Made a stupid error, need advice

[The Mad Hatter]

OK, was changing the oil on my VW, and overfilled it. I'm not sure how much its over, but its past the max line on the dipstick (by about 1/4in perhaps). What should i do? I've NEVER had this happen before, so I don't know the solution!

The car does leak oil past one of the sensors (very slow leak), so will i be OK? Any helpful suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

EDIT: Here's a pic, you can see the indention on the stick, that's the marker section.


The only things i can think of (short of draining the whole thing out) is taking out that leaky sensor and running the car and letting it pour out of that, or taking off the oil filter, draining that out, and then reinstalling it, and hope that's enough.

[SCREECH]

OK, was changing the oil on my VW, and overfilled it...I've NEVER had this happen before, so I don't know the solution!...The only things i can think of (short of draining the whole thing out)...

Why not just remove the plug, let a portion of the oil out of the pan, and put the plug back in while the oil's still pouring out. Sure, it'll get a little messy, but have a big pan under it and a roll of paper towels near by and I'm sure you'll make out alright. Then double-check it and put any back in that you need to to bring it back up to full.

Also, have you run it yet? If you haven't, chances are that it'll be back down around the full line once the filter fills with oil and such. If you already have run it, then I don't see what would be wrong with my suggestion above. Give 'er a go!

[SCREECH]

Oh, and the only real "bad" thing that could result is that the crank would be sloshing in your oil and aerating it a little more, and having more resistance. If you don't drain any out, just don't be beating on it until it leaks down to the full line.

[The Mad Hatter]

[QUOTE=SCREECH;19936]Why not just remove the plug, let a portion of the oil out of the pan, and put the plug back in while the oil's still pouring out. Sure, it'll get a little messy, but have a big pan under it and a roll of paper towels near by and I'm sure you'll make out alright. Then double-check it and put any back in that you need to to bring it back up to full.[QUOTE]

I had just thought about doing that tomorrow morning. I haven't run it yet, but the oil filter is already full. I'll just have to get messy!

But, i've heard that overfilling can cause "excess" pressure, which can cause the front and rear main seals to leak or rupture, or that the crank sloshing around in the oil turns it to froth, which doesn't lubricate as well (obviously).

Thanks for the suggestion Screech! Good luck with your "new" project wagon!

[Prospeeder]

thats probably not even half a quart! youll be fine, i have overfilled my 6000 once about that far up the stick all the way through a 3000 mile oil change and it did fine, and when i changed it, right before i checked it, it was even with the line. The blowing out the seals from pressure, is if the PCV system is not working, and combustion gasses and blowby cant escape.

[SCREECH]

I'll just have to get messy!

Well, like Prospeeder said, you probably would be fine. Personally, if I knew I had an oil leak anyway, I'd probably leave it as is. Even if you fill the oil filter before you put it on, the level never stays 100% where it is when you first fill it after it's run the first time anyway.

Thanks for the suggestion Screech! Good luck with your "new" project wagon!

Thanks! I'm quite looking forward to it. And although I'm trying not to make a "project" out of it, I do find myself thinking about getting a sportier Olds wheel and things like that. I've even though about, but haven't gotten around to, checking out the wiring diagrams to see about installing a full cluster. I know it's been discussed before, but I don't think anyone's actually undertaken it. I think some have even said "It can't be done." We'll see. I think the car might even be growing on my wife, so it just might end up being around for a while.

[The Mad Hatter]

I don't want to take any chances with this car, so i'm gonna go ahead and drain off a little.

Screech, ANY car guy who has ever bought a car KNOWS (even if they won't admit it) they will make a project of it! Lol.

[SCREECH]

Screech, ANY car guy who has ever bought a car KNOWS (even if they won't admit it) they will make a project of it! Lol.

Thanks go to Mad Hatter for giving me the opportunity to use the above "smiley", which I have never used before.

[Duke George V]

I wouldn't be terribly worried about that little bit of oil. Overfilling can cause some nasty problems though, such as the aforementioned aeration of the oil.

Story time—I know you all love my stories.

Back when I had my first 6000, I also owned a nearly identical '84 Celebrity. It smoked like a son of a bitch, and I found out why when I changed the oil the first and only time. I had my shoddy little seven quart walmart pan and popped the drain plug. The oil flowed. And flowed. And kept friggin' coming. I yelled to my wife to get another jug, milk, coolant, whatever, right now 'cause this shit ain't stoppin'. The oil filled the 7 qt pan, and half a coolant jug. Nine quarts of oil came out of the carbed 2.8. That would explain why it smoked—the front valve cover gasket was blown and had leaked all over the place.

So uh, maybe you should worry a little bit...

[SCREECH]

Nine quarts of oil came out of the carbed 2.8. That would explain why it smoked—the front valve cover gasket was blown and had leaked all over the place.

And that, ladies and gents, is how NOT to attempt to double the longevity of your oil change.

[LordDurock]

yea holy crap duke. the 2.8 take 4-5 qaurts right?

[BBrip84Oatsie95]

LOLOL! God, My carbed 2.8 was freaking awesome. I ran it dry of oil at least half a dozen times to where it actually killed the engine and it always started right back up with a quart of oil! It leaked like a sieve. One time I drove it to KC(40 miles or so) and it was out of alignment or something cause it RATTLED! By the time I got there the engine was steamin', the oil was visibly drippin' like water... It was awesome!

Overheated it several times...

I wish I would've never gotten rid of it!

You didn't even have to change the oil cause it was always loosing it!

[LordDurock]

lol lol^ you mean to poor cars

[Prospeeder]

I wouldn't be terribly worried about that little bit of oil. Overfilling can cause some nasty problems though, such as the aforementioned aeration of the oil.

Story time—I know you all love my stories.

Back when I had my first 6000, I also owned a nearly identical '84 Celebrity. It smoked like a son of a bitch, and I found out why when I changed the oil the first and only time. I had my shoddy little seven quart walmart pan and popped the drain plug. The oil flowed. And flowed. And kept friggin' coming. I yelled to my wife to get another jug, milk, coolant, whatever, right now 'cause this shit ain't stoppin'. The oil filled the 7 qt pan, and half a coolant jug. Nine quarts of oil came out of the carbed 2.8. That would explain why it smoked—the front valve cover gasket was blown and had leaked all over the place.

So uh, maybe you should worry a little bit...

Well ya, but thats 9 quarts, 4 quarts overfilled, hes got maybe 1/2 a quart too much. I herd of a guy who had a caddilac, and filled it up with oil untill it was even with the fill hole.....

[86euro]

... I ran it dry of oil at least half a dozen times to where it actually killed the engine and it always started right back up with a quart of oil! It leaked like a sieve.
You didn't even have to change the oil cause it was always loosing it!

Reminds me of a '79 Blazer I used to have. Lost a quart of oil every 10-20 miles, depending on how fast I was going. Couldn't kill the SOB