What are the symptoms of excessive engine oil?
2 Answers
If the engine oil is overfilled, it can create significant resistance, adversely affecting power output, increasing fuel consumption, accelerating carbon buildup, reducing engine power, raising the likelihood of engine knocking, and amplifying noise levels. The impacts of excessive engine oil include: 1. Increased fuel consumption: When the engine cylinder contains an excessive amount of oil, it imposes unnecessary additional resistance on the crankshaft's rotation, thereby impairing power output and elevating fuel consumption. 2. Reduced power output: A substantially increased amount of oil entering the combustion chamber leads to more carbon deposits, increasing piston movement resistance and diminishing engine power. 3. Failure to meet environmental standards: Exhaust emissions deteriorate, severely impacting the lifespan of the catalytic converter and potentially causing direct damage to it.
I've experienced overfilled engine oil several times. At those moments, the engine sound was noticeably off, especially producing a buzzing noise during acceleration, somewhat resembling metal friction. Excessive oil raises oil pressure, often causing leaks – you'll spot oil stains around the oil pan, and the seals may get damaged. Too much oil also makes the crankshaft whip up oil foam, reducing lubrication efficiency. This accelerates engine component wear and naturally increases fuel consumption. If left unchecked long-term, it may lead to oil burning inside the engine (blue smoke emissions), resulting in costly repairs. Now I always triple-check oil levels with the dipstick after changes, ensuring it's at the midpoint. Prevention is key. Remember: more oil isn't better – strictly follow the manual's specified quantity for safety and peace of mind.
