Please Help new motorhome nightmare.

[Matt 123]

Hi everybody, ive bought a motorhome and im having a problem, i picked up a new autotrail imala 736g from a large dealership on 24th november and have had problems , i could not drive it at first due to a broken wrist so my stepdad drove it home for me and parked it on the drive with 60 miles on the clock , my first drive in the van was 23rd december . as i arrived home the red light came on saying maximum oil level exceeded , now with 150 miles on the clock i called the dealership and their was no reply as they had closed for christmas , i phoned fiat recovery and it took them over week to recover it and take it to the dealership they now say that there was 2 litres too much oil in the van , should i ask for a new van , they say its ok now but im not happy about it ,

 

[Minxy]

Now this is a rare occurrence, I think someone's taken my advice and it's suddenly gone quiet!

She's on holiday in Coventry at the mo ....

 

[Gellyneck]

If it’s the latest 140bhp engine then mine definitely has one

and who told you that!

 

[Matt 123]

Hi all , just picked the van up its back on the drive, its mutijet3 140 engine , no problems driving it back and took it up to 90 at one point ,ive looked again with a friend and there is definitely no dipstick , must be a new engine , i did find a telescopic magnetic tool in the engine compartment sticking out of the air intake tho , am i allowed to name and shame the dealership

 

[Southdowners]

Why would you name and shame the dealership? The problem has been sorted.

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[Gellyneck]

Why would you name and shame the dealership? The problem has been sorted.

I would guess because they left loose tool\s under the bonnet but ......!

 

[Matt 123]

They have left a 7inch tool that extends to about 2 foot in my engine compartment and i have just driven 60 miles , could of got tangled up on the way causing more problems, they seem incompetent to me is is this normal

 

[iandsm]

I have read that too much oil can cause serious damage but I am sure some moron engineers on here can put me straight.

Wow, thats a bit rich!

 

[Jamesh]

I have read that too much oil can cause serious damage but I am sure some moron engineers on here can put me straight.

I've met a moron motor engineers! String you along don't finish the job, hand it back in bits!

I also have met some really good engineers know thier onions, work in a timely fashion and are affordable.

I have noticed the poor ones have lots of cars they cannot fix on the forecourt. Yours will be next!!!

 

[Southdowners]

They have left a 7inch tool that extends to about 2 foot in my engine compartment and i have just driven 60 miles , could of got tangled up on the way causing more problems, they seem incompetent to me is is this normal

Just have a word with them direct. I don't think it warrants anything like naming and shaming.

I think you said earlier that the problem with the oil wasn't caused by the dealers. I wouldn't name and shame over the magnetic tool oversight if for no other reason than I would want to stay on good terms with them in the future.

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[Two on Tour]

It was a spell checker error and you would have known that wouldn’t you.

Nirvanauk, In that case, I owe you an apology, but you would have known that wouldn't you is not always the case as you are well aware, as a few are visiting Coventry as I type.

 

[pappajohn]

I don't understand why the dealer would be putting ANY oil in a brand new van
It would leave the base vehicle factory with the correct amount of the correct grade oil in it.

 

[pappajohn]

.

 

[pappajohn]

They have left a 7inch tool that extends to about 2 foot in my engine compartment and i have just driven 60 miles , could of got tangled up on the way causing more problems, they seem incompetent to me is is this normal

My mechanic bro works for a Skoda dealer.
At the end of every job they have to do a tool check.
If all tools are present they can sign the job off.....they are allowed 15 minutes to do the check.
One of his jobs came back with a brake fault......found a brake hose clamp still attached.
All his tools were accounted for and apart from that he worked on the front brakes ......the clamp was on a rear brake hose.
Only the person who fitted it knows how long it had been there

 

[Matt 123]

Ok thanks good advice , just checked but cant see any brake hose clamps on mine

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[CazPaul]

Wow does anyone else ever take their Motorhome to 90mph I certainly never have done?

 

[donkey]

The OP did say 90, but did not say if mph or kph, perhaps he is metric?

Back on the subject of oil level: My Peugeot Boxer has a dipstick but also does an 'oil check' when first switched on. The display always shows five square rings. There is nothing in the user manual, so I do not know for definite exactly what that means. I guess if the oil was low it would show four or even three rings, no idea, but then I am a moron.

Geoff

 

[2GB Racing]

I do hope that the OP was doing as stated either 90 KPH or MPH on a
private road of course !

 

[Riverbankannie]

I do hope that the OP was doing as stated either 90 KPH or MPH on a
private road of course !

Ah, but maybe it was a typo

 

[2GB Racing]

O silly me of course it was a typo officer

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[Rimswell Wanderer]

Overfill of two litres should not cause any damage but I would be maybe suspicious of over fuelling as this can cause a few problems by diluting the engine oil, you can usually smell the presence of diesel in the engine oil If you can manage to get a sample. Let me just say that what I have said sounds horrific but at your mileage it’s highly doubtful that any lasting damage has occurred but worth a word with the main dealer for reassurance and maybe write to the manufacturer expressing your concern. I don’t know if it’s possible to take up the five year warranty now you have taken delivery but I would certainly make enquiries.

