overfilled oil

[jonesy]

Hi,

Having picked up the T350 just over a week ago, I decided I better check the oil last night, only to discover it didn't even register on the dip stick. After a little panic (I'd been going on the assumption that since it only had a major service less that 1K ago it would have been fine!) I drove it to halfords and got some Castrol 0-40 and started filling. Based on reading here, it needed about 6L in the tank (is that right?), I merrily filled it with 3L and stopped to check how I was going, only to discover its massively overfilled now.

Assuming I caught the low level in time and there is no lasting damage to the car (as the oil pressure and temp were always coming up to normal before I filled it) will over filling cause any issue? The handbook says 'wastage' which I hope means it will be fine?

thanks,

J.

[Targarama]

Sounds to me like it was OK-ish in the first place. Modern oils can be very hard to spot on the dipstick when they are clean/new/fresh.

How far out the dipstick is the oil level now? As the engine is dry sumped the oil pump will just take the oil it needs from the oil tank and you may not need to drain any out.

[Targarama]

BTW. Whereabouts in Berkshire are you? Another owner could take a look and confirm if you're worried.

[VARLEYHYD]

Don't leave it over filled!

Can cause major problems!

Measure levels when hot

G

[jonesy]

Thanks for the quick replies.

That 'measure level when hot' is a double edged sword! its in the most difficult place to measure without burning yourself.

its about 1/3 over the full mark at the moment...

Its due to go to RG in a week or so for a few things anyway, so if it will be ok till then I'll get them to take a look.

thanks...

[Zippee]

jonesy said:

Thanks for the quick replies.

That 'measure level when hot' is a double edged sword! its in the most difficult place to measure without burning yourself.

It is difficult but the only way to check. If checked when cold then nothing will show on the dipstick as it'll have drained back.

[neilboyd]

Get yourself a pair of gardening gloves and leave them in the boot for oilchecks.

Routine:
1: Stop car, leave engine running
2: Pop open the bonnet and lower driver's window
3: Gloves on and get your kitchen roll ready
4: Loosen the dipstick cap
5: Reach into the car and turn engine off
6: Sprint round the front again and remove & wipe dipstick
7: Measure oil level
8: Big sigh of relief when everything's still OK
9: Wipe, cap on, bonnet down, gloves off
10: Go out for another drive to celebrate.....

I really miss my Tamora now that the decent weather's here.
:-(

Neil

[willtvr]

neilboyd said:

Get yourself a pair of gardening gloves and leave them in the boot for oilchecks.

Routine:
1: Stop car, leave engine running
2: Pop open the bonnet and lower driver's window
3: Gloves on and get your kitchen roll ready
4: Loosen the dipstick cap
5: Reach into the car and turn engine off
6: Sprint round the front again and remove & wipe dipstick
7: Measure oil level
8: Big sigh of relief when everything's still OK
9: Wipe, cap on, bonnet down, gloves off
10: Go out for another drive to celebrate.....

I really miss my Tamora now that the decent weather's here.
:-(

Neil

Or do the same with engine running.

[tail slide]

Not good to leave it; overfilled by that amount, when you go around corners at any speed it will suck oil out through the breather and soak your air filter. Also happens if filled more than half on dipstick for trackdays which is how I found out. Won't cause damage apart from needing a new air filter

But it will then drip out of the air intake leaving a large oil puddle under the car.

Which may make you unpopular...

Edited by tail slide on Saturday 30th May 08:10

[Tuscanuwe]

Tail side wrote:

"Won't cause damage apart from needing a new air filter "


This is not true!
All the overfilled oil will destroy the cats!
It takes some time but it will happen.

Uwe

[tail slide]

Tuscanuwe said:

Tail side wrote:

"Won't cause damage apart from needing a new air filter "


This is not true!
All the overfilled oil will destroy the cats!
It takes some time but it will happen.

Uwe

Good point Uwe - mine is de-catted so wasn't thinking about it

[nelly1]

Don't forget if your air filter is wet with oil, all your car needs to do is backfire through the intakes once too many times and...

[Mr Heathen]

nelly1 said:

Don't forget if your air filter is wet with oil, all your car needs to do is backfire through the intakes once too many times and...

And once more

[tail slide]

OK, that definitely qualifies as 'damage'



A useful incentive to keep fluids at the right level

[klincoln01]

Bought my T350T two weeks ago and went through the same worries (no oil in the sump!) however a quick read on PH and now up to date with some of the vagaries of t350 engine. Have to say checking oil with hot engine adds a certain pucker factor to a normally routine job

[astonman]

If you hold your warm engine at 2000rpm for one minute and then cut it this will give you a more accurate idea of the oil level in the tank during actual use. However in my experience you will find the dry sump tank will then overflow on tickover.This shows me that there are big fluctuations in the dry sump tank depending on the revs. I assume that the level in the tank does not continue to drop as the revs are increased ( I have not tried holding it at 6000rpm for a minute to see!)But I still wonder if poor scavenging ar high rpm may be a reason why speed 6 engines go bang!Simon.

[jonesy]

that's enough scare stories to make me drain some out. A very green question I know, but is there a drain point on the tank or do I have to drain it from somewhere else?

thanks for all the comments so far...

J.

[stimshady]

i was at the garage a few weeks ago, i had a bit too much in and they used a giant syringe type device to suck it out (from where you put it in).

[willtvr]

astonman said:

If you hold your warm engine at 2000rpm for one minute and then cut it this will give you a more accurate idea of the oil level in the tank during actual use. However in my experience you will find the dry sump tank will then overflow on tickover.This shows me that there are big fluctuations in the dry sump tank depending on the revs. I assume that the level in the tank does not continue to drop as the revs are increased ( I have not tried holding it at 6000rpm for a minute to see!)But I still wonder if poor scavenging ar high rpm may be a reason why speed 6 engines go bang!Simon.

If you check the level is ok by the tried and tested method and then check the level with the engine at idle you will know what the level should be with the engine running - end of problem apart from the burnt fingers bit.