I have been online all night and I am really starting to freak out about what I did. My engine light came on. I was over due for my oil change by a month and the last time the guy said my oil was a quart low. I checked the oil stick and it really looked like it was WAY low. So I went to the store (I borrowed a friends car) and bought the 5 quart bottle of the appropriate oil and put it in...very slowly so I would not over fill it. Well, it took the whole 5 quarts! Thank goodness I did not drive the car. I thought I should let the engine 'absorb' all that oil. Well, I couldn't sleep because I was nervous about what I did, and here I am. I have read about different reasons the engine light came on. I also read that too much oil is bad and how could I have gotten that much oil in the car! Yes, I am blonde, but I think this is one of the dumbest things I have ever done. Can I undo this in some way? Thank you for any help.

 

have some one drain the oil tank right where you car is now...have it jacked up and get some one under the car and drain the oil tank completely...then refill it with the right amount of quarts for the engine....

even if your engine had the optimal amount of oil...anyone can empty 5 more quarts of oil into it...the compartment where the oil goes is a bit big...but the engine only requires about 4 or 5 quarts of oil.....

don't run your engine with that much oil in it...and you indicated that you needed an oil change from the start and never did it...so you mixed dirty oil with clean oil...

 

Thank you! I will never do that again (or mix dirty oil with clean). I truly appreciate your help.

 

really dude, did you call it an oil tank?

that makes baby jesus cry.

 

Your problem wasn’t that you added clean oil to dirty oil, your problem was that you added way too much clean oil – so much that it was overfull. But since the car hasn't been running, no harm was done.

The next time you want to add oil, just add enough so that the dipstick says that the oil level is full. Be sure to clean the dipstick between readings, and only add a half quart of oil or so between readings.

And yes, just do an oil change right where the car is located. This will involve draining all of the oil and replacing the filter, then adding the proper amount of oil back into the engine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by reikoshea &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">really dude, did you call it an oil tank?

that makes baby jesus cry.</TD></TR></TABLE>

hahahaha...oil tank, wheres that at?

 

Whats the big secret about the year and model of this car?

 

oil tank.....geeezzzz... i was really tired when i typed that reply....heh.

i mean seriously "tech-nics"

"smacks himself two times"

 

Hi...It is a honda accord lx 97. Sorry bout that. I am new at this, so I just put the make and model in my profile and thought that would be ok. But anyway, thank you all who posted. A girlfriend (surprizing me with her floor jack) and I changed the oil and the filter as suggested. I am still nervous about driving it, so I am letting it sit over night. I read my manual (should have done that first) and we checked the other fluid levels and added some coolant. I would not suggest learning about your car this way, but hey, this is a great forum! xoxox

 

good luck....

 

what a cute "girl mistake". if my gf did that I would love it, even the fact that you tried to do something yourself makes it cute. "It took all of the extra 5 qts!" hahahahaha

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onceabunny &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would not suggest learning about your car this way</TD></TR></TABLE>
Actually you're learning in the best way. You'll never make that mistake again!

My best knowledge has been gained from my mistakes.

Welcome to the board!

 

you must be a sweet boyfriend!

 

Don't I know about learning the hard way! And thank you all! I will let you know how it drives after working the weekend shift. The 'check engine' light is still on. I hope it is minor. I just bought 4 new tires that were not in the budget. xoxo

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onceabunny &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you must be a sweet boyfriend!</TD></TR></TABLE>
awww... &lt;blushes&gt; LOL

you can take your car to autozone (or the like) and they'll read that check engine light for free. have them check it out and let us know the code.

 

always use dipstick to guage the amount as you fill, if you change the filter, account for that as well.

make sure the car is level.

 

i'm sure someone posted this, but to check your oil level remove the oil dipstick and you'll see the 2 holes on the dipstick make sure your oil level is between the 2 holes then you'll be fine. EASY AS PIE

 

O ****, if your check engine light is still on DO NOT DRIVE IT! have someone connect an oil pressure gauge to your oil pressure switct, to indicate your oil pump is pumping oil (located above your oil filter), most likely your oil pump isn't pumpping oil. good luck