[Jimrod]

Hi guys, just wanted to ask some advice on my new (used) 2012 3.0tdi.

I bought the car a week ago from a dealer and remember it showing max oil on the display (before PDI - I presume they didn't touch it then), I've done around 200 miles since and currently on hols with it around 100 miles from home - yesterday after being out I randomly checked the level and it said it was overfilled and to remove some. No dash warnings and everything runs fine. I've checked a few times since on level ground and same message.

Obviously it's a concern but I wonder if it's just on the limit and a real problem or not? I called a nearby garage to see if they could drain a bit and he said it would need a complete oil change due to the sump plug or something (not that he's got time to see me anyway!).

Now I'm a bit worried about the drive home and taking it easy etc, not that I did up until I knew there might be a problem! Any advice or thoughts on it?

I did try the dipstick before realising there wasn't one, just this cap which handily fell down here...

Fortunately blu-tac and a bamboo cane rescued that one!

Cheers for any help!

 

[Jimrod]

Well, not that anyone's interested but to update the thread - it seems mechanics aren't that interested in trying to sort the oil either as it's too much work, so took it to Audi this morning; their "tech" said 'looks ok on the screen', I said 'but it says to reduce the oil'? He says 'Yeah, that's annoying isn't it?'. 😐 We then both moaned about lack of a dipstick, he said I should book it in to get them to remove a bit of oil and recheck, after being told that will take a couple of hours I asked if I can just order a dipstick for now, system down so they called me back later and said there isn't one because it uses the screen...

So, no better off after lots of hassle really, pretty sure they're wrong about the dipstick as I've seen loads of people say they're around £8 from Audi for these, and when I asked if it would flash up with a more severe actual warning if there was a big problem the Audi tech said 'probably'. I'm now totally reassured.🤷‍♂️ In the meantime the car hasn't blown up yet so I'm getting tempted to just leave it.

 

[SimonRoma]

Mate. Find an independent VAG specialist. Purchase a dipstick and fit it. Oil level is likely ok but with a syringe and tube try to draw a bit out. Good luck!

 

[Jimrod]

Mate. Find an independent VAG specialist. Purchase a dipstick and fit it. Oil level is likely ok but with a syringe and tube try to draw a bit out. Good luck!

Cheers for that! Have just done exactly that - local VAG specialist gonna take a look and suck any out if need be. Info on the dipstick for this particular model seems to vary, some say you can't get one, others that "AUDI PART 079 115 611 AB" is the one to get but seem to be mostly available in the US rather than UK... I'll just see what the VAG guy says. Thanks again!

 

[wedgepilot]

If it helps, this is the dipstick I got for my 3.0, and the level on the stick matches what the screen says, which is reassuring.

AUDI NEW GENUINE A4 A5 A6 A8 DIESEL 2.7 3.0 TDI ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK 059115611AB | eBay

AUDI A5 (2007 - 2015). - AUDI A8 (2003 - 2010). - AUDI A6 (2005 - 2011). - AUDI A4 (2008 - 2012). - PART FITS 2.7 AND 3.0 DIESEL ENGINES ONLY. - THIS PART DOES NOT FIT CARS WITH ELECTRONIC OIL LEVEL SYSTEM.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Jimrod]

If it helps, this is the dipstick I got for my 3.0, and the level on the stick matches what the screen says, which is reassuring.

AUDI NEW GENUINE A4 A5 A6 A8 DIESEL 2.7 3.0 TDI ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK 059115611AB | eBay

AUDI A5 (2007 - 2015). - AUDI A8 (2003 - 2010). - AUDI A6 (2005 - 2011). - AUDI A4 (2008 - 2012). - PART FITS 2.7 AND 3.0 DIESEL ENGINES ONLY. - THIS PART DOES NOT FIT CARS WITH ELECTRONIC OIL LEVEL SYSTEM.

www.ebay.co.uk

That's awesome, thank you! 👍🏻

 

[SimonRoma]

When I ordered mine they told me that it wont fit but guess what it did!!!!! Crazy.