changed the oil on my 02 altima sunday. dipstick is hard to get an accurate reading, and it looks like i overfilled it by half a quart. oil is almost touching the H on the dipstick. Stupidly, ive been driving it like this for the past 5 days (about 100 miles total) as i go to college away and didnt get a chance to drain it. (i would have done it the same day if i could have) tomorrow im draining it all and putting 3.5 to 4 quarts to make sure i dont overfill (and then rechecking and adding as needed). my concern is, could this have hurt my engine? only thing i noticed is slower starts most likely due to the crank having to turn harder and alot less acceleration. once i put back the right amount tomorrow, should my engine be ok? im running Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30
overfill
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Overfilled by a pint doesn't hurt anything, overfilled by more than a quart is potential problem, the oil level at the "H" mark is good, above the "H" mark is overfilled. If you do not sleep well because of 1/2 quart overfilled, don't need to drain all oil out by the drain plug, just remove the oil filter to let some oil drain out.
That amount of overfill is inconsequential. No problems!
Spin the filter off & dump it out reinstall.
That will amount to 1/2 qt.
That will amount to 1/2 qt.
A half a pint is nothing.....I would not lose sleep over it and just keep trucking.
I find the Altima I have has a high dipstick reading, I drain it well and even use an oversize filter. When I put in the 5qt's it calls for it is slightly above the high mark so I just dont worry about it. Just leave it be, you are probably having psychological effects from thinking it's too full...lol. High mileage oils are a little thicker too so may be where you feel the "sluggishness".
Overfilling will cause the crank to come into contact with the oil more then if it was properly filled. This will cause extra drag and may even cause foaming. This overfilling doesn't really become a problem until it is like +1qt.
If you are really paranoid, you can drain it into a clean container and measure and re-fill. You can also do the oil filter trick a few times if needed. Just don't do the oil filter trick if you can pre-fill the filter since that will be starting on a dry filter or a filter with a faulty ADBV.
If you are really paranoid, you can drain it into a clean container and measure and re-fill. You can also do the oil filter trick a few times if needed. Just don't do the oil filter trick if you can pre-fill the filter since that will be starting on a dry filter or a filter with a faulty ADBV.
alright. yeah im probably bing paranoid about it. so once i drain the correct amount of oil out of it, it should run like normal again?
^No, it will probably run exactly the same as it does right now. All manufacturers always have a safety margin because they know that some cars at some point will get slightly overfilled with oil. They always allow for some room before it becomes a problem. 1 extra pint of oil will most definintely not cause any issues for you.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
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A pint over is nothing. I've added 5 qts to my Aerostar 4.5 qt sump many times over the years. It's still going strong 195,000 miles later. As others mentioned if it bothers you remove the filter dump the oil and re-install it.
ill do that
As long as the crankshaft counterweights aren't striking the top of the oil pool, there's nothing
to worry about. I highly doubt an extra 1/2 quart of oil is gonna get you to that high of a level.
to worry about. I highly doubt an extra 1/2 quart of oil is gonna get you to that high of a level.
Originally Posted By: il_signore97
^No, it will probably run exactly the same as it does right now. All manufacturers always have a safety margin because they know that some cars at some point will get slightly overfilled with oil. They always allow for some room before it becomes a problem. 1 extra pint of oil will most definintely not cause any issues for you.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
Ha, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem. I have 0w30 synthetic in my little 4 cylinder Civic, it reads overfull if I check it right after(within 1 hour) of coming back from a drive to operating temp. I check my oil while cold before starting it the first time of a day, and keep it at the top hole mark.
Note, if I change the oil and add the correct amount afterward, when I check it first after idling to check for leaks and the subsequent sitting of the car until cold, the level is at the top hole mark on the dipstick, so that's why I go by that instead of the 'check oil' at every fill up of gasoline.
^No, it will probably run exactly the same as it does right now. All manufacturers always have a safety margin because they know that some cars at some point will get slightly overfilled with oil. They always allow for some room before it becomes a problem. 1 extra pint of oil will most definintely not cause any issues for you.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
Ha, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem. I have 0w30 synthetic in my little 4 cylinder Civic, it reads overfull if I check it right after(within 1 hour) of coming back from a drive to operating temp. I check my oil while cold before starting it the first time of a day, and keep it at the top hole mark.
Note, if I change the oil and add the correct amount afterward, when I check it first after idling to check for leaks and the subsequent sitting of the car until cold, the level is at the top hole mark on the dipstick, so that's why I go by that instead of the 'check oil' at every fill up of gasoline.
Don't sweat it. I normally fill until the oil pours over the top of the valve cover.
Kidding.
Fumoto Quick Drain Valves and fluid evacuators are great for handling this type of thing.
Kidding.
Fumoto Quick Drain Valves and fluid evacuators are great for handling this type of thing.
Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Originally Posted By: il_signore97
^No, it will probably run exactly the same as it does right now. All manufacturers always have a safety margin because they know that some cars at some point will get slightly overfilled with oil. They always allow for some room before it becomes a problem. 1 extra pint of oil will most definintely not cause any issues for you.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
Ha, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem. I have 0w30 synthetic in my little 4 cylinder Civic, it reads overfull if I check it right after(within 1 hour) of coming back from a drive to operating temp. I check my oil while cold before starting it the first time of a day, and keep it at the top hole mark.
Note, if I change the oil and add the correct amount afterward, when I check it first after idling to check for leaks and the subsequent sitting of the car until cold, the level is at the top hole mark on the dipstick, so that's why I go by that instead of the 'check oil' at every fill up of gasoline.
Sounds like you are like most drivers.. check the oil right after it is turned off and it will read "more full" since the oil is STILL IN THE HEADS! And you have some splashed on the dipstick, its still up there and you pull the dipstick. oud THINK it would show LOWER,
. but it does not, it shows HIGHER!
Why? Because you are pulling it while Oil is still flying around everywhere, and its dripping from the ehad down, so it will also "drip" onto the dipstick. (Notice its usually not a solid line of Oil like 5 minutes after pulling it on a hot engine.)
Now, letting it sit overnight, checking it first thing in the morning (ice cold) is the best time to check the oil. Not even "when you fill it up with gas" since the car obviously just ran, and it looks all high on the stick.
The procedures for cars that have weird procedures to check it always confused me. (Why not just check it first thing in the morning, ice cold? weird.)
If you have a car that calls for 4.x quarts of Oil, just add 5 quarts MAKE SURE YOU ARE CHANGINE THE FILTER THAT WILL EAT UP THE EXTRA 1/2 QUART and see if it comes up to "Full" on the crosshairs. usually does. Change the oil, and DONT change the filter, and add 5 quarts? Yeah, you will be .5-1qt overfull. Ask me how i know.
I also dont believe utting oil in the filter has any merit. My car, you put it on horizontal, so even if you COULD get oil in there, it gets to the filter the first time the car is fully warmed, maybe even in the first minute or so, when full flow is achieved. "W" number determines that, btu even with a 20W-50, it still gwets there easy especially on a hot day so you dont need to put oil in a filter, it is an old wive's tale.
Originally Posted By: il_signore97
^No, it will probably run exactly the same as it does right now. All manufacturers always have a safety margin because they know that some cars at some point will get slightly overfilled with oil. They always allow for some room before it becomes a problem. 1 extra pint of oil will most definintely not cause any issues for you.
I think if it's grossly overfilled, like more than 1 qt, then you will start to see foaming problems. I would leave your current fill alone and just keep on driving...
Edit: My friend has a 2.5 Altima and I find that the dipstick is very difficult to use properly. If he allows the car to sit overnight, the level almost always seems slightly overfull. However, if he follows the exact service manual procedure for checking the oil level, then it's fine. According to the manual, it states to check the oil at operating temp, after allowing the car to sit for 10 minutes. When checked this way, it seems perfectly fine. This might be what you're experiencing.
Ha, I have the exact OPPOSITE problem. I have 0w30 synthetic in my little 4 cylinder Civic, it reads overfull if I check it right after(within 1 hour) of coming back from a drive to operating temp. I check my oil while cold before starting it the first time of a day, and keep it at the top hole mark.
Note, if I change the oil and add the correct amount afterward, when I check it first after idling to check for leaks and the subsequent sitting of the car until cold, the level is at the top hole mark on the dipstick, so that's why I go by that instead of the 'check oil' at every fill up of gasoline.
Sounds like you are like most drivers.. check the oil right after it is turned off and it will read "more full" since the oil is STILL IN THE HEADS! And you have some splashed on the dipstick, its still up there and you pull the dipstick. oud THINK it would show LOWER,
. but it does not, it shows HIGHER!
Why? Because you are pulling it while Oil is still flying around everywhere, and its dripping from the ehad down, so it will also "drip" onto the dipstick. (Notice its usually not a solid line of Oil like 5 minutes after pulling it on a hot engine.)
Now, letting it sit overnight, checking it first thing in the morning (ice cold) is the best time to check the oil. Not even "when you fill it up with gas" since the car obviously just ran, and it looks all high on the stick.
The procedures for cars that have weird procedures to check it always confused me. (Why not just check it first thing in the morning, ice cold? weird.)
If you have a car that calls for 4.x quarts of Oil, just add 5 quarts MAKE SURE YOU ARE CHANGINE THE FILTER THAT WILL EAT UP THE EXTRA 1/2 QUART and see if it comes up to "Full" on the crosshairs. usually does. Change the oil, and DONT change the filter, and add 5 quarts? Yeah, you will be .5-1qt overfull. Ask me how i know.
I also dont believe utting oil in the filter has any merit. My car, you put it on horizontal, so even if you COULD get oil in there, it gets to the filter the first time the car is fully warmed, maybe even in the first minute or so, when full flow is achieved. "W" number determines that, btu even with a 20W-50, it still gwets there easy especially on a hot day so you dont need to put oil in a filter, it is an old wive's tale.
Well, I do check my engine before I start it now. It makes me wonder why the owners manuals asks you to check the oil while stopping for gas?
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