A smoking '90 CQ?!? No....

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <333F428A.59F6@tiac.net> Ramana Lagemann writes:

> So my question for you is, what exactly happens when you overfill the
> engine oil? (Yes, I am well aware of who the true dipstick in this case
> is...)

You get "piston slap" - when a piston heading downwards hits the surface of the 
oil in the sump.  It's _nothing_like_ as bad as getting a liquid _above_ the 
piston - that usually wrecks the engine because the liquid has nowhere else to 
go..
 
Anyway - THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME!
 
A Scirocco I once had (early 1980s) left the factory with the wrong dipstick.  
Apparently, a small number did so.  The first service that was peformed was 
done by a German garage who filled n litres by the book and didn't check the 
level.  The second service was done in England (I was on holiday) and the 
garage refilled to the dipstick mark - around 2 litres too much!
 
I got _exactly_ the same symptoms you have, overtaking a tractor on a French 
road on my way home.
 
The good news is - all you have to do is take the excess oil out.  My Scirocco 
ran for another 90k before I sold it, with no apparent ill effects. 

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club