Overfilling oil while away due to Gustav

My Windstar saved me again. This is the 2nd big long trip with the new Jasper engine and again aside from the "near stall" problem when I turn off the a/c (turn off the radiator fans) the van has run absolutely wonderfully for evacuation. It took us 12 hours to get from I-55 / I-10 junction to Birmingham, AL on Sunday, but thats another story.

My question now is about the overfilling of the oil. I had the oil changed today because I'm supposed to do so for the new engine after 500 miles. I'm probably at approximately 800 miles. Had them put in 5W-20 (hope they didn't lie) and of course as always no shop fills to the right amount.... always either under or over. Its over the line at the last "L" on the word "<---FULL" - By my estimates thats anywhere from 1/2 to 1 qt overfilled. I don't have tools with me or else I'd drain it myself. What ya'll think? Should I drive it over there tomorrow and have'm drain it? I have about a 500 mile trip back home "whenever" so if I understand correctly with the oil overfull it'll choke the PCV won't it? What else would it do?

searcherrr

I have many times overfilled my windstar by .5 qt ie. putting in 5 qts instead of 4.5 without a problem. The additional oil isn't enough to cause a probem..that is it doesn't touch the crank and get wiped up causing foaming.

Regards

Dan

I have been putting the full 5 quarts in for well over 150K miles......and it is not a problem.
I read someplace that this is not a problem....but don't know where.
The official capacity is 4.5 quarts.

1/2 quart over will put you on the last letter......closest to the cross hatch area for the full range.
Now when it starts into the other letters .....you are pushing it.

In other words....more than 5 quarts is not a good idea.
As this is your first oil change......you most likely don't have a point of reference for where this is on your dip stick......so if uncertain.....you could always drain a SMALL bit out and see how it is.....
But my gut feel is that if you are not above 1 letter....more is bad.

The dipstick looks like this on mine:

.XXXXX. <---FULL

. = the dots on the stick
X = the shaded areas on the stick

My level is at: .XXXXX. <---FULL

The BOLDED last L on the word FULL on the stick is where the level stops. So ya'll are saying thats 5 qts or more than 5?

I had gone out and looked at my dipstick......while working on my response last night.
I know that there are some differences between years........but my dipstick has a lot of real estate between the full mark and that last L in Full.
That's why I stressed only 1 letter closest to the "Full" indicater.
My dipstick has the cross hatch area with a small hole at each end.....for low and full.
Your motor being a rebuild might be another variable.......
I am guessing that you have checked the oil a time or so......and have that point of reference in your mind......
To be safe.....I would return and ask them to remove some oil.
Then, when you change your oil and filter next time......take a look after running the motor......and make a mental note of where 5 quarts comes out on your dipstick.

To be safe.....I would return and ask them to remove some oil.
Then, when you change your oil and filter next time......take a look after running the motor......and make a mental note of where 5 quarts comes out on your dipstick.

I like that idea. To be safe. I like things being to spec especially with a new engine. As I recall filling with 4.5 qts puts it exactly at the FULL "DOT" where its supposed to be.

My ex gf's 1.6 liter Sentra was overfilled once about 3/4 a qt and it caused all kinds of problems. Her lower oil pan seal went on it and the upper valve cover seal and the PCV was choking on oil. Granted that was a much smaller engine and could take only so much over (less so than my winny) I still like things to be spec.

Well, i'm still evacuated and set for returning home tomorrow though I don't want to go yet cause we are still without many services including electricity at home.

Anyway i thought I'd update ya'll on this oil thing and cite the exact reason I prefer to have a trusted shop or do all my work myself. I brought the van back today to have the .5 qt of engine oil drained and guess what they did? They instead drained .5 qt of transmission oil. I noticed it immediately when driving around town out here..... again these trannies are extremely sensitive. Went to check the tranny fluid and sure enough it was exactly .5 qt low. I don't know what kind of crack the guy was smoking, but he either didn't know the tranny pan from the oil pan or was just trying to give me more trouble. I didn't drive far before topping it off myself and I'm gonna leave the engine oil alone till I can get home to drain it myself too.

A "clean" way to remove a little bit of engine oil is to feed a plastic or rubber hose down the dipstick tube and draw out the excess oil through the hose. If you know how to siphon, then that's the simplest. Only a small hose will fit, but you don't need much flow. If you have a clean, empty oil bottle, you can use that as a receptical and reuse the oil if you desire.

my moms winstar takes 5 quarts i thought it only held 4.5 quarts. but when i read dipstick on 4.5 it's low. but it's worse to over fill them. if any thing you need to run it lower on oil or it can hurt your seals.