Chimaera Oil Level - overfilled - advice please

[Highlander]

Chimaera 500 recently returned from service - oil level 30mm above full mark on dipstick (guess this is about 1 litre overfill as it's the same as the distance between full and add marks).

Service agent (200 miles away i.e. not just down the road) says nothing to worry about and it will soon 'burn off' - I'm not so sure - could this cause problems (dipstick clearly says do not overfill!)- any opinions / advice welcomed ?

[puffsorted2]

Highlander said:

Chimaera 500 recently returned from service - oil level 30mm above full mark on dipstick (guess this is about 1 litre overfill as it's the same as the distance between full and add marks).

Service agent (200 miles away i.e. not just down the road) says nothing to worry about and it will soon 'burn off' - I'm not so sure - could this cause problems (dipstick clearly says do not overfill!)- any opinions / advice welcomed ?

Use a pump that can extract oil via the dipstick pipe - will be less messy and easier than draining the oil and refilling to the correct level. A cheap pump is availible for about £25, funnily enough last weeks auto express had a review on them

www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/producttests/203129/fluid_extractors.html

Hmmm not sure where I got £25 from

Edited by puffsorted2 on Tuesday 10th October 14:19

Edited by puffsorted2 on Tuesday 10th October 14:21

[Highlander]

Thanks puffsorted2 - have considered this option. Really wondering if I am worrying about nothing i.e. OK or will leaving overfilled cause any problems.

[GreenV8S]

The danger is that oil will be thrown out of the breather and flood the engine. I routinely overfill mine by half an inch for track days and have never had any problem. An inch is rather a lot though. It may be OK, but it might be worth asking your servicing agent if they will cover the cost of engine repairs if you do suffer any damage. Their answer will tell you how much faith you can put on their advice that it's OK. I'd also be curious to know how they came to overfill it by (my guess) the best part of a gallon.

[theaxe]

It should be possible (if a bit messy) to drain out a litre or so via the drain plug. I changed my plug for the Steve Heath version without draining it all.

Edited by theaxe on Tuesday 10th October 15:24

[jensena]

It is bad to drive a car with that much of an overfill. To get rid of the excess litre, wait untill the car is nice and cold, put a clean oil tray
undeneath to catch the oil. Undo the drain nut until it is fonger loose, then oh so slowly un wind it by hand, a little bit at a time to the point where your fingers are all that is holding it in, then just ease of slightly to let the oil out, pushing it back in to stop it, until you think 1 litre has been drained. The point of doing it bit by bit is so you can easily thread it back up rather than fighting agaibnst a gush of oil (thats why you want the oil to be cold too).

[neejah]

Drain it out through the filter i.e. unscrew & empty (1/2 pint) screw back on......start-stop......unscrew & empty etc......saves buying a pump and also the possibility of dropping the sump plug and all of your oil on the floor!

Think I'd be more worried about over pressurisation and subsequent damage to seals than anything else with over filling.....

[GreenV8S]

neejah said:

Think I'd be more worried about over pressurisation and subsequent damage to seals than anything else with over filling.....

It won't affect the pressure. The danger is either overheating the oil due to frothing, or blowing the oil out of the breather and hydraulicing the engine.

[hut49]

Just drive over a few speed bumps and leave it for a couple of days. But do remember to re-tighten the sump plug that was loosened in the process!

[neejah]

GreenV8S said:

neejah said:

Think I'd be more worried about over pressurisation and subsequent damage to seals than anything else with over filling.....

It won't affect the pressure. The danger is either overheating the oil due to frothing, or blowing the oil out of the breather and hydraulicing the engine.

I wasn't refering to oil pressure at the gallery (i.e. after the pump) it was more crankcase pressure I was thinking about.....

[Highlander]

Have now purchased an oil extractor pump - nearly two litres needed to be removed to bring down to full mark.

Thanks to all for advice and comments.