350i engine - what happens with too much oil??

[sprevett]

my (normally clean and dry) rover 3.5 in the wedge has sprung a leak - seemingly around the front pulleys area - running down round the sump. But also noticed that last service the oil level was overfilled and is still well over the 'max' mark on the dipstick. could this be the cause?

[honestjohntoo]

Yes, entirely possible, especially so, if combined with a second fault, specifically a blocked crankcase breather. Indeed too much oil may even have caused a blockage thereabouts by oil being misted into the crankcase air by the violent washing machine action and thence carried into the upper reaches of the breather system.

The result of a blocked breather is that increased crankcase pressure floods oil out of every possible orifice, particularly the lower seals and the upper gaskets.

Edited by honestjohntoo on Friday 10th April 14:04

[Tyre_Tread]

Yep, as Honestjohn says, if the engine breather are blocked, and these engines are prone to it, then hughl likely the crankcase is overpressuring and forcing oil past the seals.

You need to check the brather tubes aren't blocked (not sure where they are on the version of the RV8 that will be in your car) and drop out the excess oil.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

Also you don't want to drive it too hard. with too much oil, as it will get into the plenum, and then over flow into the middle two cyclinders, and if you get too much you will get very high compression and can blow the gaskets.

[sprevett]

oh blimey......thanks for info...i think...