Overfilling oil...
10-06-2008, 10:32 AM
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Overfilling oil...
What consequences are there to having your oil overfilled?
I've read stuff ranging from "don't do it again" to "your engine will blow".
Obviously those are a little extreme, so here I am.
This happened when I (was stupid enough to) take my car into a quick lube place to have my oil changed. They overfilled the engine (big surprise) and now the cold-reading sits maybe 4-5 mm above the MAX mark.
What is my best option in this case? I really don't feel like draining the oil, but don't see any other options as far as just removing "a bit".
Thanks for the help guys.
PS: This was (and will be) a single incident. This is the first time this has happened, if that matters.
I've read stuff ranging from "don't do it again" to "your engine will blow".
Obviously those are a little extreme, so here I am.
This happened when I (was stupid enough to) take my car into a quick lube place to have my oil changed. They overfilled the engine (big surprise) and now the cold-reading sits maybe 4-5 mm above the MAX mark.
What is my best option in this case? I really don't feel like draining the oil, but don't see any other options as far as just removing "a bit".
Thanks for the help guys.
PS: This was (and will be) a single incident. This is the first time this has happened, if that matters.
10-06-2008, 10:35 AM
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From what the manual says,
you could damage your catalytic converters. Wouldn't be a bad idea to get under there and drain some out. Minor inconvenience compared to the price of a cat!
10-06-2008, 10:49 AM
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True, but isn't draining oil kind of a binary thing? Either its all drained or nothing?
When reading the Bentley manual, it says to check oil when the engine is warm. Not sure how much of a difference I would notice on the dipstick between checking warm/cold. Anybody know?
10-06-2008, 12:01 PM
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When you put too much oil into ANY engine ...
... which has a wet sump "oil pan" .. ie almost every car ever made .. the crank shaft comes too close to the surface of the oil and whips it up like whipped cream, pumping it full of air bubbles.
When your oil is passing through your engine's bearings, BELIEVE ME the last thing you want is for it to be full of billions of air bubbles.
Use your imagination and you will realize why.
A secondary reason is that a crankshaft plowing through oil loses a lot of horsepower to the increased drag.
When your oil is passing through your engine's bearings, BELIEVE ME the last thing you want is for it to be full of billions of air bubbles.
Use your imagination and you will realize why.
A secondary reason is that a crankshaft plowing through oil loses a lot of horsepower to the increased drag.
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10-06-2008, 02:12 PM
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Unbelievable - They overfilled it by almost 2 quarts!!!
After draining some oil, putting the belly pan back on, and lowering my car, I realize: Holy ****! I'm not even close!!! Back up on the ramps we go...
I'm at a loss for words. Are these people seriously so incompetent that they would screw up something as easy as changing oil!!!??
I mean come on! That's what they're basically doing all day long...
Anyways, thanks to those who replied. I think I might do my own oil next time. Messy, yes, but cheaper and at least I have CONTROL over certain things
!
I'm at a loss for words. Are these people seriously so incompetent that they would screw up something as easy as changing oil!!!??
I mean come on! That's what they're basically doing all day long...
Anyways, thanks to those who replied. I think I might do my own oil next time. Messy, yes, but cheaper and at least I have CONTROL over certain things
!
