Too much motor oil?

[Mermaidman]

Had oil changed last week. Checked dipstick this morning (cold engine). When I first removed the dipstick, it was coated in oil. Cleaned it off, and the oil is about one inch beyond the high mark.
1) Any other way to verify that there's way too much oil?
2) How bad is over filling with motor oil? I have driven about 100+ miles since the oil change

The engine seems to be making a sewing-machine noise that wasn't there before the oil change, but I attributed it to my imagination. Could too much oil cause that sound?

edit: Thanks Jimzz - It's an Olds Aurora with the 4.0 V8 based on the Northstar. Amazingly, not recalled by GM. 😀

Update: I took it to the shop and they extracted "a little" oil, with apologies. Checked level a couple of times since then and it's now in-range, on the high side. It's unlikely I'll return to this shop. The previous oil change, they lied about rotating my tires . . . (I have one "ugly" tire, so I know very well whether it was moved or not!)

 

[Jimzz]

A little above the high is ok but if its truly an inch it needs to be drained to the max mark on the dipstick.

The problem is many OHC cars drain oil from the head slower than older OHV so many keep topping the oil off without letting it sit a minute to get a better read.

Not sure about the sound as you have not told us the year, make, model, and engine.

EDIT:
Yea for that motor I would drain if its really over filled that much. Those motors, northstars, were slow to drain from the head so that may be why it was over filled. I usually changed the oil and then checked other stuff before checking the level.
Just make sure its on a flat surface.

 

[michal1980]

Did you change it? or did someone else?

If it was someone else I'd take it back there so they can drain it, try to get them to acknowledge the mistake, because it can mess up the engine

 

[Mermaidman]

Did you change it? or did someone else?

If it was someone else I'd take it back there so they can drain it, try to get them to acknowledge the mistake, because it can mess up the engine

It was done at a local auto repair chain, not cheap either! They are a couple steps above Jiffy Lube, or so I thought. 😵

 

[kitatech]

Most dipsticks' range from L to F is 1", and that 1" = 1 quart...so if yours is over by 1" that's 1 quart too much...by a lot...

One reason I give the mechanic a premeasured jug of oil.

 

[Mermaidman]

Most dipsticks' range from L to F is 1", and that 1" = 1 quart...so if yours is over by 1" that's 1 quart too much...by a lot...

One reason I give the mechanic a premeasured jug of oil.

Well it depends on how much oil they drain out, doesn't it? 😛

I'll have to take the car back to the shop. Will have to drive the Other Car until then.

 

[Raizinman]

What does your receipt say? Last Aurora I did with the Northstar took 7.5 quarts with a filter change. Most shops who have a starndard price of say $39.95 include only 5 quarts of oil and then will charge perhaps $3.50 for each additional quart. Does the receipt say 7.5 or 8.5 quarts of oil?

 

[kitatech]

Well it depends on how much oil they drain out, doesn't it? 😛

No, not really....any oil left in would be a matter of drops not ounces, let alone a quart....I refuse to be linked to internet freakout paranoia.

 

[silicon]

Had oil changed last week. Checked dipstick this morning (cold engine). When I first removed the dipstick, it was coated in oil. Cleaned it off, and the oil is about one inch beyond the high mark.
1) Any other way to verify that there's way too much oil?
2) How bad is over filling with motor oil? I have driven about 100+ miles since the oil change

The engine seems to be making a sewing-machine noise that wasn't there before the oil change, but I attributed it to my imagination. Could too much oil cause that sound?

edit: Thanks Jimzz - It's an Olds Aurora with the 4.0 V8 based on the Northstar. Amazingly, not recalled by GM. 😀

From your receipt how much oil was put in the motor?
What does the owners manual say is the correct amount?
Is the car on a level surface when the oil was checked?
Does the oil smell like gasoline?...possible oil dilution from gas going into the oil
Did they replace the filter? Or did they use the same filter but add the amount of oil as if it had been changed? Thus overfilling.

 

[BUTCH1]

My dealership did that to me once, overfilled by a full quart, I brought it back and made them correct it..

 

[master_shake_]

Had oil changed last week. Checked dipstick this morning (cold engine). When I first removed the dipstick, it was coated in oil. Cleaned it off, and the oil is about one inch beyond the high mark.
1) Any other way to verify that there's way too much oil?
2) How bad is over filling with motor oil? I have driven about 100+ miles since the oil change

The engine seems to be making a sewing-machine noise that wasn't there before the oil change, but I attributed it to my imagination. Could too much oil cause that sound?

edit: Thanks Jimzz - It's an Olds Aurora with the 4.0 V8 based on the Northstar. Amazingly, not recalled by GM. 😀

there was a recall on those engines in the late 90's, nylon fuel lines for the injectors cracked and leaked then they burst in to flames.

😛

 

[996GT2]

Overfilling by up to 1/2 quart is most likely no problem, but in your case it seems to be more than that, so I'd go back and ask them to drain some out.

If it's overfilled enough, the oil can foam up from the crankshaft hitting it. Not a good situation.