What happens if you add too much engine oil?
2 Answers
Adding too much engine oil can cause the following harm to the engine: 1. Reduced power output and aging of crankshaft oil seals. Excessive oil increases the rotational resistance of the crankshaft, reducing the engine's power output and affecting the crankshaft oil seals. 2. Oil burning and emission failures. If there is too much oil, the engine components will churn vigorously during operation, which not only increases internal power loss but also increases the amount of oil splashed onto the cylinder walls, leading to oil burning failures. 3. Increased carbon deposits and higher fuel consumption. Oil may flow into the engine's combustion chamber, and prolonged oil burning can cause carbon buildup in the engine, increasing the amount of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber. When carbon deposits accumulate in the car, power decreases and fuel consumption rises. 4. Damage to the catalytic converter. As more oil enters the combustion chamber, exhaust emissions worsen, severely impacting the lifespan of the catalytic converter. 5. Accelerated wear of components. Accelerates wear on cylinders and pistons, thereby reducing the vehicle's lifespan.
I once made this mistake when changing my own oil. At the time, I noticed the dipstick reading was above the maximum mark but thought more oil would be safer. As a result, the engine sound became very muffled. After driving just a few kilometers, I saw blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe and smelled a burnt odor, which scared me into shutting off the engine immediately. Later, the mechanic told me that overfilling the oil increases the resistance of the crankshaft's rotation, not only raising fuel consumption but also causing excessive internal pressure. This can lead to oil seals bursting and oil leaks, and in the worst cases, damage the catalytic converter. He helped me drain the excess oil—a full half-liter soda bottle's worth. Now, I always double-check the dipstick to ensure the oil level is right in the middle during every maintenance check.
