I bought my 2021 F Type R new. The oil level reading always showed one graduation below maximum when I checked it. At around 2750 miles I drained the factory fill oil using a Mityvac and changed the filter. I pumped the Mityvac until it was sucking just air to try and get as much oil out as possible. I refilled the sump with 6 quarts,16 oz (6.5 qts.) of fresh oil figuring that should be close to the published capacity of 6.9 quarts (6 quarts, 29 oz.) considering some residual oil in the engine. No problems, the gauge continued to read about 1 graduation below the max level.

At around 5000 miles I took the car into the dealer to have the 1 year inspection and free oil/filter change done. I checked the oil level before driving away as I had read reports here of the dealers overfilling on oil changes. Sure enough I got the Overfilled warning. I told the service manager and they pulled the car into the service bay and removed some oil. But I continued to get an overfilled message. I drained out a half quart the next day. But from then when I checked the oil according to the manual (warm oil, about 20-30 minutes after shutting down the engine) I would get the Overfill warning message but within a couple of seconds I could see the gauge drop down a few notches, almost to the half point. So I put a half quart of oil back in. And the gauge continued to show Overfilled at first but then dropped down to 2 graduations below max.

I get OCD about such things so yesterday I used the Mityvac again to suck out as much oil as possible and also installed a new filter. The graduations on the side of the Mityvac showed about 6 1/2 quarts of oil were removed. I then installed a new filter, made sure to pour a few ounces into the bottom of the housing as per the instructions, and poured the slightly used oil back in using a graduated container to carefully measure it. I poured in a total of 6 quarts, 10 ounces including the oil in the filter housing. And I still get the Overfilled warning when I first check it and then the level drops a few graduations below max again.

I don't think there is more than the 6 quarts, 29 ounces maximum in the sump now and the gauge shows a few graduations below maximum now, but why does the Overfilled warning come on each time for a couple of seconds and then blink out when the level drops ? I tried resetting the service interval but that made no difference.

I almost forgot to mention: When I check the oil stone cold the warning message never comes on. The cold oil level currently shows at 2 graduations above the center "OK" mark.

Could the dealer overfilling the sump that one time trigger something in the warning programming that hasn't reset itself ? I'm not going to worry about it as long as the level settles down between half and full on the gauge but still it is annoying.

 

Dumb question. Since the F-Type doesn't have a dipstick, where did you place the Mityvac tube to extract the oil. My friend and neighbor has told me of his overfill situation and I have an extractor but its unclear to me where to suction the oil from.

 

The extraction port is in the center of the oil fill tube, so just remove that cover and you'll see it.

 

And a common rookie error is to try to put the plastic extraction pump hose down that port.
Nooooo, it goes over/around the top of the tube, the MityVac will have plug(s) that fit just right so that you get a nice airtight seal which is essential for a vacuum pump to work properly.

 

And to add on to what Thunder Dump and OzXFR said, I also dip the end of the plastic tube from the Mityvac into some oil before slipping it over the metal tube, it goes on and off easier that way.

 

It is important to wait for the oil to fully drain to the bottom. This is why it takes so long for the oil level reading to show up. I waited 10 minutes and pumped out 6 liters of oil and it went dry. Left the pump on the car and came back about 15 minutes and pumped out an additional 1.4 quarts. The oil was warm when I did this. I was surprised.

This engine takes forever to fully drain the oil to the bottom.

This was on my 2011 XJ 5.0 engine. I would put 7 3/4 quarts of oil in when I changed the filer. I also used Mobil 1 extended service oil and changed every 7500 miles. I traded the car in with 144,000 miles on it and it never required oil between oil changes and never had the cam chain tensioner issue. It ran perfect when I traded it in, but the paint and interior was shot. That’s another story.

This is why the motor does not have a dip stick. People would constantly end up over filling their oil at gas stations due to pulling the dipstick too early when measuring.

 

I have always followed the ancient procedure of bringing the engine up to normal operating temp before draining the oil, as hot oil drains (or pumps out) much quicker and easier than cold oil. But like you I wait 15-20 minutes before I start pumping to allow time for almost all the oil to drain down into the sump.
One added wrinkle I picked up from a poster here, after I have pumped out all there is to get out I pour a litre (quart) or so of fresh oil down the oil filter hole, wait about 10 minutes, then pump all that out as well. Amazing how dark/dirty that extra bit is and goes to show how much old oil was still sitting in the oil galleries.

 

Good tip OzXFR about pouring a quart or liter of fresh oil down the oil filter hole at the bottom of the housing and then pumping that out. But I will add that is where you want to use a quart of cheap oil and not the $14 a quart premium synthetic that you are going to use to refill the sump

 

Yes I should have mentioned that I too change the oil when it is hot. This is a thin oil compared to the 20/50 we used to run.

I was really surprised how long it takes to let the oil completely drain down.

On the XJ side, one member siphoned out the oil completely, then removed the bottom pan drain plug (yes there is an actual drain plug on the 5.0 motor) to see how much was left in it. Only about a tablespoon came out.

 

Yep, I use the cheapest stuff I have laying around - some 5W30 I have left over from previous cars. Still full synthetic mind you!