Oil level debate

[DUKE]

OK so this is how it goes. My friends VS 3.8 was over filled with engine oil by 1 inch on the dip stick and mate #2 said " OH you better drain that down right now or blah blah blah. I said he should get it drained to the right level but it ain't gunna blow the guts out of your motor unless you drive like etc..... So my point is how much extra oil is ok and how much is Boom there go the seals? Seeing this forum has the best commodore minds arround I hope it does not spark more questions than answers... Cheers DUKE

 

[Sabbath']

How do you overfill by an inch is the real question that should be asked.

 

[VR38]

Just let him keep the extra and see how long the motor lasts.

 

[accentstencil]

I don't know how much before you start damaging the engine but why take a chance? When over filled the oil gets whipped into a froth and causes serious damage. If he checks the dipstick and there is froth on it then drain some oil immediately and hope no damage has been done yet.

 

[DUKE]

I don't know. perhaps some peole just keep pouring untill the container is empty? But the big question is ( I'm asuming that an inch is about 1 ltr ) if the car is driven like Mr family not Mr rally will it cause problems after a few days? I have never had to deal with this because it was allways wait untill the oil had settled then check.

 

[umair]

Overfilling does not cause any engine damage (most of the time), but causes oil leaks! The extra oil leaks out of the seals and then you have to redo the seals. On my honda crv, I mistakenly put half bottle extra oil and next morning the engine was oily and leaky.

 

[K-BAGZ]

All I can think of right now is Homer Simpson's tag line, DOH.

But really, just drain the oil and refill it properly. Do it right the first time. It'll take 30min max of your time?

Lesson learnt then too.

 

[david dubbo]

not sure on a car motor but on patrol boats back in the day with v16 super charged MTUs over filling was considered very very bad as the crank journals slapping oil on every rotation was thought to crack them

 

[VR38]

Journals are supported by an oil film usually covered by bearings which are enclosed by caps etc of crank shaft and connecting rods, must be piss weak if they crack slapping some oil.

 

[gungazza]

my son inlaws mother overfilled by 5lts iol ,thay rang me, engine light on, making noise ect,i told them to bring it around i would check it. checked the dipsick about 50cms above full mark, so idraind it out, of course 10lt oil every where,put back right amount, and restsrted, light still on, noise from tappets ect. so i told her to take it to a work shop and get it checked out asap, eny way jumped in the next morming started and all ok no light no noise but i did notice a few oil leakes wnen draining the oil