Just as a note
” I spent all my working life in the retail motor trade with the same dealer from start to finish, later as service and after sales manager at our VW and Audi along with Merced car van and truck main dealership so I have seen plenty of different scenarios “ feel free to send me a PM if you want a chat.

 

[L' Hobo]

Overfill of two litres should not cause any damage but I would be maybe suspicious of over fuelling as this can cause a few problems by diluting the engine oil, you can usually smell the presence of diesel in the engine oil If you can manage to get a sample. Let me just say that what I have said sounds horrific but at your mileage it’s highly doubtful that any lasting damage has occurred but worth a word with the main dealer for reassurance and maybe write to the manufacturer expressing your concern. I don’t know if it’s possible to take up the five year warranty now you have taken delivery but I would certainly make enquiries.

Just as a note
” I spent all my working life in the retail motor trade with the same dealer from start to finish, later as service and after sales manager at our VW and Audi along with Merced car van and truck main dealership so I have seen plenty of different scenarios “ feel free to send me a PM if you want a chat.

Just how often did 'over fuelling' on a new vehicle happen in your dealership??

 

[airwave]

the engine doesent have a dipstick , it has oil level indicator on the dash and this was right during the handover of the van , it said too much oil at 150 miles ,

As i understand it , it's quite common for engines not to have a dipstick nowadays . It being that way for some time with the heavy trucks i drive . Personally , i think it's madness to rely on these inaccurate electronic measuring system , but it's called progress . Quite frankly , it's wasted progress on my behalf .
I drive an old van , which doesn't have any of these high tec , inaccurate sensors . No computerised diagnostic system throwing up false warnings , and no system that throws the van into limp mode , because a bulb ent working . The latest i've heard involves these new camera mirrors , being fitted to heavies . If they ent working , the engine won't start . At 2k a throw , you can see where that's going , and it's coming to a van near you , real soon ! . The more i hear of these new vans , the less i want one .

Okay so back to your problem , should you reject the van or not . Well i'm sorry my friend , but only you can make that decision . However from what your saying , i wouldn't be too worried . You checked the oil on collection , and it's correct . You then drove it 150 miles , before a warning came up . Well first off the sump probably had the correct amount in , at the start , however some sensor systems will give false warnings with the oil on the full mark . I say probably , purely because there's no way to be sure , there's no dipstick . This means a measured amount has being added , and that was probably using some form of electronic measuring system , nothing beats a dipstick .
I regularly had this type of warning myself , again with the heavies i drive . It's not happened recently , as the mechanics have got used to it , and never fill to the mark anyway . I can tell you the unofficially line is , you should never fill the sump , on modern vehicles to the full mark , purely for this reason . Filling above this point will likely bring up the over full warning . Bearing in mind the capacity of my own van , i would say 2 ltr's is probably about right , so kind of reinforces my thoughts of the oil level . Personally i think it's a fob off , to cover a manufacturing cock up , but the correct level should be somewhere between the half to full mark , say about three quarters , and that is from the mechanics who do the work . They've also told me , never to add oil till the warning light comes on , but that overrides something i've previously been taught . By that time , the damage has already been done . So i keep the three quarters mark nailed , my own vehicles are always full .
As for the internet . Well i would like to say it's a good place for reference , but the reality is , it's a notorious bad place for information . If you ask the same question , two ways , you will get two completely different answers . Just look at all the crap being touted on you tube recently , everyone has different opinions , an yes an overfilled sump will cause damage . But it's more in the long term , with the sort of mileage you've done , i seriously doubt your van even noticed .

 

[Doogy Dog]

Whoa.... !!!!

Its a new vehicle and probably came with less than 10 miles on the clock. The OPs trip was most likely its first good run at normal speeds and up to normal engine temperature . Some engines do NOT come with a dipstick at all ( including some VWs since 2010 ) and have the oil level indicator only

The engine is may be what we dimwitted engineers call ' making oil ' which means an internal seal (usually from the HP diesel pump or internal fuel lines ) is leaking allowing diesel into the crankcase and the level is rising. This ultimately causes what is called 'fuel dilution' the oil viscosity drops to a point where it no longer lubricates sufficiently causing internal parts severe wear, damage and premature failure, plus if left unchecked can actually cause an engine overspeed run away due to the diesel mist getting sucked in to the air filter through the breather or , even more alarming, a crankcase explosion if lubrication is lost and any parts inside become red hot and ignites the diesel mist inside the crankcase.

The level was probably ok when it left the factory and dealers and everyone involved (including your dealer ) has ASSUMED it was overfilled at the factory which is highly unlikely ( as it is an automated measured amount that is put in each engine on the assembly line ) and ,as we all know ,it cannot be manually checked (no dipstick) .

The' Dealer drained it OFF to the right level' .....hmmmm ....... So how did they check it was the 'right level' ? ) with no dipstick. I reckon they just drained it off until the hi level light went out .. which now means you may still have diesel diluted oil in your engine. The only way to check this accurately (in the absence of a dipstick) is to drain off all the oil and change the filter . Refill with an exact known amount , drive it normally for about 75 miles and drain it off again.. which is what the dealer should have done ....it would only have taken them an hour or two .....and if a more fluid comes out than went in... its an internal fuel leak into the crankcase . If its milky and the engine cooling water is low it a water leak in to the crankcase (oil cooler or head gasket or internal water passage fault).

