Too much oil?

"TheJWT" (thejwt)
06/16/2016 at 19:54 • Filed to: None

Since I got my car, I’ve noticed it has a bit too much oil. (When I pull the dipstick there’s about 1/4" past the full mark) The oil is still pretty clean and I’m planning on draining the excess this weekend, but can this cause any serious damage in the 2 weeks I’ve had it? Also, it burns a bit of oil when I turn the car on, and the pressure gauge is usually at 60psi (as high as it goes on my car) Do you think those are a result of having too much oil as well?

DISCUSSION (19)

jkm7680 > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:03

If it burns oil, who is putting all of this extra oil in there?

TheJWT > jkm7680
06/16/2016 at 20:04

It only burns a bit when I turn it on. It’s going down, but slowly

Roadster Man > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:05

Lots and lots of cars burn oil when they are cold, so I wouldn’t worry about that. Being overfilled could probably result in high oil pressure, but I’ll let someone with more experience make an unequivocal statement on that.

If you’ve driven it for two weeks like that, my bet it that any harm that could be done has already been done. I wouldn’t sweat it.

My buddy put an extra QUART in his WRX because it was burning a ton of oil. He then lost compression in a cylinder, blowing the engine. Who knows, it might have blown anyway (it had 200,000+ miles on it). Too much oil can be dangerous, but it doesn’t sound like you’ve got a whole extra quart in there.

jkm7680 > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:05

I’d say drain a little bit, or just don’t worry about it.

How much over is it?

JGrabowMSt > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:07

Could very well be. You could either crack the drain bolt, or let it go. My guess is that it might be under half a quart over full, which I don’t think is that big a deal. If it had over a quart over full, that would be a different story.

The SL takes 10.7qts, but I let it go to 11 because it’s just easier, and will not damage the motor. When the dipstick shows your oil is “low,” that means you’re 1 qt down, so that’s the best litmus test I could give you for it. I wouldn’t be worried about it unless it billows out a lot of smoke while it’s running.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:08

That's not that much over. Don't worry about it.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Roadster Man
06/16/2016 at 20:09

I routinely put 5 qts in my Subaru (that takes 4.5qts) and have no issues, other than the oil that it's burning.

TheJWT > jkm7680
06/16/2016 at 20:13

I don’t know the exact amount, I’m just planning on letting a bit out at a time until its got the right amount

TheJWT > Roadster Man
06/16/2016 at 20:14

Thanks, It is an 80s Chevy 305, so burning oil is not unheard of...

Roadster Man > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:16

No problemo. You’re probably fine, an 80's Chevy has likely been through far worse than some extra oil.

crowmolly > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:17

Check your PCV valve and the vacuum lines. Just to be safe.

TheJWT > crowmolly
06/16/2016 at 20:24

Will do, thanks

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:48

Haha, you’re fine. With next to no maintenance (including some obscene oil change intervals) our ‘85 G20 with a 305 went around 450,000km before the timing chain skipped a couple years back and a mechanic convinced my parents it wasn’t worth fixing.

As long as it’s not making the oil on the dipstick frothy, the extra little bit will take care of itself in a bit.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 20:50

For a 1/4"? Don’t worry about it. Especially with an SBC

wafflesnfalafel > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 21:15

My wife’s Nissan would read about a quarter inch above “full” when I put EXACTLY the correctly specified amount in. We never had a problem.

Wagon, semi manual, not brown, turbo because volvo > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 21:34

You might start drveloping an inordinate amount of blowby if you get massively overpressure. A quarter inch depending on the dip could be as much as a full quart.

The other half of the equasion is where the dipstick is routed and the shape of the dipstick. I have known some models of nissan to read overfull/ a hot mess all up that dipstick when at manufacturer stated capacity. There are other vehicles that need to settle after a pressure check to get an accurate reading. If the individual filling oil is not aware of the quirks of the cars, they may end up over or underdilling a vehicle.

Die-Trying > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 22:19

its fine......the only time too much oil is a problem, is when there is so much in there that it is hitting the crank while it is running. 1/4" over, nothing to worry about.

shop-teacher > TheJWT
06/16/2016 at 23:17

I wouldn't worry about it. Too much oil can cause problems, but it takes a lot of extra oil. Especially on an old 305.

El Darto > TheJWT
06/17/2016 at 05:32

Don’t sweat it. With it being overfilled that little, I really can’t think of anything it would do. The way I look at it is marks like that err on the side of caution so things like not being on level ground don’t screw you.