Help, oil overfill

[dredgeguy]

Oil level was way down and I picked up some Mobile 1 at Costco. they had a sale on Mobile 1 5W-30 and 10W-30 oil for $26.99 for a 6 pack. Put it in too much. The oil dipstick now registers oil higher than the hash marks, between the U and L on FULL.

Questions:
1) Is it OK to drive in this condition?
2) If oil has to be removed, can I siphon oil out by removing the oil filter and using a manual siphon pump?

Last resort if oil needs to come out would be to drive to a gas station and have them put on a lift and drain some oil out. I do not have a lift or ramp at home.

Looking for any suggestions and thanks.

[nelson007]

Hello Charlie,
I don't if it will do any harm. I have a electric oil pump that will suck out the oil through the dip stick hole if you need to use it. I used it to change the oil in my boat.
Thanks
Nelson

[SteelBlueZR1]

Good morning Charlie,
If it is beyond just above full, would take it to the shop who changed the oil and have it drained ASAP just in case... Too much oil = too much pressure. Manual says "do not overfill."
After all the oil leak potentials the LT5 has, I would not mess around: see : http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20Web/articles/Finding%20and%20Fixing%20Oil%20leaks%20on%20the%20 LT5.pdf

Plus, next time you change the oil, switch to - Mobil 1 High Mileage as it is the best phosphorous/zinc formulation by Mobil1 for the LT5, per Marc Haibeck: see http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20Web/articles/Modern%20Motor%20Oil%20and%20the%20LT5%20Engine.pd f

One last over complication, but great read for 2 new z owners on oil filters Haibeck says now use only OEM Blue PF970C AC Delco as most others' anti drain back valves leak = chain rattle at start up: see :
http://www.zr1specialist.com/HAT%20Web/articles/LT5%20Oil%20Filter%20Review.pdf

Hope to see you and Nelson soon... Can't wait to see Nelson's New Ruby Z!
Bert

[dredgeguy]

Thanks guys. Think the best solution is to drive to the closest station and have them drain some out. Will take oil with me in case they take too much out.
Not what I planned for my Sunday morning.............

[A26B]

It depends on how high the oil level is, i.e. how much it is overfilled. There have been a few reports of severe engine damage resulting from oil changes being made by shops & dealerships with no experience on the ZR-1 LT5 engine. Simply draining hot and refillinjg to the stated "capacity" would be nearly 3 qts over-fill. Even draining hot & refilling to the "change" volume would result in about 1 qt overfill.

Correctly checking oil level is a common issue with the LT5.
The best method is to check the oil level, before starting, after sitting overnight. The LT5 retains a lot of oil on the topside and drains down slowly. A correctly filled LT5 will show low when checked "hot".

Not knowing how much the overfill actually is, the safe thing to do would be to let it sit overnight, check the oil level & drain or suck out until the level is correct, WITHOUT STARTING the engine. Don't expect to add a qt of oil & see it show up on the dipstick in a couple of minutes. You cannot remove oil from the oil fill cap. As stated by an earlier post, you can remove with a dipstick oil vacuum.

If you must drive the car somewhere to drain oil, keep the rpm as low as possible. Remember, if you do this, the engine will be hot. Leave the oil level at the 1qt low mark, drive it home & let it sit overnight. Add 1/2 the amount shown "low" on the dipstick. Check again the next day. until it reads full when dead cold.

[dredgeguy]

Thanks Jerry,
Just drove around with my other car and found that Mr. Tire is open and can drain some out. Will have them do that then get the Z home and sit until tomorrow, check it cold and adjust from there.
Thanks for the assistance.

[xlr8nflorida]

I guess it depends on how much your LT-5 is overfilled.

Personally, I would not drive it. 1 quart is probably not the end of the world but 3 is another story.

Why not just buy this unit for $85.00 and get the oil out yourself without starting the engine.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=mityvac+07201&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3783127161&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=899696737890103&hvpone=7.08&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_6o9gsdta00_e

Here is the mityvac website with several options for extractors. Mityvac is not going be the cheapest but they are quality.
http://mityvac.com/pages/products_fee.asp

Another option is to simply borrow Nelson's pump.

I've had my Mityvac for a year or two and it works fantastic on the LT-5. Well worth the $95 I paid for it. It does all type of fluid changes.

