Too much oil!

Hello,

After changing my rocker cover gasket i took me golf for a drive, before i did though i topped it up with oil and being the tit that i am i didn't check the dip stick level, when driving it smoke came from the engine which may have been either due to spilt oil or could have been from this sealant i put on the gasket. When i got back i checked the oil and i'd put too much in. Any ideas what i've done and how much damage i've caused?

Is there any visual clue in the engine bay where excess oil has been burnt off? Is there an obvious oil stain?

Cheers,

Drew.

As far as i can tell there isn't, only round the rocker cover where it was leaking before and by the oil filter.

Assuming the engine is still running normally and not making any funny noises….

LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN FIRST!

Then I'd check the oil level by the dipstick, if it's too high, drain some out of the sump until it's the right level, and then get a bit of engine degreaser and clean up the existing spills.

Once you've done that you should be able to see if you have any current leaks more clearly. Run the engine and see how it is. A small leak won't harm anything over a short duration.

Unless you drastically overfilled the engine you should be ok.

Cheers,

Drew.

Perhaps you don't want to hear this story now, but a just before Xmas a chap I knew who worked for one of my customers topped up the oil in his Vectra.

He knows NOTHING about cars and filled the oil up until it was brim full at the rocker cover!! 8O

Needless to say, almost as soon as he started the engine a con-rod came busting through the side of the engine block! :lmao: I know I shouldn't laugh at the fact an oil topup cost him a new engine but it really was rather funny!

Engines can get damaged by too much oil, as well as too little, but if not too much over the top and you drain off hopefully you will be ok.

I could also recount the story of another old mate who topped his oil up via the dipstick tube!! His nickname is now 'dipstick!!'

Cheers
Andy

I worked with a guy about twenty years ago who had an old chevette shape Opel Kaddett (told you it was 20 years ago….) He topped up the oil via the dipstick hole, bought a small funnel to do it with :roll:

Then he bought my first car off me and within about the 1st 10 yards driving it reversed into my gate post on the way out of the drive…..

Then he turned up once in an old Datson that had holes everywhere and leaked petrol all over the road. Sold to him by a dealer, utter death trap, you just don't see cars like that being sold these days… I hope

Haha i have to say you do have to be a true genius to top up the oil via the dipstick!

Cheers for the replies, its only marginally over, well was marginally over as there's a reasonably sized puddle of oil on my driveway now! I suppose the extra pressure caused the leak and as soon as i've found it i'll prob be back asking how to fix it! Having owned my golf for 5 months now i have come to realise that you can't go five minutes without having to fix something, its worth it though of course!

penny said

Having owned my golf for 5 months now i have come to realise that you can't go five minutes without having to fix something, its worth it though of course!

Ah… the first level of enlightenment has been reached! :wink:

Cheers,

Drew.

penny wrote:
Having owned my golf for 5 months now i have come to realise that you can't go five minutes without having to fix something, its worth it though of course!


Ah… the first level of enlightenment has been reached! Wink

Amen Brother!