Overfilled Oil

A little bit won't hurt but,,,, if it is way over full your crankshaft will have to fight it's way through the oil so your mileage and power will suffer. I lost a fuelpump diaphram on a 327 once and filled the crankcase with gas. Had one hell of a leak, out the dipstick, oil filler cap, blew pcv out. Sure smoked a lot too.

Willy

How far (in inches) over the full mark is it?

Doc

Thanks for the quick reply. The engine sounds/runs normal (i.e. great) and the tailpipe emissions are normal (clear). I love the 4.3 Vortec...just wanted to make sure nothing damages my "baby". haha

I didn't measure it but its past the FULL mark...but not so far as to ride up the stem of the dipstick.

Ok, there is about 2 FEET of dipstick above the full mark. GUESTIMATE how far over the full mark the oil level is. 1/2" is a lot different than 2".

Doc

So what's the problem? If it is over filled, either do it yourself, take you vehicle to a shop, remove the oil, refill with the proper amount of oil, end of problem.

mike hunt

Spiderman wrote:

All the above said if the oil is too high it will be turned to foam by the crankshaft and the bearings will be starved of oil and burn up. If it is more than 1/2 inch above full drain it and fill correctly...

Sorry hehe....it's about 1/2" over the full mark. What's the diagnosis, Doc?

It's fine. Your truck takes about 4.75 qts and they likely just added 5 qts. 1/2" over "full" ain't going to hurt anything.

Doc

The diagnosis is "Nitwitcity"

IOW, you paid Mr Goodwrench to screw up your vehicle. The crankshaft can churn the oil causing it to become entrained with air bubbles, and this is not a good thing for your main bearings.

Dump the extra, do it now. And don't go back to the jerk you paid to screw up your ride.

Lg

Maybe a burst fuel pump diaphram? I know if it goes on a Ford it will fill the crankcase with gasoline.

Hmmm....I wonder who's right? The Doc (leave it alone) or Lg (dump the oil)?

Wouldn't that show up in the oil pressure? The pressure is in the normal operating range. This is a very educational thread!

Wouldn't the oil smell like gas then? It still smells like oil. Also, the fuel gauge hasn't moved down abnormally.

You're not kidding, I had a new exhaust system installed recently and it fell off the same day...turns out they didn't clamp the muffler down tight enough!

I hope for you it is "doc"

Or you can just take it out / have it taken out and spend a $ 19.95 on a oil change

Or a couple of thousand on a motor

You do the math..............

Johan

Hi...

Maybe I'm over-simplifying... but the oil's new; why replace it?

Why not just loosen the plug and let a bit out? Heck, clean the drain pan thoroughly first and save what you remove for a top-up.

Course I am from the waste not want not generation :)

Ken

I am going to side with Doc on this, 1/2" over the full mark wont hurt a thing, like he said they put 5 qts instead of 4.5 qts in.(based on the 90 some odd oil changes my 91 has had in its 202,000 mile life time) 1/2 qt aint going to hurt a 4.3, the oil level still wont be close to the crank so no frothing at the dip stick to worry about..

I got a kick out of how these threads get all bent out of shape, Spider don't worry about a fuel pump diaphragm because your truck doesn't have one, its fuel injected and has an electric fuel pump mounted in the tank. And where did he say anywhere in his posts that he took it of Mr. Goodwrench?

Given you have a 4X4, removing the oil filter usually results in some spilt oil on the frame and skid plate, the drips in the drive way are probably from that. Good shop would have cleaned it up.

Whitelightning

leave it alone.... a 1/2" high on the dipstick is negligible.... don't worry about it unless you're a couple of inches above the full mark.

-Bret