Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

Engine oil lubricates, cools, cleans and cushions the various moving parts of the engine.

By Abhinand V

Most of us know the functions of the engine oil. In case you don't, the engine oil lubricates the moving parts, avoids overheating, cleans the parts from soot (a thick black mixture of oil and smoke), and cushions the joints of the engine.

If you know a thing or two about cars, you might also know how to check the engine oil level. To check it, pull out the dipstick (when the engine is cold), wipe it clean, insert it back again. Once again, pull out the dipstick and look at its tip. There will two markings, one above the other. If the oil stains the top marking, you are good to go. If it stains below the bottom marking, you need to fill up.

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Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

But what will happen if you overfill the engine oil? If you think there is nothing to worry about, you are wrong. Overfilling the engine with oil causes more issues than you would expect.

The Problems

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

If you add excess oil in your car, the symptoms might not show up all of a sudden. But inside the engine, the crankshaft will be submerged in excess oil. Pouring excess oil into the engine would also invite more air into the engine chamber. The air+oil mixture, along with the fast rotating crankshaft, will produce foam. Foam degrades the lubricating capacity of the engine oil at a large scale.

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

Hence, due to the inefficient lubrication, the engine temperature will start to rise. If not checked, the high temperatures might cause an engine lock. Engine lock is a phenomenon in which the moving parts, especially the pistons, expand due to high temperatures and cannot move freely.

The Symptoms

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

If your car emits too much white smoke (with a blue or grey tint), chances for excess engine oil are high. White smoke is produced (generally) when oil creeps into the combustion chamber and burns. The vapours produced are emitted as the smoke.

How To Check If You've Overfilled The Engine Oil

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

If you notice the above mentioned unusual smoke coming out from your car, keep the engine running for some time. After the engine gets warm, check the dipstick oil level. If oil stains above the top marking, it is evident that the engine is running on excess oil.

How To Remove The Excess Oil

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

To drain the oil, we have to actually get under the car and remove the oil plug attached to the bottom of the engine. If you cannot locate the oil plug, refer the owner's manual. Using a suitable spanner from the toolkit, slowly untighten the plug till oil starts to drip slowly. Continue this until the oil level drops to normal. Check this using the dipstick.

Oil will be dark and dirty, so make sure that you have a suitable pan to prevent the oil from staining the floor.

Thoughts On Overfilling The Car With Excess Engine Oil

Is Engine Oil Overfilling Bad For Your Car? — Find Out The Problems Of Overfilling The Engine Oil

As told at the beginning, the engine oil serves various purposes such as lubricating, cooling, cleaning and cushioning the moving components of the engine. An automobile engine works efficiently in an optimal condition. Anything above or below that optimal range would prove harmful for the engine. So, next time you fill up the engine oil, make sure you keep it at its optimal level.

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Read more on: #tips
Article Published On: Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 11:42 [IST]
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