crankcase overfill-engine damage ?

[TomBrady]

On my 94 Merc Sable 3.8L, I accidently
overfilled the crankcase. Dipstick is about
3/8 inch above the full mark.The crosshatch
area itself is about 3/4 inch long on the stick.
I could swear I added 4.5 qts when new filter
and oil was replaced but since I was filling from partially filled gallon containers I may have added more oil than needed. Should I drain some
out or would a slight overfill matter. Might be
1/4 to 1/2 QT overfilled. Thanks

 

[Pablo]

1/2 qt overfilled is no big deal.

In case of a serious overfill - foam or leaks or yikes (worst case) oil lock - just either drain some if you can or remove and replace the oil filter (if that will be enough!)

 

[hominid7]

Should not be a problem. I typically fill my mazda with 4.5 quarts at each oil change. The car holds something like 4.3 qt and not everything gets drained out during a change unless you let it drip over-night. Dip-sticks are not exact science anyway

I did my old VW Jetta the same way and in over 225,000 miles it never created a problem.

If you got seriously over 1/2 qt over, it might be worth draining some out, but in your situation, i would not worry about it at all.

A lot of racers fill their engine 1/2 qt over-full right before hitting the track.

 

[DaveInLA]

I've heard that 0.5 qts over isn't a big deal, but it's sometimes unnerving when the oil line is higher than the "H" on the dipstick.

 

[TallPaul]

I have three Fords (90, 92, and 95). All of the owner manuals show a stick and indicate that when new or after a change, the oil may be over full. The indicator points to the F of the word Full which is a good half inch or so above the cross hatch area. I bet your book is the same. It does say that leaks or engine damage can result if run above the F in Full.

 

[Black Thunder]

sometimes i accidentally overfill mine as well, but on my one vehicle it leaks so i kind of just works itself out

if it bothers you just spin the filter off, dump it out, throw it back on and start it and then check it later

 

[ARB1977]

My truck takes 5.8 qrts with a stock filter but i go ahead and put 6 qrts in .2 qrts isnt that much to worry about.

 

[Tremo]

Overfilling by half a quart is not a problem.

 

[ekpolk]

Tom:

Things are not looking good for you -- but not for the reasons you may expect. Your car will be fine. You, on the other hand, have blundered into what may be the most addictive website on the planet, at least for those compulsive enough about car care to have found it in the first place. Nevermind the car -- you're doomed.

 

[Cyprs]

On my Nissan X-Trail the actual oil level on diptick is 3/8 inch above the full mark on this QR25DE, I had just totalled my 03 Altima which had the same engine and the full mark on that version was right on the full line.

I got excited when I checked the oil level on X-Trail right after drive home from dealership. I panniced and drained to full mark, drained about 300 mil. Later found out it was supposed to be 3/8 inch over full mark on that X-Trail.

I even had the staff at Nissan excited as they found 6 X-trails showing 3/8" overfill from factory. In O5 the X-Trail was just introduced in Canada,they were as green as me on this model. They called the Nissan tech, they said put in the 4.1 litres and that is the oil level, 3/8 full, just under the U bend in dipstick.

Anyway, in Nissan discussion with the tech, the tech stated that .5 litre (litre very close to American .5 quart)overfill is okay. When I change oil on my son's 1.9 1992 Escort, the dipstick always shows over fill on 4 litre OCI, oil doesn't foam, runs great, never a problem. I prefer a dipstick that shows full on a manual spec's for Oil content. Sounds like your Merc, my son's Escort and my X-Trail is kinda "no mans" land for oil level readings versus proper oil content in manual, put a man on the moon but cant seem to master a dipstick

.


good luck,
Cyprs

 

[Cyprs]

If your concerned, check your air filter for any oil blow by, there maybe a small 1.5" X 1.5" foam prefilter at air intake of filter housing like my son's Escort. I have found the air filter to be a good indicator on oil overfill level, it seems to be a release for too much oil and pressure in my experience, this blow by can take care of your overfill (if truely overfilled) for you, does not do your filter any favors. Also, check for excessive oil foaming on dipstick immediately after shutdown. Overfill may pit the crank, that is result of extreme overfill usually. Like I said in previous post, doesnot seem to hurt the 1.9 Escort motor and Nissan is fine with it.

Cyprs

 

[Blue99]

I routinely overfill 10-16 oz.(1/3-1/2 qt) on my GM 5.3L engine.

These engines tend to generate startup noise when parked on an incline, facing uphill. All indications point to oil level in the crankcase, so the overfill is good insurance to guard against this problem!

 

[westex39]

I have a 99 Mercury with the 4.6 liter engine. Owners manual says it takes 6 quarts with a filter change. When you install 6 quarts it reads a 1/2 quart overfull on the dipstick. I'm sure the engine builder put in enough safety margin that a 1/2 quart won't do any damage. I would be willing to bet that there is a quart up in the engine when it's running at 2000 rpm.

 

[Tremo]

Same here. I have an 88 GM 5.0 (Chevy). Takes 5 quarts when you change with filter. When I dump in the 5, the dipstick reads slightly overfilled. It's a non-issue.

 

[Matt89]

Amen to what my brother in arms just said.

Dont' ever confuse the maintenance needs of the car with those of the owner

Guilty as charged myself, BTW.

 

[Captain Howdy]

Reminds me of a story a friend told me about when he was a teenager. His father told him to "take this oil (5 qts) and put it in the car."
Well when they got to the car to leave his father asked him "where's that oil I told you to put in the car?" Well, he had put the oil in the engine. His dad was peesed. This was in the 70's so I bet there was 10 quarts of oil in that car.