Oil is essential for the smooth running of the engine. An engine consists of multiple metal parts. In normal operation, these parts would brush against each other. Not only would this create an unpleasant noise, but it would also quickly cause wear and stress on the engine. The result would be engine failure and it wouldn’t take long.
Oil moves around your engine via special channels and with the aid of a pump. It lubricates the metal parts and prevents them from damaging each other as the engine is in use. That’s why having too little oil in your engine can be a serious issue.
But, if you’ve ever got the oil check light and simply chucked some oil in as you rush to a meeting, you may want to think again. It is possible to overfill your oil and damage your engine.
You should note that if you are constantly checking and adjusting the level of oil in your motor there is an issue that needs to be resolved. You can find out more here to help you deal with this.
When You Have Overfilled With Oil
Manufacturers and developers of vehicles know that it can be difficult to get the right level of oil in your motor. After all, some manufacturers suggest you check the oil when the engine is cold, others prefer it to be warm allowing the oil to flow better. Simply getting this wrong can change the oil level.
To allow for human error a little extra oil isn’t an issue. But, if you have put an extra litre of oil into your vehicle then you could be looking at a serious issue. If this is the case it is advisable to stop using the vehicle and remove the excess oil.
What Happens When You Have Too Much Oil
When there is too much oil in an engine the excess goes to the crankshaft. This moves at high speed and will add oxygen to the excess oil, creating a foam.
Unfortunately, despite having too much oil, the foam will not pump around your system properly but it will impede the flow of oil. In short, your oil pump will be strained and your engine will effectively be starved of oil.
The result, and it can happen surprisingly quickly, is a seized engine.
How To Remove Excess Oil
You may prefer to have this done by a professional, it will also save you having to deal with getting rid of the oil. The easiest way to remove oil is to use a siphon or pump with a tube that can be pushed inside the oil filler cap.
If this isn’t an option you’ll need to jack the vehicle up and support it properly on axle stands. You can then place a bowl under the sump and unscrew the sump plug slightly. Do not take it all the way out. Let some of the oil out and tighten the plug up again.
If you’re under the car it is a good time to consider changing the oil and filter, unless that is why you overfilled the oil in the first place.