Too much engine oil?

sdanseo

Reckon I've overfilled my engine oil. It's a 1.6 Petrol Vectra as some here will recall (and probably while rolling their eyes thinking "what has this eejit done this time") :rolleyes:

Basically my oil light came on, I bought a 2L can of 5W30 Fully Synth and dumped about 1500ml in. In goes the dipstick, and it comes out about 2cm above the maximum mark. Engine took about 3-4 secs to start first time but stared normaly on a second go.

Found a bit of advice onanother site saying to run it down the motorway for a bit, so I gave it a good 60km drive this evening. No ill effects noticeable, but I'm still worried. Should I be?

I would think you may well have an issue. If the engine oil light came on due to low engine oil 1.5l shouldn't bring the level to 2cm higher than the max mark on the dipstick. Between the min and the max mark on the dipstick is generally a litre unless your car takes less than 3l of engine oil to fill the sump and filter, I don't think the Vectra engine is like that.

Before you topped up the engine oil did you check the oil level? If so what position was it on the dip stick relative to the minimum mark?

Did the light extinguish on the dash after the top up ?

Did it remain off for your 60km spin ?

If the answers to the last two questions are yes and yes then I'd drain off some of the overfilled engine oil through the sump plug

Del2005

Yes, overfilling can be worst then low oil as it can get frothy in the sump and cause damage. Try and get a Oil extractor pump and remove some.

sdanseo

RoverJames wrote: »

I would think you may well have an issue. If the engine oil light came on due to low engine oil 1.5l shouldn't bring the level to 2cm higher than the max mark on the dipstick. Between the min and the max mark on the dipstick is generally a litre unless your car takes less than 3l of engine oil to fill the sump and filter, I don't think the Vectra engine is like that.

Before you topped up the engine oil did you check the oil level? If so what position was it on the dip stick relative to the minimum mark?

Did the light extinguish on the dash after the top up ?

Did it remain off for your 60km spin ?

If the answers to the last two questions are yes and yes then I'd drain off some of the overfilled engine oil through the sump plug

Nope, I admit I didn't check the level manually I just took the light to mean it needed ~1L+.

It went off straight away and yes, remained off for the night. Reckon I've done about 80km all told since the oil went in.

For reference, this is a pic of an identical dipstick and the arrow I've added indicated where the oil is coming up to (warm engine, running for ages).



I don't have €80 to spend on an oil pump, nor do I know anyone who has one, so I reckon I'll call my indy mechanic first thing on monday and see if he could drain some oil for me through the sump (can't do it at home, I'd probably blow the thing up!).

Is it OK to drive till then, couple of short trips - or should all driving be avoided?

Eire 80

If the oil light came on you did exactly the right thing 1.5 litres won't do any harm.

To do any real damage you'd have to dunk an extra gallon into it (blow seals in engine).

The last guy is correct 1 litre between low and high marks. It'll be fine!!,

As for the 'oil extractor pump' wtf open the sump plug!

Either way if its a vectra should burn through that oil fairly quickly:)

sdonn

sdonn wrote: »

For reference, this is a pic of an identical dipstick and the arrow I've added indicated where the oil is coming up to (warm engine, running for ages).

Just to clarify, and I'm not trying to offend but when you dipped the oil I presume the engine was not running and you wiped the disptick, and then redipped it to get the reading ?

sdanseo

RoverJames wrote: »

Just to clarify, and I'm not trying to offend but when you dipped the oil I presume the engine was not running and you wiped the disptick, and then redipped it to get the reading ?

Lol, I might be bad but I'm still a petrolhead :P

Correct on both counts. Although I did wipe it with a duster and that left some fibres on the dipstick which could no doubt cause a world of pain in their own right, but I don't think any major threads got in there.

For what it's worth - the car feels absolutely fine, and runs perfectly; apart from a very slight smell of oil in the engine bay (but then i did spill a little).

