North American Turbocoupe Organization



Overfilled the oil
unclefalter Offline
Member
#1
Okay I did do a search on this and didn't come up with anything.. so nobody shoot me ok? Smile

My car indicated I had low oil which was confirmed with the dipstick, which measured just under the add 1 qt mark. So I did as it directed, adding actually much less than 1 qt, and now it is reading at well over the full line (like, 1/4" or more).

I really need to drive it tonight and don't have what I need to drain and do over -- will it wreck the engine to run it around for some errands? I've gotten different opinions on this before as I had it happen with my Jeep once.

Thanks guys

Brad
88 TC 5spd - Black/Raven
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Ryan H Offline
Posting Freak
#2
How about this:

1. Jack the front end up & support with jack stands, or use tire ramps and blocks. Make sure its in gear/parking brake on.

2. Position drain under drain plug. Empty the oil. Replace plug.

3. Proceed to add 5 quarts to the crankcase.

Clean everything up and park the car where you normally check the dipstick. It may or may not be level, or the dipstick may not be right. I think some of them got recalled. Check the level. If it reads high/low, disregard it and make a new mark where it reads. Use this mark for when you are parked in that particular space, I assume your driveway or garage.

I would also drive to the nearest known LEVEL location and check the stick again.
'88 TC Smile Walbro 255HP, Stinger FMIC, PIT BOV, Pro 5.0, Kirban, RR cam, FRPP strut tower brace, T3
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#3
The problem with overfill is that the oil may e more prone to be aireated (sp), ie whipped (by the rotating crank) into a froth and then this froth gets pumped through the system rather than good solid oil. That the theory of it. If you absolutely can't drain some out, then drive it at the lowest rpms possible until you get someplace where draining some out is feasible.
Pete Dunham


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unclefalter Offline
Member
#4
Hey there...

Yeah, in my panic I tried to open the drain plug and drain some into my oil drain, but the good folks at the dealership tightened the thing so hard I couldn't even budge it.

I forgot to mention in my post what should have been my main question: how is it that the oil level is showing under the 'add 1 qt' mark, I add LESS than 1 qt, and it goes OVER the Full line?

The other thing is, the oil light came on after I just topped it up and parked it... there is no pool under the car where it had been parked and no evidence of an oil leak, except at the valve cover, at all. I'm totally puzzled here. I'm not getting any smoking or oily smells like you normally get with a siginificant oil leak.
88 TC 5spd - Black/Raven
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unclefalter Offline
Member
#5
One more thing... the car is parked in a carport and I have verified to the best of my ability that it is perfectly level.
88 TC 5spd - Black/Raven
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#6
I don't have all the details but there were some TC that got out of the factory with the wrong dip sticks. Whethter this is what is going on with your car I don't know. http://natomessageboard.com/cgi-bin/ulti...528#000005

It is also possible that the dipstick tube is not fully seated in your car and this will affect the readings although it doesn't explain going from 1 quart under to over full. Is your dip stick tube bolted to the brackeet on the lower intake?

As for the light coming on, I'm not sure on that.

The next time you get an oil change, put exactly 5 quarts total in it, run it to fill the filter, let it set, then pull the dipstick and mark where the oil line is and use that as the actual "full" mark
Pete Dunham


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Michael Jordan Offline
Senior Member
#7
That's pretty much what mine has done. Everytime I do an oil change I put a 5 Qt. jug of Mobil 1 in and I get about 1/2 Qt low reading on the dipstick, so I just make that my full point. I don't know why this happens but I think my dipstick doesn't seat all the way.

MJ
1986 TC stock with full option package. K&N, DIY boost valve at 14 psi, Walbro 255.
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#8
how long are you waiting before checking the oil? I've found a cold motor and cold oil takes a while for the oil to make it to the pan. 5 quarts is pretty clear in the manual; regardless of dipstick readings. I don't even bother checking it until I've heated the car up and the oil filter is full. Then I let it sit a bit and check it.
Sold it Sad*
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unclefalter Offline
Member
#9
I just checked it this morning after driving it and it's at the same point as before.

This 'leak' is not consistent. It seems like you can go a week without losing any oil, and then park it overnight, and suddenly 1 qt is gone. Not on the pavement or engine.. just gone. Everything looks like it's fitted right though...

I do see some oil staining on the front left side of the engine (if you're facing it) that looks like it was coming from the valve cover gasket. But it looks fairly old.

It's always something with a Ford. Smile
88 TC 5spd - Black/Raven
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Ryan H Offline
Posting Freak
#10
Maybe you have an oil thief. Big Grin
'88 TC Smile Walbro 255HP, Stinger FMIC, PIT BOV, Pro 5.0, Kirban, RR cam, FRPP strut tower brace, T3
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