Overfilling car with oil

UngratefulWhelp

I was once told this is one of the worst things you can for a car and, like a clown, I did it this afternoon. It's up about a half inch above the max mark on the dipper.

Question I have is: how bad is this for the engine if driven without being drained?

I could really use the car tomorrow to drive (into Dublin city centre from Swords), but will driving it damage the oil seals, or will I get away with it for just one day?

Advice appreciated.

Tropheus

I think it depends on my car. I realised I was overfilling my car for three years. The max wasn't where I thought it was. It was the NCT that pointed it out to me as they failed the car for being overfull. It wasn't half an inch though, but that's relative and means different things in different cars.

However, it certainly didn't do my car any harm. I have 155k miles on it and it doesn't burn any more oil than it did when it was new.

I'd say you'll be all right to drive it, just take it easy. You could always drop into one of those tyre/service places. I'm sure they'd drain some off for you pretty quickly.

rebel.ranter

Just bear in mind that on most dip sticks the difference between Max & Min is 1 litre. That is a rough guide in my book anyway.
If it were me I would avoid driving the car until the oil is drained or sucked out via the dipstick tube.
It would take a mechanic 5 mins to do it with an oil sucker.

UngratefulWhelp

Yeah, I plan to drop it in to be drained next week, didn't realise it would fail the NCT on you, but that's another reason to do it in any case. Thanks.

Harcrid

You wil probably be fine if it's only half an inch too far up the dipstick but get it drained asap to be safe.

There seems to be a spate of people overfilling the oil in their cars recently!

Anan1

Celtxx wrote: »

There seems to be a spate of people overfilling the oil in their cars recently!

Or admitting it.;) I'd agree that it'll probably be fine, but i'd drain the excess back out before starting the engine anyway - better safe than sorry.

DanWall

The main problem is if it reached the crankshaft it will be like a hydraulic wall with the crankshaft spinning, and will knock. There has got to be an allowance on the oil level because you go up and down hills which causes it to vary. Like rebel.ranter, says, they can suck it out through the dipstick hole in minutes.

robtri

would it be too simple to just open the sump plug, drop out a litre and tight the sump back up... easy 5 min job....

Anan1

robtri wrote: »

would it be too simple to just open the sump plug, drop out a litre and tight the sump back up... easy 5 min job....

In principle no, in practise there's a lot of scope for burnt hands, bumped heads, sump nuts down drains, etc etc..:D

robtri

Anan1 wrote: »

In principle no, in practise there's a lot of scope for burnt hands, bumped heads, sump nuts down drains, etc etc..:D

very true....