Overfilled by 1/2 Qt

[JerryBob]

I mis-read the instructions on my wife's Mazda CX-5, and overfilled by a 1/2 qt. The dipstick level confirms my error. I decided that I want to remove it so I can sleep better, and am seeking input on the best way. These are the ways I've come up with.

• Replace filter. It doesn't hold 1/2 qt, so I don't think this will suffice.
• Buy surgical tubing and a syringe from a medical supply place, and go down the dipstick tube. Sounds good in theory, not sure about practice. It would have to be a pretty thin tube.
• Try to drain a little bit of oil by backing out the plug. Sounds messy, and I'd either have to re-use the crush washer, or slip a new one on with my finger in the hole. Or get my kid to replace the washer.
• Buy a cheap, clean drain pan, and drain the whole thing and re-use the oil. I am leaning towards this, or the next one. I guess the oil won't become contaminated in the process.
• Do the entire thing over, except the filter. Call it a learning experience, and still cheaper than the dealer doing it.

Anyone have any input?

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[demarpaint]

Leave it alone comes to mind. Or remove the filter drain the contents and reinstall it, hoping it doesn't leak. I'd leave it alone. I ran many cars that had 4.5 quart sumps on 5 quarts for decades with no problems. One OCI is certainly not going hurt a thing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[iahawk]

Mityvac fluid evacuators work great for doing what you're describing...and are very handy for oil changes, etc. Very common for many shops to overfill your oil.

 

[4wd]

My son did this on girlfriends car ... did the filter dump and perfect level ...

 

[wymi516]

I'd try the filter removal dump and put it back on.

 

[KGMtech]

loosen the drain plug, collect your 1/2 quart and tighten again. No biggie to re-use that crush washer. Check drain plug for drips in about 4 weeks. Relax, Relax, Relax.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Leave it alone comes to mind...
+1

When the dealer did my 4.5 qt capacity Accord a couple/few times early in ownership, they put in 5qts as SOP. I've continued that because I like to empty the 5 qt jug and not ruin my feng shui storing half a qt.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: iahawk
Mityvac fluid evacuators work great for doing what you're describing...and are very handy for oil changes, etc. Very common for many shops to overfill your oil.


I concur.

I overfilled my transmission by accident a couple of weeks ago and used my fluid extractor.
There's liter markings on it, so I closely guestimated a half liter and was right.

Even the one time I overfilled the engine oil, i was able to use the same process. Works like a charm!

 

[akela]

Is it really something to worry about? I thought almost any engine can be safely overfilled by about 1qt. Oil change places do it all the time (not without a reason: many people never bother checking oil between changes).

 

[Chris142]

Don't worry about the crush washer! Nobody replaces those unless they are damaged.

 

[bunnspecial]

I wouldn't worry about it personally, but if I were inclined to drain it I'd loosen the drain plug, collect a half quart, and then snug it back down. There's no need to overcomplicate it.

Maybe I'm a bit lazy on it, but I don't think I've replaced more than two or three crush washers in the the time I've been doing oil changes. I changed the one on my MG in my first oil change after I bought it because I didn't know any history on the 45 year old one. I've put I think 92,000 miles on my Lincoln in the time I've owned it, and have never changed it. I've changed a couple of others on older cars where I didn't know the history and I thought the washer looked questionable, but that's it. At the same time, we all have our peculiarities-I do always use a torque wrench on the drain plug.

 

[Dave Hess]

1/2 quart extra will not harm engine.

 

[4wd]

Do you step on the cracks in sidewalks ?

 

[FCD]

1/2 a quart? It will be absolutely fine, don't even touch it.

 

[dave123]

Do nothing and go enjoy some turkey dinner.

 

[Tman220]

Another vote for leaving it be. An extra 1\2 quart will not do any damage, not in a million years.

There are performance cars on the market that even mention in the owners manual that if used for track use to over fill by 1 quart.

Please rest easy and don't do a bunch of useless work trying to remove 16 ounces of oil.

 

[FCD]

If anything you will be safe if you were to forget to check the oil level for some time.

 

[Brybo86]

removing plug or filter is perfectly fine
if it were me I would remove the plug first

I have never used a new plug washer and the current one looks perfectly fine.

 

[pbm]

I would either leave it alone or drain a bit from the bottom.....I certainly wouldn't drain it all into a 'clean' pan or waste a new oil filter. 1/2 quart over shouldn't be an issue...

 

[bluestream]

1/2 quart will be of benefit...many people overfill on purpose