Del2005

sdonn wrote: »

I don't have €80 to spend on an oil pump, nor do I know anyone who has one, so I reckon I'll call my indy mechanic first thing on monday and see if he could drain some oil for me through the sump (can't do it at home, I'd probably blow the thing up!).

It was the 1st one I found when I searched. I'm sure there are cheaper ones around if you looked.

Once the engine isn't running and the car is cold you won't do any harm opening the sump plug. You may or may not get a new crush washer if you do open the plug depending on who you believe.

thereitisgone

Just leave it, if it was going to do damage it would have done it when you drove on the motorway, as one poster wrote as its a a vectra it will burn it or lose it somehow in no time at all, but keep checking the dipstick because the original problem has not gone away and you will probably need to top up the engine oil again in the future.

snowman707

RoverJames wrote: »

Just to clarify, and I'm not trying to offend but when you dipped the oil I presume the engine was not running and you wiped the disptick, and then redipped it to get the reading ?

that much above the mark will do no harm might be worth your while checking that dipstick a little more often though , say once a week it only takes a few seconds

siphon pumps on ebay for tenner, shipped from uk in 2 days, just in case ya want to do that.

Atlantic Dawn

It will be hard to get it to stop flowing out the sump plug once you open it, I'd say the extractor pump from the top is the only option.

Seth Brundle

Just as a reminder, if you follow any of the advice to ignore it and to not worry then you do so completely at your own risk.

Matt Simis

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It will be hard to get it to stop flowing out the sump plug once you open it, I'd say the extractor pump from the top is the only option.

True but if he partially opens it and lets it drip for a long while into a container that he can measure it might be ok.

sdanseo

kbannon wrote: »

Just as a reminder, if you follow any of the advice to ignore it and to not worry then you do so completely at your own risk.

I reckon the sensible option is to have my usual mechanic have a quick gander as soon as. There's a tie rod and tracking that need looking after anyway so it'll be an excuse to get that done. Only place this will hurt, with any luck, is the back pocket.

You're not having much luck with this lately

-Chris-

Overfilled oil can cause damage to the cat, which could be very expensive to replace.

Get it remedied first thing tomorrow.

Ignore those who say "sure, it'll be grand".

sdanseo

RoverJames wrote: »

You're not having much luck with this lately

No - the car is a basket case.

I drove my Mam's knackered old Corsa for three years, serviced it once in that time, and all it ever had was new wiper blades, oil and brake pads. It was solid as a rock and still going strong when I flogged it for €350 in September.

This crock on the other hand, was used as a taxi; despite only havign 66000 miles it's had a new clutch, needs new tie rods, tracking is useless, it hasnt driven properly at Motorway speed since I got it, bulbs blowing every 1000km, someone puked down the side of the seat and now this - albeit I caused the latest catastrophe. God hindsight is a wonderful thing.

David09

-Chris- wrote: »

Overfilled oil can cause damage to the cat, which could be very expensive to replace.

Get it remedied first thing tomorrow.

Ignore those who say "sure, it'll be grand".

Not only can it damage the cat but it can do lots of other damage to the engine.
If the level is so high in the engine that the oil is whipped by the crankshaft, it can cause it to froth. Bubbly or frothy oil is useless at lubricating and therefore just as harmful as running without oil.

The excess oil can also cause increased stress on the oil seals, increasing the potential for oil leaks.

The reason the light came on in the first instance could be down to a faulty oil light switch. These are notoriously troublesome on corsas and astras. It's worth checking this too.

Eire 80

If you are so worried about this just change the oil yourself, grow a pair of balls for christs sake. (google how to change oil couldn't be arsed explaining or get a Hannes manual).

A Gallon of oil and a filter will set you back at most 50 euros.

If you bring this car to a mechanic they'll advise that it needs changing anyway to cover themselves and charge you up to 100 euros in the process.

As you said this car is a basket case (after all it is a vectra), if you mess up there are plenty more of them on donedeal.ie for half nothing. Although id advise anyone buying a cheap car to buy toyota.

