Too Much Oil...

[Spinal]

Need some quick advice... my best friends girlfriend is a petrolhead... and a VERY attached to her car...

As she flew to Poland (to spend Christmas with her family) she asked him to check the oil and top it up.

He checked the dipstick, noticed the oil at the lower end of the scale (though not under the minimum) so decided to top it up.

He went to Halfords, bought a 4-5liter can of oil and proceeded to pour the whole thing into the engine before driving 20 miles to my house.

By the time he got here, there was a very distinct smell of burning oil... the dipstick has oil 4x higher than the maximum...

So, the oil has frothed up I'm assuming... I've let the car sit for a night...

Am I right in thinking, drain the oil - get it down to reasonable levels, then change the air filter and hope he hasn't done any permanent damage?

Or is there something else I should do?

M.

 

[grober]

Buy a Pela oil extractor and suck out the oil thro the dipstick pipe. Pela Oil Extractor Pump, Tools, Repair Kits & Fixings | Mailspeed Marine

With care you can do this without changing out of your dinner jacket!

 

[Spinal]

I've kept his car here overnight... and am leaving for the desert tonight... so buying things won't work

I'm going to drain some oil today before leaving (just as soon as I can find a 20mm socket) then tell him to drive the car to halfords tomorrow and ask them to change his air filter...

M.

 

[Reedswood]

if it's a Ford, it'll burn off quickly ...seriously though, I'd drain it off, and refill according to the Manufacturer's allowance/spec! Whilst you're down there, it would be sensible to change the Filter at the same time!

Good luck!

 

[Spinal]

Ironic you say ford... it is

 

[grober]

Whip off the air cleaner lid its usually only a few overcentre clips-will take all of 5 minutes and have a quick look at the air filter it may well be unscathed- if it is you have saved your friend an unnecessary trip to Halfords. Save the oil you drain off in a clean container for "fine tuning" the oil level supposing you drain off a little too much. People are paranoid about filling engine oil up to the full level on the dip stick. If the engine is not using oil then 1/2 way between min and max level is fine when cold.