Oil Overfill what does it do?

dmford · #1 (**permalink**) 08-20-2002, 07:58 AM

I cleverly changed the oil on my 86/87 302 and added about one to or two more quarts of oil (talking while trying to count eh). I noticed after that oil change the rear main seal or rear oil pan seal leak and also 7 cylinder like performance when it is cold. Can this be attributed to the overfill?
What is the typical result of an overfill?

Thanks
Dave

dscott · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2002, 08:08 AM

To much oil can be a problem. As an example my son borrowed a old Escort wagon I had and overfilled the oil. It smoked like an old freight train and oil was running out everywhere. The rear main is usually below the oil level, if oil is sitting at or above the seal it will leak when the car isn't running. It is possible to break rings and foul plugs with to much oil also. I think I would drain it out.
Don

Bob In Ct · #3 (**permalink**) 08-20-2002, 04:08 PM

Hey Dave:
The greatest damage from too much oil is due to loss of pressure caused by the oil getting beaten into foam by the crankshaft. If you did not have a loss of oil pressure the oil level probably did not get high enough for the crankshaft to reach it. The higher the viscosity the faster it foams.

If you have ever seen the infomercial where the gizmo turns skim milk into a delicious whipped topping then you can imagine what the oil turns into at 2000 RPM.

Bob