Confusing oil

[Nisse]

Hey, when i checked the oil today i discovered something intresting. The oil was over a centimeter over the maximum line. Thats about 1 litre too much oil in the system i think. Is this serious? Should i remove some oil, and if, what kind of tool do i use to get the oil plug off under the motor? (it looks strange)
Haynes service manual says there shall be 4.5 litres of oil when chaning both oil and oilfilter in the 2.0 engines. Obviously the last owner must have get the wrong info about that since there's too much oil



Thanks

[SoLaMaNdA]

I've driven my car for a year with the oil about 1cm over the max line, worked fine.

[5lab]

you shouldnt drive with that much in, because it damages the gaskets

however, you should check 2 or 3 times, because sometimes the first reading is innaccurate

[wjp01908]

Ideally you should not overfill the oil for a couple of reasons.

It can cause problems with leaks as extra oil is forced past seals and gaskets. In serious cases you can end up with the crankshaft in the oil - the spinning will whip it up into a foam, slowing the crankshaft and, as it`s difficult to pump foam, a drop in oil pressure.

That said, you`ll probably get away with minor overfilling as SoLaMaNdA suggests.

As for getting the oil out, you`ll be lucky if you can get just a litre out by undoing the sump plug - you`ll probably drop the plug and end up dumping the whole lot! - best just do an oil change and fill it properly.

It can be pumped out via the dipstick hole, but you`ll need a pump to do this.

Might be worth keeping an eye on the level for a while - if it goes up over time it may be being contaminated with something else such as water from the cooling system (probably with other symptoms though) or if your engine has a mechanical fuel pump on the engine, a split diaphragm can leak fuel into the crankcase.

Will

[Nisse]

Thanks for the replies.

I have checked it several times both with cold and hot engine and it seems that theres too much oil in it anyway. The weird thing is that the last owner said he had changed the oil and oil filter recently. Obviously he must have got the wrong info about the oil volyme.

Since the oil is quite new, can i drop out all oil in a bucket and then fill in it again but less so i get the right amount, or must i buy new oil ?

And about the oilplug, i really cant find a tool that fits in that weird hole (b200 engine).

Thanks alot

[5lab]

yeah you should be fine doing that

the plug should take a standard socket set plug - 1/2" i think from memory - just plug your socket wrench/extender in without a socket on the end..

when changing oil i find that you nearly always dont get all the oil out - i'd say about 1/2-1 litre stays in the engine somewhere, which needs to be taken into account when re-filling. i put 2 litres less than quoted in, run the engine then check the level and add more.

[wjp01908]

If it`s only a bit overfilled, it may be easiest to take the filter off and empty that.

Replace and run it a bit (DON`T thrash it!) until the filter fills and repeat as required. You should get about a third of a litre each time.

This is assuming some spanner monkey has not overtightened it though...

Bucket should be OK as long as it is spotless - you dont want bits of grit in your bearings and oilways.

If the plug is the same as on a B14, 5lab is correct and a 1/2 rachet handle will fit. May need a new copper washer.

Will

[RandomHero]

I have not red the whole topic. But you should check the oil of a 2 litrle engine when it is cold. The oil-level always is a little higher when the engine isn't absolutely cooled down.

Good luck!

[pettaw]

I've drained oil out before. The trick is to get the car nice and high on the axle stands, gently undo the sump plug whilst pushing UPWARDS on it until the threads are out, this stops it gushing out suddenly and you can control it.

You then release it and straight away put it back again. Don't worry about not getting enough, believe me, in that half second the plug is off and you struggle to get it back in against the flow, about 0.5 litres will have drained off.

Oh, its a 3/8 plug BTW, not a 1/2. I just use my 3/8 extension with no socket on.

[Nisse]

Ok thanks for all answers! This was a bit too complicated for me (i'm a real noob when it comes to engines) so i took it to the car mechanic, and he said eitherwise there is gasoline in the oil that has leaked from the choke and if this was he said i shall change oil, if not he'll just drop some oil.

[jtbo]

If there is gasoline in oil, then oil smells like gasoline and feels more water like. Oil in good shape will feel very slippery between fingers, if there is something else like gasoline mixed with oil, then fingers will have more friction and same goes with engine parts too and that is reason why to change oil if there is gasoline in it.

[bodejodel]

Simple test:

Take out the dipstick and hold a lighter under the tip.

Oil starts burning and wont stop --> Gasoline in oil.
Oil starts "boiling" and "popping" --> Water in oil.
Oil burns and fades out when lighter is removed --> Oil is just plain oil

Quite a good way to check the condition of an engine when buying a car.

[RandomHero]

And what happens if there appears to be gasoline in the oil and you put the dipstick back too fast!!?? Sorry, just kidding.... But it seems a good method though.

[bodejodel]

LOL... WOOSSSHHH!!!

Even if you put the stick back when it's burning nothing should happen.
There is probably not enough O2 and heat to ignite the gasoline in the carter...

[Nisse]

Hehe well smelling at the oil stick it definitivetly smells gas. I'll take it to the mech on monday. I'll update then