SureTrack Community Fix: Put A Stick In It

When you work on a car that has been repaired at another shop, you may not know exactly what was done to it. SureTrack community member EddRSmith had a Scion xB in the shop where the engine had been replaced and during a subsequent oil change the oil level was higher than it should have been. They posed the question to the community, and with the help of fellow community members, they were able to resolve the issue quickly.

The following Community Fix summarizes the problem and the steps that led to the solution.

Vehicle
2008 Scion xB 2.4L

Title
Suspected fuel mixing with engine oil, replaced dipstick.

Complaint
No symptoms that I can find, customer had oil changed at another repair shop 3,000 miles ago and it is about a half a quart over filled now that it is due to be changed. Customer thinks it is from it being diluted with fuel. Customer stated that the motor was replaced 9,000 miles ago by a dealership but no reason as to why the motor was replaced (mileage now is 146,000).

Diagnostic Steps Performed/Parts Replaced
It has no diagnostic codes, it runs and drives ok and oil does not smell excessively of fuel or seem thin. Not real sure how to test for this other then change oil and set at the proper levels and monitor the level over a period of time or mileage.

Cause
This is very stupid but I drained the oil into a container and found it had 4.5 quarts(what is should have) and refilled but started at 4 quarts…with 4 quarts it was showing up to the high mark on the dipstick and this vehicle takes 4.5 quarts. Found that the dipstick was the wrong one for the vehicle and causing the oil reading to read high. Customer just assumed it was diluted with fuel and he had a problem.

Correction
Replaced dipstick with correct one for engine and checked for proper oil level.