What Happens If You Put Too Much Oil in Your Car?

For most of us, vehicle maintenance consists of putting air in our tires, topping up the windshield washer fluid, and getting our vehicle in for regular (or semi-regular) oil changes. However, sometimes, especially on older vehicles, we need to top up our oil between changes. But what happens if you put too much oil in your car?

Today’s blog post is about what happens if you put too much oil in your car, and what to do about the potential ramifications of that. Whether you’re facing engine damage, performance issues, or vehicle overheating issues, we’ll advise you on what to look out for, and what to do about it.

We are an experienced scrap car removal company that has been buying scrap cars in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley since 2005. We have seen many vehicles suffer catastrophic damage from having too much oil put into the reservoir. This blog post is based off of our firsthand observations and experience.

What Happens When You Overfill the Oil on Your Car?

Virtually any vehicle owner knows that oil is crucial for a vehicle to run smoothly. Its primary function is to keep the moving components of your vehicle’s engine working effectively with little to no friction.

By changing your oil regularly, your vehicle performs better, pollutes less, and even gets better gas mileage. So, oil is a big deal, that’s undeniable. But what happens if you accidentally put in too much oil?

Generally, most oil changes are performed at your local mechanic’s or a specific oil change shop. However, if you’re topping up your oil due to a leak, your engine burning oil, or simply because you are preparing or a road trip, it can be easy to overfill it.

We will discuss what happens to your vehicle if you overfill your oil, what the signs and symptoms are of overfilled oil, and what to do about it in today’s blog post.

What Are the Symptoms That Your Car Has Too Much Oil in It?

Just like any mechanical defect, electrical problem, or general vehicle malfunction, having too much oil in your car will come with warning signs and obvious symptoms. However, if you don’t know that you’ve overfilled your oil, the signs may not be as obvious.

Below we have outlined what to look for if your vehicle has too much oil in it. If you’ve experiencing any of the signs and symptoms that are outlined below, take a few minutes to check your oil levels before hitting the road again.

Signs You Put Too Much Oil in Your Car

1. Oil Level Is Higher Than Max on Dipstick

It may seem obvious that if your oil is too full, that you’ll see it on your dipstick. However, if you don’t know how to properly check your oil, you may not even be able to see the fill line.

Additionally, sometimes the lines can be faded and worn on older vehicles, making it even more difficult to discern when to stop filling your oil. Be sure to check your oil in an area with good lighting to ensure you’re getting the most accurate reading possible.

2. Engine Oil Is Foamy

This can happen easily if you overfill your oil because when your oil is over full, it can get whipped by the crankshaft. This causes it to foam up because of the additives and lubrication properties of typical engine oil.

This is one of the most common signs that your engine oil is over full. Moreover, it typically indicates that it is excessively over full. Extremely excessive oil can cause serious engine damage.

So, if you see froth or foam in your oil, get your car inspected a.s.a.p. by a professional like our friends at The Great Canadian Oil Change in Coquitlam.

3. A Distinct Burning Smell Coming from Your Engine

Older vehicles have a tendency to have all sorts of weird and unusual odors to them. Sometimes it’s from mould or mildew caused by leaks. Other times, it’s coming from the engine or transmission. Which is the case when you put too much oil in your car.

When the oil reservoir gets overfilled, the excess oil can leak onto neighbouring parts. Those parts run hot when the engine is running, because, like the engine itself, they are comprised of many moving parts.

When the spilled oil heats up on these parts, it has a very noticeable odor. A bold burning smell that is unlike other burning smells that can come from driving an aging vehicle, or one that has high mileage.

4. Blue or White Smoke Coming from the Exhaust

Another clear indicator that you’ve overfilled the oil on your car is blue or white smoke coming from the exhaust pipes.

This can, however, also be an indicator of other issues involving your engine, so be sure to check your oil levels and consult a mechanic before making a definitive decision about whether or not the issue relates strictly to having too much oil.

We’ve seen many vehicles with high mileage or cars with age stacked against them that have various engine issues that were not relating to the oil being overfilled.

Regardless of what kind of engine issues you’re having, we’ll pay you MORE cash for cars with engine issues than any other scrap car removal company in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

5. Oil Pressure Warning Light Illuminated

One of the great things about ever-advancing automotive technology is that there’s almost a warning light for everything nowadays.

And although most mechanical or electrical issues are indicated through the check engine light, there is a separate warning light for issues relating specifically to oil pressure.

