oil in dipstick (i am)

[sillysausage]

I have been a bit of a 'dipstick' and put the oil in the oil checker 'dipstick'. i have a Mercedes Compressor and hadnt put any oil in it for 2 months since i brought it,so thought id top it up. I opened the engine and couldn't open the main oil bit,thingy. i poured it in the dipstick thingy and it only took a little before overflowing. i then smelt burnin oil smell! help! i havent started it or any thing. Any ideas what to do?

Ta

[rojash]

It's nothing to worry about. The reason it overflowed is that as you poured it in, there was no other route for the air to escape - but the oil that did go in still ended up in the right place! The smell is just the overflowed oil burning off the hot engine casing - just as if you'd spilled some when pouring it in the correct hole!

[sillysausage]

nice one, so i pressume it will just filter down into the correct place or do i have to get it out?

thanks

[kjn2]

The smell of burning is probably where you dripped the oil onto part of the engine i.e. the exhaust, or engine block when you filled it up and when the engine/exhaust gets hot the burning smell will come, a bit puzzled why you decided to fill the car with oil was there a warning light on? I have not put any oil into my car for a year and will not do until either the warning light comes or upon checking the dipstick it shows low, you do not just put oil in as a matter of time, the next thing you must now do is to check the dipstick and check to ensure you have not overfilled it with oil this is just as bad as not having enough oil.IF you have overfilled I suggest you take it to a local garage ask them to drain the oil out.and in the future with due respect leave well alone, thats what warning lights are for.

[rojash]

As I said in my first answer, the oil will still end up in the right place.

[gordyagusta]

Sorry about the lateness in my reply but i had to pass comment on this one,
Chances are you have done no damage due to the small amount you could feasibly 'pour' into the dipstick tube. Must have been a long slow process, how much did you actually manage to get in?
However to contest what Kjn2 said about warning lights etc, You do have to regulary check and top up your oil level, even the most modern of cars consume some oil as a matter of course, also todays oils have a shelf life when in use and require changing after a specific period depending on vehicle manufacturer due to contaminates produced by the 'working' engine.
Check your oil level using the dipstick, normally the difference from low level to max level is only around 1 litre or so, If your only just above the max level then i wouldn't worry about it, if it is quite a lot above the max mark then i would recommend you get an oil and filter change done at your local fast fit centre(cheapest and most convenient) this will ensure you've done the proper thing for the long term 'health' of your cars engine.....
Warning lights on a car more often than not only come on once the damage has been done, not before it. What ever you do keep a regular eye on the dipstick level and not on the warning lights. If anything preventative maintenance is better than waiting until something starts flashing warning signs at you...

Happy Motoring