[dredgeguy]

Thanks to all. Drove the car at around 1500 rpm the 3 miles to Mr. Tire. Oil temp was less than 105 when I got there.
They drained 4 quarts and then put 2 back in. It is reading low but will let it sit overnight and check in the morning and add from there.
What a learning experience and thanks to all for the suggestions and offers of assistance.

[Kevin]

you could have just cracked the drain plug and drained some out

[scottfab]

...snip

If your oil level is higher than normal in the oil pan but not comingling with the crankshaft during engine operation, maybe you have some oil pan leaks (if you have loose oil pan bolts...and most do if those bolts are not checked) but seems to me that is no harm and no foul.


What is a "comingling" ?

As for the overfill.....
Don't sweat it. Crank and start the engine for a few seconds then shut it off and take the filter off and put it in an oil drain pan to let it drain out. After 8hrs or so check the oil level. If it is high reinstall the filter and start it up again.
Repeat until level is nominal. This works. I've done it. :hello:

[tf95ZR1]

What is a "comingling" ?

I think it's what you do before you get married.

and take the filter off and put it in an oil drain pan to let it drain out.

I had an oil overfill issue also. I figured at least in my hands I'd make a mess removing an oil filter full of oil.
So I went to Homey Depo and got some 1/4" (I think) sprinkler hose that fit down the dipstick tube.
I then used a dental irrigating syringe (or you could use a Hib turkey baster) and sucked out oil
about 10cc at a time. Took some time, but worked well.

[dredgeguy]

Looks like it all worked out. Yesterday I went to Mr. Tire and they put the Z on the lift and drained out 4 quarts. Then put 2 back in and drove it home. Let it sit overnight and checked it cold this morning. Oil line on the dipstick is just touching the bottom of the hash mark. Will add 1/2 quart and then check again tomorrow morning cold.

[scottfab]

I think it's what you do before you get married.
... snip...

I think he meant "commingling".
Another typo.

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Glad you got the oil level back to normal.

Race Ramps makes a good set of Corvette friendly ramps that will make your next oil change much easier. They make a nice product.

[GOLDCYLON]

you could have just cracked the drain plug and drained some out


That were my thoughts as well, five mins with a set of race ramps. Crack it open a bit....I love these ramps BTW.

[GOLDCYLON]

Glad you got the oil level back to normal.

Race Ramps makes a good set of Corvette friendly ramps that will make your next oil change much easier. They make a nice product.


Concur especially the XT's

[tf95ZR1]

Race Ramps makes a good set of Corvette friendly ramps that will make your next oil change much easier. They make a nice product.

Kwiklifts are nice also. Just drive on, lift the rear, and the entire car
is lifted ~20 inches. Problem: They went out of business (nice midwest,
US company driven out by regulations, foreign competition- don't get me
started) so you'd have to find a used one. They do come up every once
in awhile.

[WVZR-1]

Looks like it all worked out. Yesterday I went to Mr. Tire and they put the Z on the lift and drained out 4 quarts. Then put 2 back in and drove it home. Let it sit overnight and checked it cold this morning. Oil line on the dipstick is just touching the bottom of the hash mark. Will add 1/2 quart and then check again tomorrow morning cold.

What likely "saved" you here was the fact that you did "check it"! The failures on an "over-fill" that were generally reported were drive-in changes where the oil wasn't allowed to drain back to the pan before draining, just a quick drain put in the plug and fill. I would guess it was probably "sticked" again after start up to check for leaks and maybe as much as another quart added to it because it still showed short.

Your "over-fill" I would guess to be in the vicinity of the amount that might have resulted in. Of course your cruise to Mr Tire at 1500 helped BUT I don't think I would have driven it.

[WARP TEN]

Glad you got the oil level back to normal.

Race Ramps makes a good set of Corvette friendly ramps that will make your next oil change much easier. They make a nice product.

I got some Race Ramps for my garage lift and they are much easier to put on and take off when I am swapping cars. (see pix in my albums). The OEM ramps weigh about 50 pounds each and Race Ramps are maybe 10 pounds. -- Bob

[Fully Vetted]

Race Ramps makes a good set of Corvette friendly ramps that will make your next oil change much easier. They make a nice product.

There are several choices/lengths. Which do you recommend for our application?