Oil overfill warning??!!??

[MOzS90]

Curious issue today.

Car was last serviced in January - about 5000 miles ago.

Driven faultlessly all year - approx 400 miles a week commuting. Never really thrashed. Manage about 58 mpgs overall economy.

Drove the car to drop my daughter at swimming this afternoon, stayed watching and when I got back in the car, had an oil warning message.

Figure it’s low and obviously need topping up. When I interrogate the system, it reports the oil is “overfull” - not low.

It’s been fine for ever - I’ve not added to it. WTF is going on? Could the oil level sensor be knackered?

[nu11eaf]

There is a good chance that diesel has managed to get in your sump, you need to get it checked asap.
There are only two things that it could be, water or diesel, the usual suspect is the later.

[MOzS90]

How does diesel / water get in the sump? Gasket issues????

Any telltale signs??

[gaby]

Engine/piston blow-by?

[Zebster]

I've not yet heard of a VEA reporting a high oil level.

The actual sensor level (in mm) can be read using external diagnostic equipment, which might be a good start. My e-dipstick is very misleading but the low warning message I got a while back was correct when I checked the sensor level.

[nu11eaf]

What engine and year is your car, and does it use Ad-blue, head gasket leaks and oil cooler leaks can result in oil level rising under certain conditions but you would have other symptoms and you would notice a drop in coolant level.
Some cars have diesel injection into the exhaust to raise exhaust temperature for regeneration this can in rare instances get past the piston rings and into the sump. This is the most likely cause if the level sensor is correct and no loss of coolant or poor running.
You may not have this system but you still need to get your car checked as a high level alone can damage your engine as well as contaminated lubrication.