TSi

well not really, I have been changing my own oil for years. However I just did my first oil change on my TL. Ok I'll admit this much: I'm an engine newbie. I thought the bigger the engine, the more oil it will take. My Accord's F22A 2.2 liter engine took about 4.5 quarts of oil, so I thought a 3.2 will take about 5-6 quarts. Anyway, I dumped 5.5 quarts in the engine before stopping to test the oil insert level. Seems about right. No signs of flooding yet. But now I jsut found out, I was supposed to put 4.6 quarts of oil?

I really don't feel like getting back under the car and dumping out all the new oil I just bought. Does anyone know if an extra quart of oil in the engine will cause long term damage to the engine?

kennelm

When you overfill the crankcase, the oil can be whipped into a "froth" by the crank. The air bubbles can cause the oil to not lubricate properly. Too much oil can also create excess pressure that can damage gaskets/seals.

You may not have overfilled it enough to cause this. But if it was me, I would drain that extra oil out to be safe.

yield2s

i second that! when i put just under 5qts in mine it goes all the way up to the top hole on the dipstick, where's yours?


BTW you can remove the filter w/o draining the oil, opps, scratch that it would not be good to repeatally drain the filter and then start the car to fill it up again. just drain some the messy way. sorry

fortunate

Well, the manual says 4.6 qts PLUS the volume of your oil filter.

yield2s

"Well, the manual says 4.6 qts PLUS the volume of your oil filter."


I dont think so,but i guess I should check it now.

fortunate

I read about it last night, but it was late, so I might've misread :P.

poopoo240

there's a difference when you fill your crank case with oil when it's completely drained and when you're just changing the oil on a routine oil change.
Usually, you cannot change 100% of your oil. putting in the recommended amount usually accounts for the existing oil in the engine, so a little bit of overage or shortage is ok. I think in your case of 1 full quart...drain it.
one more thing...
Overfilling will lead to the risk of blowing out your seals. just a FYI.

yoda

Bottom line, what does the dipstick show? If you're within "specs" of the dipstick, then no worries. If it's over, then drain the extra.

Like someone mentioned above, too much oil will cause the oil to "foam." When that occurs, the oil pump won't be able to pick up "foaming oil" (too airy). That could lead to lubrication problems. Which would get ugly really quickly!

One other question. What weight oil are you guys running in your cars? All times of the year? or seasonal?

Thanks!

yield2s

5w-30 suits me fine here in so-cal, I'd even be comffy w/ 10w-30.

BlackShadow

I normally put in an even 5 quarts.

Flounder

That's weird, last time I changed my oil I only put in 4 quarts & it was a little less than the halfway mark. I left it at this position. Did anyone else get this?

fsttyms1

i always put in a even 5 quarts.
but yea i would pull the plug out just for a short bit of time to drain some of the oil, you dont need to drain all of it though

pianoman41

You should dump out the extra quart--frothing of oil is a real serious issue. Some of the printed passages in your engine are less than a human hair's thickness and the oil needs to circulate through there. Oil that is frothed will not do that.

You don't need to dump out everything. Just get under and loosen the oil plug until it barely starts to drain out. Catch about a quart in a drain pan and then tighten it back up. Yes, you may get a little messy but it saves you from draining the whole thing.

If you do your own oil changes, the best thing is 4.5 quarts. Easy to remember and measure and you just save the 1/2 quart left over for next time. You won't get 4.6 quarts out in a drain anyway, so 4.5 is a negligable difference.