175, a few things can throw the reading off:

First, dipstick and tube differences. Bobcat mounts the engine at a slightly different angle compared to other machines using the same engine. If the dipstick or tube has ever been swapped, the markings can be completely off. I have seen correct oil quantity read overfull because of this.

Second, incomplete drain. If the machine was not perfectly level or the oil was cold, quite a bit can stay behind in the pan. Then you add full capacity on top and end up over.

Third, fuel dilution. Not super common, but if an injector is leaking or the machine idles a lot, diesel can get into the oil and raise the level. Usually you will notice the oil smells like fuel and feels thinner.

Also keep in mind capacity numbers can be total dry fill. After a normal oil change you sometimes need less than spec.

If it really is that high on the stick, I would pull some oil out and recheck instead of running it. Those engines don’t like being overfilled, can foam and push oil where it shouldn’t go.

 

[DirtDevil]

You don’t check oil level with the engine running on that Kubota. Engine off, machine on level ground, give it some time for the oil to drain back like you already did.

If it is still reading way overfull, I would start questioning the reference point rather than the amount you added.

On those V2203 engines in S175, a few things can throw the reading off:

First, dipstick and tube differences. Bobcat mounts the engine at a slightly different angle compared to other machines using the same engine. If the dipstick or tube has ever been swapped, the markings can be completely off. I have seen correct oil quantity read overfull because of this.

Second, incomplete drain. If the machine was not perfectly level or the oil was cold, quite a bit can stay behind in the pan. Then you add full capacity on top and end up over.

Third, fuel dilution. Not super common, but if an injector is leaking or the machine idles a lot, diesel can get into the oil and raise the level. Usually you will notice the oil smells like fuel and feels thinner.

Also keep in mind capacity numbers can be total dry fill. After a normal oil change you sometimes need less than spec.

If it really is that high on the stick, I would pull some oil out and recheck instead of running it. Those engines don’t like being overfilled, can foam and push oil where it shouldn’t go.

Thank you for the reply..
I'm going to lean more towards the idea the dipstick may have been changed at some point.
I let the engine drain for 24 hrs.... Then I refilled one quart at a time until I reached the full mark on the dipstick. I have only put in 7 quarts and I am sitting at the full mark. 2 more quarts and I'll be over.
I also thought about an injector leaking or the front seal on the injection pump failing and allowing fuel to enter the crankcase thru the gear drive, but that is now null with how the oil level is full now and I haven't even started the machine... I've drained and refilled a couple times. I'm very anal when it comes to my equipment.

 

[Admin]

Thank you for the reply..
I'm going to lean more towards the idea the dipstick may have been changed at some point.
I let the engine drain for 24 hrs.... Then I refilled one quart at a time until I reached the full mark on the dipstick. I have only put in 7 quarts and I am sitting at the full mark. 2 more quarts and I'll be over.
I also thought about an injector leaking or the front seal on the injection pump failing and allowing fuel to enter the crankcase thru the gear drive, but that is now null with how the oil level is full now and I haven't even started the machine... I've drained and refilled a couple times. I'm very anal when it comes to my equipment.

That’s actually really solid troubleshooting on your end, draining it that long and refilling slowly rules out a lot.

At 7 quarts hitting the full mark without even running it, I would be very confident the dipstick or tube is not correct for that machine. You basically proved it already.

What I would do at this point is stop trusting the stick markings entirely and work off known capacity plus behavior. Fill it to somewhere around 9 to 9.5 quarts total, run it, let it sit 20 to 30 minutes, then see where it settles. Wherever that level lands on your stick, that becomes your new “full” reference, not what’s stamped on it.

Also worth a quick check, make sure the dipstick is fully seating. Sometimes the tube gets slightly bent or not fully pressed in, and that alone can throw the reading off by quite a bit.

One more thing I have run into on these, some aftermarket dipsticks are just flat wrong length wise. Even being off by half an inch will give you exactly what you’re seeing.

Given that you have drained and refilled multiple times and haven’t run into rising level, I would agree fuel dilution is off the table here. You’re on the right track, this really looks like a reference issue, not an actual overfill problem.

 

[Mrjaunty]

Definitely not checked while running.
Most likely it didn’t fully drain or you added full dry capacity. I would take about a quart out and recheck. Better to sneak up on the correct level than run it overfull.