-Chris-

Eire 80 wrote: »

As you said this car is a basket case (after all it is a vectra), if you mess up there are plenty more of them on donedeal.ie for half nothing. Although id advise anyone buying a cheap car to buy toyota.

Hmmmmm... :rolleyes:

Good point about the garage possibly suggesting an oil change is the best course of action, it may well be due one.

Fingers crossed she'll behave for a while once you get over this anyway Sdonn, the cars can wreck your head at times.

sdanseo

RoverJames wrote: »

Good point about the garage possibly suggesting an oil change is the best course of action, it may well be due one.

Fingers crossed she'll behave for a while once you get over this anyway Sdonn, the cars can wreck your head at times.

Luckily the fella I use is as sound as a pound - I shop around when I'm getting any job doen, car or otherwise, and he's always undercut the lowest quote. He's done a few little knick knacks on previous cars for free even, because he knows he's gonna get the return business from both my and my Mam's cars.

Eire 80 wrote: »

If you are so worried about this just change the oil yourself, grow a pair of balls for christs sake.

I came on here for advice, not for someone to lecture me on the size or location of my testes, thanks. You're the second person in two threads ive started here with next to no contibutions to this forum to take me to task for no apparent reason. I do contribute to boards.ie, I'm not a complete leech.

Eire 80

Ha ha, take it as a bit of constructive criticism. Do a course in basic car maintenance you'll save yourself a fortune in the long run. Would also inform you of what to look out for when purchasing a car.


I'd advise against buying any ex-taxis in the future especially ones with 66000 miles (clocking alarm bells ringing) and especially a Vectra, the next problem you're in for is the head gasket. If the car is giving you that much trouble get rid of it never a better time to buy.

sdanseo

Got sorted today. Regular indy did the biz in 30 mins while I grabbed some brekkie and only charged me €20. She's going back in on Wed for the tracking job too. Cheers for all the help folks. No doubt I'll be back :P

Eire 80 wrote: »

Ha ha, take it as a bit of constructive criticism. Do a course in basic car maintenance you'll save yourself a fortune in the long run. Would also inform you of what to look out for when purchasing a car.


I'd advise against buying any ex-taxis in the future especially ones with 66000 miles (clocking alarm bells ringing) and especially a Vectra, the next problem you're in for is the head gasket. If the car is giving you that much trouble get rid of it never a better time to buy.

Contructive criticism is fine. Slagging my manhood or apparent lack thereof is unrelated

Point taken. At the end of the day my Dad was putting up the money for the car (and is being paid back in full, in installments - I'm no scab) so he had the final say. It was between this, and and older Mondeo with higher mileage that wasn't from an SIMI dealer where this was.

It was my first time buying a car and I've learnt a huge amount. I've always had a huge interest in how they work and with experience, in a few years when I've my own place and earning a few more bob I;d love to start fixing them up myself.

I've also learnt that the SIMI mark means nothing, the dealers were incompetent arrogant tools. :P

As for clocking - well lets just hope not.

Might be an idea to do a weekly check of oil level to make sure it doesn't go too low again

Seth Brundle

sdonn wrote: »

I've also learnt that the SIMI mark means nothing, the dealers were incompetent arrogant tools. :P

In their defence (gulp), the SIMI are not incompetent. They simply represent the industry and not the consumer.

sdanseo

kbannon wrote: »

In their defence (gulp), the SIMI are not incompetent. They simply represent the industry and not the consumer.

Oh no, I'm badmouthing the particular dealer I purchased the car from. Aftercare was promised, but never actually materialised when I needed it. When they sold it they told me "ah sure we're here if anything crops up, we'll get it sorted for ya" etc.

The car has had a couple of faults from the start - albeit minor ones - which they briefly offered to have a look at and returned it to me basically washing their hands on it. I won't name the dealer obviously.

cursai

How did the engine turn out. Any permanent damage? I had this problem/mistake recently!