Author Topic: Too much oil... (Read 4474 times)

bp9129 · « **on:** August 16, 2011, 12:30:48 PM »

Ok you can call me a noob or whatever you want.

I just checked my oil today and noticed it was way higher than it should be. It was up to the bottom of the pointy part of the dipstick above the guideline.... Now I had my oil changed at a shop (Monro) about a month ago. I've driven the car a few hundred miles since then... Very stupid on my part to not have checked immediately when i got the car back. I plan on calling the shop and having them fix their mistake. But I was really wondering what kind of damage could have been done by this? I know it's sometimes worse to overfill oil than have too little. This is very unsettling for me. Any help is appreciated

mr.vang · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2011, 01:05:47 PM »

how hard is it to change your oil yourself. pretty simple i should say. that is why i don't take my car to the shop. from your description, its not that bad. the motor will survive.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #2 on:** August 16, 2011, 04:00:58 PM »

If the oil was high enough to get beaten up by the crankshaft, you might have some trouble. I'd think you're OK though. Just drain some & refill to the high mark.

That dipstick level is just a guideline for cold oil on level ground. I pull it out, wipe it off, put it back in & then check it once or twice to be sure it's accurate. Sometimes a bit of oil flows up the dipstick and makes it inaccurate, or I'm forced to test it on a slope. It's Pittsburgh, after all. Hills and more hills.

MLM · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2011, 11:36:02 PM »

Another possibility (or rather long shot) is that if you have been driving the car for very short runs without really getting the car nice and hot. Condensation can build in the engine resulting in a higher oil reading on the dipstick. This leads to panic as after you take the car for a really good run and all the water has boiled of leaving a much lower dipstick reading.

bp9129 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2011, 11:58:33 PM »

^I think something like this happened the first time I checked.
I checked again after the car really cooled down for a while. It was still high but not as bad. I drained some out myself and added to the line.
another question-- is it ok if the dipstick reading is a tad higher than the guideline?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2011, 07:43:56 AM »

Yep. I usually fill mine ever so slightly over. It's a high mileage motor (283K miles) & burns a bit of oil. The M42 is famous for oil leaks, it'll even it all out eventually.

rjcaptsean · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2011, 12:41:44 PM »

If you have run the car for a month and you haven't run into any problems, your engine is probably fine. One of the issues with a high oil level is the crankshaft can run in to it, and since liquid is not compressible, you end up with damage to the rods, pistons, and bearings. Doesn't sound like this is an issue for you though.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2011, 02:42:17 PM »

Yup...and even if the crank, rods, etc are fine it'll whip the oil into a froth...that eventually gets pumped to your main bearings...definitely not good for long life.

I overfilled an 80's Ford Escort once. It really ran badly but she made the loveliest smokescreen. No long term problems (other than it was still an Escort).