Overfilled with engine oil

[GenY]

Can any please tell me the ramification of a 3.0L D4D engine being overfilled with around 5-6L of oil? I dropped my oil other weekend to be unpleasantly surprised with an overflowing bucket when it should have only filled up 3/4 of the way....

The last oil change wasn't done by myself and was about 10,000km ago.

[Actilux]

They take just under 7lt from memory, how big was your bucket?

[GenY]

10L bucket with the 10L indicator stopping about 20mm from the top, it overfilled that and then some into another bucket I grabbed. I'm guessing about another 2-3L into the second bucket, it was a bit hard to tell as it had some water in it that I didn't get time to tip out.

[rory18]

Well, if no damage has occurred already after 10,000km you probably are ok.

[boxhead55]

I would be a little concerned with possible leaking injector lines. I have seen it before. Change the oil and monitor it closely. If it increases oil level again most likely cause is a leaking fuel return line or seal.

[GenY]

Soo is what you're saying Boxhead (just trying to understand) the amount of oil dropped which was excessive might be due to fuel getting in?
Would an injector scan pick anything up or is it irrelevant? One was done two days after oil change and they ehere within speck.

[Bullzye]

No a scan might not show it, i would be getting oil sampled and checking for fuel dilution. Also check your radiater level and that the water is not black and even pull the rocker cover off and check to see if it looks washed underneath.

[GenY]

Ok thanks. Where/who does the sampling?

[dazzah]

I would have a bit of experimenting while you sort something out...grab a glass jar and pour some of the old oil in it and let it sit over night...see if any water separates...it works well with clean oil but I've never tried it with old oil...you may see some water sitting at the bottom under the oil...not sure on specific gravities but I think the fuel will float on the oil (someone else might know this)...so hopefully you will see the different layers in the jar...
Also try have a race down a slope (a bit of plastic) with new oil and old oil to see how the flow rates compare...might give you an idea of how diluted the old oil is if it flows a lot quicker...
I'm just putting this out there to have a play...one way I learn stuff...this won't give you the exact answer that a laboratory test will give but might give you an idea of what might be happening.

[fourby4diesel]

You can use the scan tool & run a leak test, it might show up.
Definitely monitor this.
Had injectors worked on lately?

[GenY]

I don't know whether it was just a mistake at last oil change and too much oil was originally put in, or something else as suggested is happening. No work on the injectors. Just had the 150,000km service done last Monday, (I did the oil and minor things) and the mechanic did new timing belt, water pump, replace tappets (which he said were in good condition anyway) and calve clearance check along with the injector scan. He also made a comment in asking what oil did I use and did I change it every 5000km as it was so clean (I'm assuming he meant the intake or something?) I just the sump pickup at oil change as well and it was clean.
Thanks for the ideas so far, I well get onto it.

[GeeBung]

What about the simple old test for diesel in the oil.

Pull dipstick out and drag it across the back of your hand leaving a line of oil. If it stays in a fairly neat line then your good. However if it runs / spreads away from that line across your skin then fair chance theres diesel in it.

It's not a fancy test but it will give you a pretty good idea.

[07luxyTD]

Bout $60 to have an oil sample done, will tell you alot more then if theres diesel in the oil aswell

[andy666]

It won't be water in in the oil. When water gets in the oil it goes milky.
It could be diesel in the oil. If there is 5l of diesel in the oil it will be a LOT thinner then standard oil. Almost like water thin. You should easily be able to tell by comparing it to some new oil.
Just be check the level regularly and see if it changes. Check it when then engine is cold and it has sat for a few hours, so all the oil has run back to the sump.
Oh, also. Diesel and engine oil won't separate if left to sit in a jar.

[martynvella]

lots of reasons why the level might be high, but nobody has attempted to answer his original question which I am interested in finding out, what damage might have been done by over filling or fuel dilution?

[mattwhite]

Obviously diluted oil won't lubricate as well as it should but the rate of wear is anyone's guess. Overful oil can get slapped by the crankshaft which will aerate it, again, effecting lubrication. If the oil is diluted, and left unchecked the engine may start to run on it's oil and rev itself to destruction.

[andy666]

^^ what he said

[Pazz01]

Obviously diluted oil won't lubricate as well as it should but the rate of wear is anyone's guess. Overful oil can get slapped by the crankshaft which will aerate it, again, effecting lubrication. If the oil is diluted, and left unchecked the engine may start to run on it's oil and rev itself to destruction.

A friend of mine had an 80 series turbo that this happened to. His mrs went to drive up the road and it started reving it's ring off. He heard it and knew straight away what was happening, ran up and tried to jam it into gear to stall it but didn't work. Had to drop the fuel line until it ran out. Obviously it was stuffed. He said the noise of a diesel engine reving flat out is incredible.

[fourby4diesel]

I don't know whether it was just a mistake at last oil change and too much oil was originally put in, or something else as suggested is happening. No work on the injectors. Just had the 150,000km service done last Monday, (I did the oil and minor things) and the mechanic did new timing belt, water pump, replace tappets (which he said were in good condition anyway) and calve clearance check along with the injector scan. He also made a comment in asking what oil did I use and did I change it every 5000km as it was so clean (I'm assuming he meant the intake or something?) I just the sump pickup at oil change as well and it was clean.
Thanks for the ideas so far, I well get onto it.

Well if that's what they have done, they have been inside, around injectors, may have removed pipe?
Whether it was overfilled or the work caused a leak, not good.

Overfilling can cause pressure & pop seals, also oil can get to places it's not wanted, like the intake system, if it didnt happen that is good.

[Rattle]

G'day,

Any luck in finding a resolution with this one?