Overfilling oil?

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 17:30
Overfilling oil? - rhino
If a 'friend of mine' was daft enough to put say a couple of litres too much into his engine, what would be the practical effect?

This is a 1989 2.0l Mazda 626.

Thanks!
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 19:59
Overfilling oil? - piston power
it might smoke a little!! why not just drain some out?
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 20:16
Overfilling oil? - Peter D
If it has a cat you definitely need to take it out and even with no cat I would take it out. Regards Peter
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 20:25
Overfilling oil? - rhino
Thanks chaps; this is a recently acquired banger. I don't think it's cat equipped. This resulted out of a panic stop at Halford when dangerously low (almost nil) oil levels were spotted. Without the manual it was a decision to dump in 5 litres in the dark......
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 08:39
Overfilling oil? - Cliff Pope
it might smoke a little!! why not just drain some
out?


Go carefully. It's remarkably difficult to get a drain plug back into its threads past a gush of oil that is running down your sleeve. Be prepared with a clean bowl large enough to take the entire sump contents if necessary.
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 22:36
Overfilling oil? - piston power
cliff pope, no it's not difficult but you do get wet!! better than popping those seals, or drain the lot and change the filter at the same time.
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 20:23
Overfilling oil? - Quinny
It would add about £6 in value to the car.

Ken.
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 20:26
Overfilling oil? - rhino
You're not far off......still, it's proving to be a strong and reliable beast. The kids love the rear facing boot seats.
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 22:41
Overfilling oil? - kithmo
It would add about £6 in value to the car.
Ken.


Effectively doubling its value then ;0)
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Mon 22 Jan 2007 23:07
Overfilling oil? - martint123
Biggest danger is oil level approaches crank - then it gets all whipped about and foamy, air gets beaten into it. This foamy stuff doesn't get pumped very well and cause oil starvation at the top end - even though the bores get a good wetting!.
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 10:01
Overfilling oil? - Saltrampen
You can take the odd litre out by syphoning/sucking (by using large syringe) it out using thin plastic tube (windscreen washer tube for example) down the the dipstick tube. This avoids the need to put the sump plug back in when the oil is gushing out. It is a slightly slow process (10 - 20 mins/litre), but more accurate.
Some brake bleeding kits and tubing could also be used if you are prepared to clean them out afterwards.
Make sure you keep a firm hold of any tube or tie if off on something, as when full it could potentially slip
completely down the dipstick tube once disconnected.
S.
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 21:09
Overfilling oil? - Micky
1/2 a litre might be OK, but 2 litres could blow oil seals. Is it leaking out of the dipstick tube? OTOH, leaking oil seals might keep the rust monster at bay.
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Tue 23 Jan 2007 23:13
Overfilling oil? - rhino
Again, thanks to all. This prognosis was confirmed by the resident mechanic at work this morning, who told me in no uncertain terms to get the excess out or risk binning an otherwise cheap but reliable car.

Kwik Fit did the honours ( newer oil plus a new filter) for 24 quid.....
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