What can too much oil do.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-05-2009
Posts: 358
From: Cahokia IL
The real danger in this situation hasn't been covered yet.
The crankshaft is partly submerged and the rotation whips the oil into a foam. Air in oil is bad and severely hampers the proper lubrication of every part in the motor.
I would lodge a complaint with the dealer, though they may be a bit circumspect as they did not change the oil and discover the mistake.
The crankshaft is partly submerged and the rotation whips the oil into a foam. Air in oil is bad and severely hampers the proper lubrication of every part in the motor.
I would lodge a complaint with the dealer, though they may be a bit circumspect as they did not change the oil and discover the mistake.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-24-2010
Posts: 124
From: Cincinnati, OH
Personally, I'd be very concerned about premature engine failure, due to aeration of the oil, and the aerated oil being then distributed throughout the lubrication system. Normally, the pan has enough oil in it to cover the oil pickup, and the oil level is just high enough to cause the rough casting areas of where the rods connect, to 'splash' in the oil, giving an engineered amount of splash to the bottom end, and the oil pump is picking up non-aerated oil. When the oil level is raised significantly, it can cover the entire rod area or higher, which will cause excess churning, and all the excess air introduced to the oil will not be able to find it's way out.
I have seen a video that I *thought* was posted on here that showed a view of a crank running in too much oil, but a search didn't turn it up for me. Here's a youtube vid that illustrates what a running crankcase should look like with proper oil level: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=1dYdJvavaJo
And here's one more animation that shows it well... the counterweight area of the crankshaft making most of the actual oil contact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=24AbjTx5x7E
There are some videos that DO show that in normal oil level conditions a crank that does NOT splash in the oil. To be honest, I'm not sure which design our HHR's have, but in either case, I believe the aeration issue would still apply if the oil level is excessively high.
I have seen a video that I *thought* was posted on here that showed a view of a crank running in too much oil, but a search didn't turn it up for me. Here's a youtube vid that illustrates what a running crankcase should look like with proper oil level: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=1dYdJvavaJo
And here's one more animation that shows it well... the counterweight area of the crankshaft making most of the actual oil contact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=24AbjTx5x7E
There are some videos that DO show that in normal oil level conditions a crank that does NOT splash in the oil. To be honest, I'm not sure which design our HHR's have, but in either case, I believe the aeration issue would still apply if the oil level is excessively high.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,484
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Fuel could get in the crankshaft from the injectors over supplying fuel to the cylinders, and since fuel is thinner than oil it passes the piston rings into the crankcase.
When the shop gets a "new engine" it does not normally come with all that bolt on exterior stuff, like injectors, they could have been installed improperly or be damaged. A used engine might come from the recycler with that stuff attached, and possibly damaged.
But, you'd think you would be getting a CEL about mixture or something if that was the case. Stranger thing have happened! My guess is the mechanic put oil in, then turned his back while telling the trainee to "finish this thing up for me", and then the trainee did what he thought was the final step.
When the shop gets a "new engine" it does not normally come with all that bolt on exterior stuff, like injectors, they could have been installed improperly or be damaged. A used engine might come from the recycler with that stuff attached, and possibly damaged.
But, you'd think you would be getting a CEL about mixture or something if that was the case. Stranger thing have happened! My guess is the mechanic put oil in, then turned his back while telling the trainee to "finish this thing up for me", and then the trainee did what he thought was the final step.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-01-2011
Posts: 144
From: El Paso, TX
The real danger in this situation hasn't been covered yet.
The crankshaft is partly submerged and the rotation whips the oil into a foam. Air in oil is bad and severely hampers the proper lubrication of every part in the motor.
I would lodge a complaint with the dealer, though they may be a bit circumspect as they did not change the oil and discover the mistake.
The crankshaft is partly submerged and the rotation whips the oil into a foam. Air in oil is bad and severely hampers the proper lubrication of every part in the motor.
I would lodge a complaint with the dealer, though they may be a bit circumspect as they did not change the oil and discover the mistake.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-01-2011
Posts: 144
From: El Paso, TX
Fuel could get in the crankshaft from the injectors over supplying fuel to the cylinders, and since fuel is thinner than oil it passes the piston rings into the crankcase.
When the shop gets a "new engine" it does not normally come with all that bolt on exterior stuff, like injectors, they could have been installed improperly or be damaged. A used engine might come from the recycler with that stuff attached, and possibly damaged.
But, you'd think you would be getting a CEL about mixture or something if that was the case. Stranger thing have happened! My guess is the mechanic put oil in, then turned his back while telling the trainee to "finish this thing up for me", and then the trainee did what he thought was the final step.
When the shop gets a "new engine" it does not normally come with all that bolt on exterior stuff, like injectors, they could have been installed improperly or be damaged. A used engine might come from the recycler with that stuff attached, and possibly damaged.
But, you'd think you would be getting a CEL about mixture or something if that was the case. Stranger thing have happened! My guess is the mechanic put oil in, then turned his back while telling the trainee to "finish this thing up for me", and then the trainee did what he thought was the final step.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Yep Air and foam is your worst issue. This is what can kill the engine.
The first thing I though was when you said how much it was over is that someone or two people filled it twice.
If you caught this early odds are it will not hurt anything. Most engines can take a over fill with out damage as the pans in most are deep enough to deal with it. Odds are with as much as your did it may have foamed but it would still time to hurt the engine.
At least they had oil in it as often the case is they leave it out.
HAve note what happened and if there are any issues in the future it is documented.
The first thing I though was when you said how much it was over is that someone or two people filled it twice.
If you caught this early odds are it will not hurt anything. Most engines can take a over fill with out damage as the pans in most are deep enough to deal with it. Odds are with as much as your did it may have foamed but it would still time to hurt the engine.
At least they had oil in it as often the case is they leave it out.
HAve note what happened and if there are any issues in the future it is documented.