Okay all you auto mechanics out there I have a question for you. I am pretty sure I already have the answer but I want to double check myself so if I go back to the dealer I'll know if they are jerking me around.

Went to the dealer and had my oil changed. I supplied the oil (mobil1) and filter. I had a half case in my trunk. so I pick up my car and go home. When I get home I check the trunk for the one qt that should be left over and it is not there. So I check the oil level and it is like way over the top mark. I think they put the whole six qts in the car.

So how bad is this for the car? What problems can it cause? Should I walk or run back to the dealer to get them to fix it?

 

basically, 2 things could have happened. they filled up the car with all 6 qts and overfilled, or someone stole the last quart for themselves. the first scenario seems more reasonable for the dealer to admit to.

so, depending on how much oil was added in excess, it can cause some serious problems, the least of which is leaking seals. call up the dealer right away, explain the situation, and have them redo the procedure CORRECTLY. you should also have them pay, out of their pockets, for the synthetic oil change.

 

I've done this before out of my own fault. One thing will most likely happen. You might foul your spark plugs, soak them up with oil and have prolonged starting problem. You'll find oil in the spark plugs cylinder chambers, oil in the take tube by the PCV return line. You'll get extra blow-by through the piston seals, meaning oil get past the seals into the combustion chambers which should not happen. I suggest you going back there and have the extra oil leak out right away. Or, if you know how to do it yourself, do it asap.

 

synthetic oil has less of a problem, but when there is too much oil, the detergents will start to get chruned up and it will cause sludge to form in the engine...very bad juju.

yeah, get it fixed. since you paid for it, go back to the dealer, have them fix it (just dump the oil filter once or twice), and have them give you a free synthetic oil change next time. oil changes are too simple for them to screw up.

 

You are fine. Most likely they put 5 quarts and kept the last bottle or ???. Don't worry if you have 6 quarts, nothing will happen.

 

If I remember my days of Auto Shop in High School some 20+ years ago I do remember this. The counter weights on the crankshaft are designed and angled to splash/throw the oil onto various parts inside the engine. Namley the cylinder walls. That's pretty much the only way they get lubed unless there are oil injectors in there similar to the 94' DSM I had.

If there's too much poil in there the point of contact between the weights and the oil will change and so will the direction of the thrown oil.

 

You will be fine, no need to go to the dealer. Your engine will simply burn the extra oil off for a couple days until you are down to the correct 5 quarts. Next time keep the 6th quart for yourself you never know when you might need it!

 

if your engine is burning off a quart of oil in a few days, you got something seriously not cool with your car. buring oil is not a good thing.

 

I have a 03 tl. I am told to put five quarts of oil in the eng. but five quarts fills it past the top hole on the dipstick. I think i should put 4.5 quarts in it. What do you think?

 

Use 4.7 qts that what the user manual says

 

I am anal too, I go a little over 4.7qt since I drain for a long time. And definitely drain out the excess oil, it will interfere with the crankshaft operation and cause oil leak from seal.

 

One mechanic told me that all cars have safety mechanism as far as oil capacity goes. He said that usually up to 1 qt. over of whats recommended will be just fine.
So I'd say anything between 4-5.5 qt. will be totaly fine. Better be 5.5, than 4.....

I just put all 5qts, its much easier.... its stupid to have 0.3qt left over every time you change oil.