And this will become illuminated on your dash if your oil is over full or there are any other kinds of issues pertaining to your oil pressure.

6. New or Worsening Oil Leaks

Have you noticed that old oil stain in your garage getting bigger? Perhaps showing signs of new oil drippings?

Have people even commented on how something seems to be leaking from your vehicle wherever you go? If so, you could have an oil leak that is caused by putting too much oil in your vehicle.

When your oil receptacle gets overfilled, it can cause nearby gaskets and seals to fail due to the excessive strain on them.

What To Do If You Overfilled the Oil on Your Car

If you suspect that you’ve overfilled the oil on your car, there are a few critical decisions to make moving forward. Factoring in how full the oil is, what damage may or may not have occurred, and the age of your vehicle is important.

Step 1: Check Your Oil Levels

If you don’t know where your oil levels are at, it can be tough to establish if the symptoms your vehicle is showing are the cause of overfilled oil.

So, naturally, the first step is to check your oil levels on your car. Because you might think your oil is too full because of the signs you’ve noticed. However, there could be other mechanical issues going on that are not related to too much oil being in your car.

For the more novice vehicle owners, we’ve included a detailed outline of how to properly check your oil on your car a little further down this blog post 😉

At More Cash For Scrap, we have purchased many vehicles with dead engines, fire damage, recurrent oil leaks, and even exhaust system issues. So, if your vehicle is suffering from any of these things, whether caused by too much oil or not, give our scrap car removal team a call.

Step 2: Drain Any Excess Oil

For those that are mechanically savvy, you can watch a quick YouTube tutorial on how to drain excess oil out of a car. Be sure to have plenty of rags handy, an oil receptacle for the excess oil you drain out, and an oil pan to catch the falling oil.

For those that are not so mechanically inclined when it comes to vehicles, consult a mechanic promptly.

We’ve seen many DIY-ers destroy their aging vehicles by trying to perform even the simplest home repairs themselves. Do NOT attempt if you’re not familiar with vehicle mechanics!

Step 3: Consult a Professional Mechanic

Even if you were able to check and drain the excess oil out of your car yourself, it’s imperative that you have a professional assess your vehicle for any long-term damage. Only a licensed and professional mechanic can tell you the true gravity of any damage that your vehicle has incurred due to having too much oil in it.

How Do I Check the Oil on My Car?

The best way to ensure that you are checking your vehicle’s oil levels properly is to ensure that your vehicle is turned off and has been turned off for at least 5-10 minutes. Because as a vehicle runs, the engine heats up. This residual heat causes the oil to expand and can impact the reading on your dipstick.

After ensuring your vehicle’s engine has cooled, remove the dipstick from the reservoir. Then, immediately wipe the dipstick dry with a piece of paper towel or a clean shop rag.

After doing so, dip the dipstick back into the reservoir all the way to the bottom (you should feel resistance when you’ve reached the end).

Then, pull it back out and see if the oil line aligns within the minimum and maximum line. If it does, you’re in the clear. If it’s too high or too low, address accordingly.

What Can Get Damaged from Putting Too Much Oil in a Car?

Vehicles are complex pieces of machinery. And despite how durable they may first appear; there are actually many delicate and easily worn components that can be affected badly by putting too much oil in your car.

Damage From Putting Too Much Oil in Your Car Includes:

• Complete engine failure
• Engine misfires
• Malfunctioning and failed spark plugs (which causes the misfires)
• Worn or damaged seals and gaskets causing leaks
• Exhaust system issues
• Increased emissions
• Engine vibration
• Engine overheating
• Engine fires from overflowing or spilled oil

In older vehicles especially, it’s not uncommon to scrap a vehicle due to engine damage or catastrophic failure. Which is why at More Cash For Scrap, we pay MORE cash for scrap cars with engine damage than any other scrap car removal company in the Lower Mainland.

Cash for Cars with Engine Failure or Mechanical Issues

Whether your vehicle’s mechanical issues were caused by putting too much oil in your car, from excessively high mileage, or simply age, you’ll get the best price for it at More Cash For Scrap.

We pay MORE cash for scrap cars with all sorts of mechanical issues. Whether your vehicle has a dead engine, mild engine damage, has had an engine fire, needs a new transmission, or anything in between, we can help.

Call or text our scrap car removal team today to discuss the details of what your vehicle suffers from, and how much it might be worth. We offer MORE customer service. MORE flexible scrap car removal times. And we pay MORE cash for scrap cars than the other guys!