Get something in writing from your dealer to cover all of the above.

 

[Nanniemate]

Do new vehicles not come with manuals anymore ? Just a thought from someone who has been called a dipstick occasions sions

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[Peppadog]

Do new vehicles not come with manuals anymore ? Just a thought from someone who has been called a dipstick occasions sions

I don’t know. But I do know my Land Rover Discovery, bought new in late 2013, does NOT have dipstick. I rarely check the oil onscreen as it can’t be too hot, or cold, and must be on a level surface.

I don’t think the 2010 Jag I traded in for the disco had one either (same 3.0ltr V6 engine btw).

As already said. Its not progress. But is reality.

Welcome to the OP btw. Enjoy your new ‘van, and here.

 

[Puddleduck]

Back on the subject of oil level: My Peugeot Boxer has a dipstick but also does an 'oil check' when first switched on. The display always shows five square rings. There is nothing in the user manual, so I do not know for definite exactly what that means. I guess if the oil was low it would show four or even three rings, no idea, but then I am a moron.

Geoff

My 10 year old Peugeot Partner (car not van) also has an electronic thingy for just about anything but also has an oil dipstick and other fluid levels can be checked by even idiotic me. The electronic stuff was an extra (from what I have been told) as the car is a disability adapted vehicle.

The only motor maintenance I do is check fluid levels and tyre wear plus add fuel. Any funny noises or anything else that isn't normal gets reported to the motor mechanic who is a neighbour. I usually finally get an invoice after 6 months or so (after a lot of prompting) when I check the invoice, correct it (upwards) and pay for work done. He's a great mechanic but not so good at multiplication (forgets to carry the units to the tens and the tens to the hundreds columns) - sometimes I wonder if that is deliberate.

Thanks for the thread as I wasn't aware that oil dipsticks are no longer fitted on some vehicles and the only dipstick is (possibly) the driver.

Some great advice from airwave and others.

 

[Coolcats]

They have left a 7inch tool that extends to about 2 foot in my engine compartment and i have just driven 60 miles , could of got tangled up on the way causing more problems, they seem incompetent to me is is this normal

I can’t tell you as a young mechanic how many times I left a 10mm snap on spanner under the bonnet of a customers car. Not only was it embarrassing it was getting costly as apprentices do not get paid very much.

Regarding the oil don’t worry about it better overfilled than under filled and with limited mileage it is highly unlikely any damage was done.

One of my vehicles always gets overfilled at service time it has a dry sump so it’s tricky to get the exact amount right so it’s over filled as a precaution. Any excess oil is just blown in to a overflow bottle but remember this thing is doing 8,000 rpm and getting hammered around a track so a bit of oil in a commercial mainly low revving bullet proof Diesel engine really won’t harm.

If you really are worried about an overfill and short Milage your going to worry a lot more about everything to do with the MoHo, relax a little about this and be kind to yourself.

 

[minesapint]

Hi Matt is the dealership is in southcave ,iff so they will tell you it’s nothing to do with them as they do not check anything mechanical,and it will have to go to a main dealer to have it rectified.
Mine came with virtually no addblu very little engine oil and front lights not working.
And I did ask if they had done a full PDI prior to me picking it up.

Hi Nev, I bought a new van from a dealer at Southcave, it should also have had a PDI, but the first night we used it, we looked for the books and the accessories pack, not there, showering in the morning we noticed a large pool of water under the van, and after looking under it found the shower drain pipe was not connected at all. It had not had a PDI at all, very bad service.
Thet also employed a rottweiler to go over your van when you take in the part ex, he went over our trade in he found a tiny damp spot where a bottle of shampoo had fallen over and tried to knock off £1k off for that then he told us we were the third owner, which he seems to do to all trade in owners, I had all the paperwork from the first owner and we were the second owner he tried to knock a lot more off for that. Our friends traded theirs in for the same model as ours and he tried the second owner trick on them but they had bought it from new, nice try.

 

[dunnah01]

But where has the extra 2 litres of oil come from?. Nobody is admitting to putting it in there so it must be coming from either diesel or water. I'd be asking for the oil to be tested properly and the crankcase ventilation system to be checked over by somebody independent to be happy that all's well.

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[Coolcats]

But where has the extra 2 litres of oil come from?. Nobody is admitting to putting it in there so it must be coming from either diesel or water. I'd be asking for the oil to be tested properly and the crankcase ventilation system to be checked over by somebody independent to be happy that all's well.

Water in oil creates what is called a Coloid, it causes white deposits around the filler cap 2 litres of water would hardly go I noticed ! And if it’s diesel it’s viscosity would massively changed and the oil pressure lamp would probably have come on ! As oil is automatically added at the factory blame the robot.

On Wednesday I also had an oil warning intermittently flash up on my dash saying it’s overfilled I have checked and the oil is at the top of the dipstick. It may be a sensor error and I am not in the slightest botherd. It’s due for a service in a few weeks and will have it looked at then.