172 oil question weird one

[K_McDermott]

Hi all, on Monday my oil light and service light came on the dash so I pulled over and left the car then checked the oil, and it was low, at the bottom in fact so, I've been and bought some oil and I've filled with 1 litre then checked and wasn't showing so put another 0.5 in and then checked and it was over the max ???

I'm going to empty some out tomorrow as I don't want it damaging oil seals and I'm going to check for leaks also but does anyone have any idea about the oil ? Do these engines burn oil or does it sound like I've got a leak or blockage somewhere ?

Cheers

 

[warwickstingray]

They don't tend to use oil. It does happen but I've yet to see a Smokey one at a track day.

I've found you need to give it a good while and be on perfectly flat ground to get a repeatable reading. Maybe some oil was still draining down when you put the extra half litre in. Most cars are only a litre to 1.5 litres from min to max on the dipstick.

 

[K_McDermott]

Ahh right, well I've just looked over the car today and looked underneath, the bottom of the gearbox has quite a bit of oil but no real signs of a leak from the engine ?

Left me a bit clueless has this one ? Think I'm gunna drain the excess oil out and then keep my eye on it, also keep the lower undershield off and look for any oil

 

[warwickstingray]

Gearbox will be leaking from the selector shaft. It's a common issue. No harm in giving it a good clean and keeping an eye on it to be sure.