Overfilled Motor Oil - What Happens & Engine Damage Done [Fix & Avoid Too Much Oil]

This video demonstrates what really happens to your engine when it is overfilled with too much motor oil, the issues that result, long term problems and some simple methods for draining oil from an engine.

Additionally, we discuss how to check your car's oil level and offer advice on adding oil to prevent overfilling in the first place.

I decided to include this video in response to the searches and email questions we received because it's obvious that people are looking for information on the consequences of overfilling their engine oil.

What happens if there is too much oil in the engine?
Does overfilled motor oil in your engine cause damage?
Why does overfilled engine oil do damage to your car?
Can too much oil cause damage to an engine?
What happens long term from filling with too much oil?

What issues can arise from a car with an overfilled engine oil tank? What are the effects of overfilling an engine with oil?

What occurs when you use too much oil in your car? What happens inside the engine if you put too much oil in your car? The causes and problems from too much engine oil, and excessive engine oil, and how this affects the working of your engine.

Overfilling your car's engine oil is a pretty prominent issue, thus there is unquestionably an issue.
We examine the causes, solutions, and advice for avoiding engine oil overfilling altogether.

You may be able to start an engine with too much oil in it but the oil lubrication will degrade, you can also start experiencing oil leaks and start burning oil.

Different engines are more or less tolerant of too much oil so it depends on how much oil the sump can take, how low the crank is and even the RPMs of the engine.

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:39 Oil Levels
1:31 Typical Symptoms Caused
2:14 How Engine Damage Occurs
4:12 How To Resolve It
5:00 Like & Subscribe

Legal Notice: Unless we have inspected your car we can only provide generic theory. All information is provided without warranty, please check any recommendations made with a mechanic locally to verify it would be legal in your area or region and that it would be suitable for your car and your needs.

[romanpastuchsr]

We recently experienced an engine overfill by the dealership. My son and his wife have jet skis with supercharged engines. After being serviced at the dealer he took his 10 hour new ski out to the river and it ran sluggishly, wouldn't reach redline. Took it back to the dealer and they immediately suggested to remove and test the SC for slippage of the clutch discs. Big labor bill looming/possible rebuild of SC. That didn't sound right to him so he brought it home and we began to diagnose it before getting a second opinion. I found the oil sump was overfilled by a couple of inches, so I siphoned the excess out and checked the spark plugs, which were heavily fouled. Replaced the plugs and took it to the river again. It ran like new and was as fast as ever. Problem solved.Then we checked the other jet ski. It too was way overfilled. Turns out both had more than one quart extra oil put in at the dealership. The dealer must have an idiot doing oil changes or a very unethical plot for generating service work. The service manual is strongly worded to NOT OVERFILL. Supercharged engines do not like that.

[KofiAsabereAnnoh]

Thank you so much for this video. It’s been a defining moment to solving my over filled engine with oil. I was convinced after watching your video that I have over filled my engine contrary to thoughts it was the turbo which would cost a fortune to fix. I have watched your video over and over again until I resorted to draining the oil by using a hand operated pump from Machine mart. I was able to drain 2.5 litres of oil in the first day. There was a drastic reduction in both white and dark smoke from the exhaust upon several revs . I am beginning to get confident that my second attempt to drain the oil further would result in a complete smoke reduction after several revs. Grateful for a very good and well explained video.
Keep up with the good work

[oldtimefarmboy]

As long as the crankshaft does not get into the oil there will be no problem.. If it does, not only will it aerate the oil a lot but it will cause a lot of friction heat that will cause the oil to thin out. That friction will also cause a lot of drag on the engine and cause it to work harder and a lot more fumes in the crankcase that the ventilation valve (PCV) will have to handle to prevent pressure buildup in the crankcase, more oil will be burned because the splashing oil will flood the cylinders under the piston and the wiper ring will not be able to remove all of the excess oil from the cylinder wall as the piston travels down causing excess oil to get above the piston.

So if you refill your oil after an oil change and get to much in it, just remember that you removed the drain plug to drain the old oil out. It will work to remove excess new oil as well.

[Azureecosse]

Every time my son gets his 2021 Honda CRV serviced at the Honda dealership they over fill over the max mark, he questioned this and the dealer said its measured quantities by the manufacturer and an electronic pump dispenses the correct amount of oil for the model ? I am guessing if that s the case they are not fully draining the old oil out and leaving at least 700mls of oil in the engine otherwise this would not happen. He has gone back to them twice now to to get the excess oil drained out and on one of those occasions they tried to charge him £110 for a complete oil change. Just unbelievable and that's a certified Honda dealership. He has decided he will not use the Dealership again and will take to his local independent to have it serviced.

[ItzGerrod]

Pep Boys overfilled my oil. Its about 5 inches above the safe zone on my dip stick. Now my car struggles starting, the engine dies when driving / idling, and I can't go above 60mph.

[patrickmcgivern]

Excellent video. Cleae, well presented and exactly what I needed. No waffle ! Thanks

[qwertyui]

Got my 1st 2012 Lexus IS 350 90k service done at stealer by the seller. Drove her home and checked oil level straightaway it was over filled by half an inch above the max, jacked the car up and bleeded the oil till it's just setting at max on the dipstick.

[hisownman]

One of the most common mistakes . Thanks for covering it.

[lorenray]

My dip stick shows oil to top dot. Not much more when hot. Better than below bottom dot! No worries mate!

[philipsadventures]

Bought a 2014 335i bmw off auction with rear door damage, clean title, go to start it and white smoke, I mean I’ve never seen it smoke this much, drained the oil the other day, roughly 15 quarts of oil! The BMW takes 6.9 quarts with filter🥶, the bottom of the car is covered in oil! But when i started it for 10 sec it sounded fine which is crazy, am I being hopeful trying to clean all of it and refilling and keeping the motor? Thanks for the detailed video btw!

[coloradomark]

On my 2017 Subaru Outback it requires 5.1 quarts. Why Subaru came up with 5.1 blows my mind. Out of 7 oil changes I have had, dealer included, 6 quarts put in and of course they charged me for the 6 not .1. I've had to have the extra oil sucked out, usually by myself. I'll be changing my own oil from now on. Tired of getting hosed.

[mikethompson]

It’s best to change your own oil as most places including reputable shops has at least one incompetent worker

[everydaybarberskills]

Thank you so much for the great information! So helpful. 😊

[GMChess-htfi]

Sorry for giving trouble.

I approach for your expert second opinion for my observation in my car Caren with Turbo charged petrol engine

1). Recently Engine oil filled by Service Centre is 1.0 cm more than Full/Max. Level

On drawing their attention, they say to us not to bother.

Is their assurance correct ?

Because Read somewhere that excess engine oil can damage system.

In that case does it applicable to engine of Caren also.

2). Normally observed cabin as well engine sound of a petrol car is SILENT.

But in my Caren it is noisy.

Like to know Is it normal in Caren bcoz while drawing attention of Service people, they does not find it unusual.

[tehsinkhadim]

Thanks for your video. I overfilled my oil and it’s create lots of smoke then i took to Garauge they drained the extra oil. But car still creating smoke .please recommend me what should i do?

[traianette]

All-inclusive explanation and video.
Thank you!

[joshrowley]

I have a renualt clio and noticed a oil leak but it's comes out from the exhaust manifold what would cause this? I thought maybe there is too much oil

[kisoshi]

Thanks for the video. MY car was overfilled Should I take it to get the oil changed and filter

[jamesthomas]

I've this problem now in my gt170 won't start just judders oil it is then great content as always 😊

[infiniteaaron]

Thank you. I wish I were smart enough to think about how to fill the engine oil pan.