Not accord related, but I know there are some REAL mechanics in here.

What would happen if you had too much oil in a motor. 6.5 quarts to be exact. Motor wasn't started or ran, but was cranked over 2 or 3 times.

I don't think that anything bad would happen, but I wanted a second opinion.

And if it was ran, what would be the damage to the motor? blown gaskets and seals only, correct? how long would it have to run before a problem would develop. like in a few mins time running, or would it have to run for a while?


My GF went out to her 02 Nissan spec-v and it wouldn't start. cranked over, but wouldn't start. knowing just enough to be a danger to herself, she checked the oil... while parked on a hill. it read way low, so she added 2 qts Of course, the car still does not start, just cranks. I told her to call her roadside assistance, but DO NOT run the car without drining oil out. roadside assistance tows the car to the dealer, but told her to call the dealer to let them know the car was coming, and tell them about the oil level. she called the dealer and the woman at the service department told her that warranty won't cover it because she probably "floated a seal and/or blew a gasket" I've never heard of "floating a seal" Based on my GFs description, the woman was you basic garden variety idiot but now it is on the record

I'm digging my heals in for a fight with these people, and I want to be as informed as possible.

 

What is the dealer not covering?

 

I don't see how putting 2 quarts too much could do any damage. Especially just cranking it a few times. It wouldn't even reach that high of a pressure just cranking...

OT: My one friend (his first car-a civic) didn't know how much oil to put in a car so he just filled it up. Yes, to the top where you put the oil in. He said he was wondering why it took so much damn oil... Anyway it smoked really bad for like 2 months and was fine after that. We still bust his ***** about that one.

 

nothing yet. i just want to be informed so they don't try to tell me a bullshit story about how she destroyed her motor.

 

It can blow the head gasket. If the car is run like that. You will prob notice oil residue all over your trunk as well, if the car is ran.

 

I'd imagine front and rear main seals could be subject to gimptitude in this situation... A sufficient volume of air (ie, the more oil, the less air volume in the crankcase) is required to cushion the pressures generated by blow-by and other movements of air within the crankcase. Without this pressure cushion, seals may be put under excessive pressure and subsequently fail.... not to mention causes oil aeration (foaming etc...)

My dad told me several times growing up that overfilling can often be worse then under filling.

Something more is at work here though.. esp since the car wouldnt run anyway.

The short answer on "how long" is "who knows". Some engines are pretty indestructable but they all have a breaking point you know. I had an old VW Jetta and overfilled it pretty bad once (hey i was 15) and somehow it survived.


[Modified by GimpyAccord, 2:29 PM 10/21/2002]

 

I think it really depends on the motor. I know track e36 M3's often run with 1 quart overfilled with no undue harsh effects (due to oil starvation problems on the oil-pickups on high-g sweepers). The overpressure generated is supposedly within spec on that motor....and that's ROAD RACING not just cranking. Anyway, check with a Nissan Motorsports web board...they might know more about that motor (sr20?) and overfilling it. Although I'd imagine that if she never fired it up...it should be ok.

 

QR25 actually.

The only Nissan board I go to is full of pompus, arrogant, ***-wipes. maybe 1 in every 50 of them knows what the hell they are talking about. It's kinda like clubSI for sentra owners. If anyone knows any good Nissan boards, I'm open to suggestions

 

from personal experiences:

it could blow your headgasket OR drench the plugs with oil

 

One of the general line tech's at my job overfilled a focus one time. When he went to start it, it blew a hole in the back of the block.

 

final update:

According to Nissan, she simply flooded the engine. I'm not sure how you flood a fuel injected car that has an electronicaly controlled throttle. but the car starts right up now. no charge. I talked to the service advisor at nissan and got the whole oil thing straighted out.

 

Thats good to hear