Too much oil!?!

angelavdavis

Hi, hoping someone might be able to assist me.

I have recently started doing a lot more miles for work than previously in my Y reg Puma. Last week, while sitting idle at traffic lights, I spotted that my car's oil light was flickering (really slightly - I initially couldn't spot which light was coming on)

So, before making my way back home (South Coast from Cheshire), I tested the oil and sure enough - it was low. I put 2L of oil in, which didn't bring it right up to the adequate level, but was enough to get me home. At the weekend, my OH topped it up.

Today, I started the car and initially it wouldn't start. I managed to eventually get it to spark and started off down the road, but quickly noticed that there was a lot of smoke coming out of the exhaust - its clearly burning oil. I suspect my OH has over-filled with oil!

Is there anything I can do other than take it into a garage?
If its possible for me to drain the engine of oil, and refill to the correct level, is there anything else you recommend I also do?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

owey

You would have to drain all the oil then refill it, if you have an National Tyres near you they will do you an oil & filter change for £16 and get them to see if there are any leaks around the engine. Putting too much oil in could also damage your engine as well.If its smoking it could also be you piston rings, but if it was ok before your OH put the oil in, like you say, he might of put too much in which will cause it to smoke. Good luck.

Lorian

The first thing to do is check the dipstick to see if there really is too much oil in it. No point in *guessing*. Make sure you check it with the car parked on a level surface.

Considering you were driving round with 2L+ less oil than it should have it's possible the piston rings have suffered, which would could cause smoke anyway.

If the car was cold you might be looking at water vapour coming out of the exhaust, not smoke. This will decrease as the car warms up.

angelavdavis

Thanks for this owey/lorian.

I thought initially that the smoke might be steam, so drove on for a bit along the dual carriageway, but the smoke got worse and by that time, I could smell the oil burning. I turned round at the first opportunity and slowly made my way back home again.

Will prepare myself for the worst with the pistons, although would have thought, bearing in mind I topped the oil up initially with the 2L before driving 250 miles home that the smoking would have started then.

I drove the car again Saturday to my tutorial (50 mile round trip) and it seemed OK. I haven't driven the car since returning home and OH topped the oil up on Sunday, so I am guessing this would be the cause.

Thanks for the tip on going to National Tyres. I will give them a ring now.

xzibit

I expect your engine holds about 4 - 4.5 litres of oil in total including the filter.
If you put 2 litres in, then checked straight away on the dipstick, you wouldn't have got a true reading, as it takes 10-15mins for the oil to work its way from the top of the engine, down into the sump where the reading is taken from.
If you put 2 litres in, then your other half put more in, I reckon you could possibly have way too much in there. Sounds like you are burning oil.
Just out of interest, did you put the same make/type of oil in, that was already in there? I never think it's a good idea to mix oils of different makes, even though they are they same weight.

I'd drain all the oil asap, and put new oil in and a fresh filter on before driving the car, and take it from there. You could well have damaged oil seals and piston rings in the engine, which won't be cheap to replace.

angelavdavis

I don't have a clue what oil was already in as it was done during the service last year, but it was SO low, I doubt that it would make much difference really.

I put the initial 1L in the engine on seeing it was low, then left it. Ran the engine for a bit and still no real difference to the dipstick so added another litre.

I then drove home (250 miles) and then next day drove another 50 miles round trip. All was well at this stage.

My OH then checked it on Sunday, but it didn't seem to have moved much more since I topped it up!

Hence, he put 5 litres in (same oil as me) - so I am guessing if your information is correct - its probably +2L.

I only drove it for a one mile round trip back home as part way I realised the smoke coming out wasn't just condensation!

I have booked the car in for oil and filter change. The garage can't see the car until Friday, so I won't drive it until after its been done.

northern_munky

These Fords need 5W/30 grade oil and can be quite finicky if they don't get it. Don't mention the problems you are having to the garage, just let them do the oil change, you don't want them looking for work.

owey

If you did book it in National Tyres, don't worry about them finding any oil leaks as they don't repair oil leaks, but if you do go somewhere else I agree with northern_munky.
I remember I had a mark2 Escort many years ago and I put too much oil in, got the same problem as you. I drained the oil then refilled it, and everything was OK, I did only drive about half a mile though.

Wig

angelavdavis wrote:

Hence, he put 5 litres in (same oil as me) - so I am guessing if your information is correct - its probably +2L.

5 litres!!!
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: People who don't have the first clue about cars should leave well alone, you at least had a sensible attitude of adding 1 litre at a time. next time do it yourself.

What level is the dipstick showing now on level ground?

Wig

northern_munky wrote:

These Fords need 5W/30 grade oil and can be quite finicky if they don't get it. Don't mention the problems you are having to the garage, just let them do the oil change, you don't want them looking for work.

I think the huge cloud of blue/white smoke behind the car as she drives in will be a pretty good indication of some work needs doing.

xzibit

angelavdavis wrote:

Hence, he put 5 litres in (same oil as me) - so I am guessing if your information is correct - its probably +2L.

5 litres, on top of the probable 1-1.5 litres in there to start with, plus the 2 litres you put in!!! :eek:

You could have more than DOUBLE in the engine than what you should have.

When topping engines up with oil, I always do it at 1/4 litre at a time. Then run the engine for 1 min, leave it for 10 mins, then check. The oil level ideally wants to be halfway between min + max.

With regards to putting oils in, if I was unsure what oil was in the engine, and I had to get home, then I would check what weight the engine needs, and put in the best I could get at the time, then change the whole oil once home, not driving the car before I have done it.

You should always check what weight oil (5W30, 5W40, 10W40, 15W40, 10W50 there's loads) the engine requires, as putting the wrong in can cause not enough lubrication, or too much pressure build up.

Oil is the most important thing about an engine.