Engine oil overfill

[Oliver S.]

My garage put 5.28 quarters oil (5 liters) in my Corvette ('65 300 hp # matching mt) after changing the oil along with the filter. That's 0.28 quarters (0,25 Liters) too much.I've been driving around 230 miles after recognizing this. The oil pressure was normal - everything is fine. Shall I have the too much of oil removed immediately? I drive the car rarely above 3500 rpm, just cruising . Can this overfill cause any harm?
The engine doesn't consume oil, it was overhauled 3000 miles ago.

Oliver

[Paul H.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

If it were my car I would drain out the excess. However, less than 1/4 of a quart overfill won't do any harm. In fact, in racing applications some people overfill slightly as a matter of routine.

[Duke W.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

Chances are you need to do nothing, but how high is the level relative to the top mark on the dipstick?

Check the oil with the engine hot five minutes after shutdown on a level surface. Remove and wipe the dipstick right after shutdown and leave it out for the five minutes. This will allow oil to drain out the dipstick tube and give you a clean reading.

Back before SCCA allowed dry sumps Corvette racers ran a quart over full to preclude oil starvation.

Duke

[Oliver S.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

I checked the oil level when the engine has been out for 2 days. The oil level is at the 'f' of 'full'. I would guess 20%-25% above the top mark.

[Gary S.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

I have never worried over a 1/4 quart overfill.

Gary

[Joe T.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

Hi Oliver:
Its my understanding that the primary issue with avoiding overfilling an oil pan is to keep the journals and counter-weights from thrashing into the oil and introducing air or foaming the oil. Air bubbles in the oil make the pump cavitate and make pumping difficult as well as causing wear on the pump gears. The air doesn't do the bearings any good either. When you consider the surface area of the oil in the pan, at rest or running, 1/4 of a quart (or 4 ounces by my calculations) does not increase the overall level significantly. Just MHO: Don't worry about it...Regards...Joe

[Duke W.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

I checked the oil level when the engine has been out for 2 days. The oil level is at the 'f' of 'full'. I would guess 20%-25% above the top mark.

The proper way to check you oil is as I stated above. After sitting for a period of time the level will rise.

I have no idea what you mean by "20-25% above the full mark".

Duke

[Clem Z.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

Chances are you need to do nothing, but how high is the level relative to the top mark on the dipstick?

Check the oil with the engine hot five minutes after shutdown on a level surface. Remove and wipe the dipstick right after shutdown and leave it out for the five minutes. This will allow oil to drain out the dipstick tube and give you a clean reading.

Back before SCCA allowed dry sumps Corvette racers ran a quart over full to preclude oil starvation.

Duke

gm still tells corvette owners with wet sump oil systems to run 1 quart over full when doing track days because the "G" forces in the turns may prevent the oil from getting back down into the oil pan. back in the 60s BB corvette engines would start to loose oil pressure at the drag strip because too much oil was being held "upstairs" at high RPMs so we always ran 1 quart over and i just left it in the pan after the event was over with no problems.

[Joe C.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

I checked the oil level when the engine has been out for 2 days. The oil level is at the 'f' of 'full'. I would guess 20%-25% above the top mark.

AAAAAhhhhhhhhh........................that's assuming that the dipstick is "calibrated" correctly in the first place.
I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, most people doing oil changes don't take into account that some newer (replacement/superceded) oil filters have less capacity than original ones. So, if the owners' manual states "5 quarts with filter", and the original filter was superceeded by a filter of lower capacity, these crankcases are being over filled by about 6-10 ounces. This happens all the time.

Net result, in your case, means the oil level is about 3/16" higher than "full", and still far below the crankshaft.

Joe

[Oliver S.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

Duke,

I'll do as you suggested.

Oliver

[Oliver S.]

Re: Engine oil overfill

Joe,

the receipt of the garage stated that they put in 5 liters (5.28 quarters). This matches my observation with the dipstick reading.

Oliver