Recapturing over filled oil

[2000Trooper]

Long story short I put 5 quarts instead of 4 quarts in my motorcycle. It’s a boxer engine and the thing was smoking out of the tail pipe right off the bat. What are your thoughts on recapturing the extra oil and using it down the road? These BMW motors naturally burn oil so toping off is going to inevitable, and part of a “healthy operation.” So this isn’t a case of saving 1 quart of oil for the next oil change or anything like that. Admittedly this is redline boutique oil hence I’m even considering.

 

[WobblyElvis]

Why not? With a little plastic tubing you could siphon some out back into the oil bottle for use later. I wouldn't operate the engine with that much of an over fill.

 

[Shel_B]

Why not? With a little plastic tubing you could siphon some out back into the oil bottle for use later. I wouldn't operate the engine with that much of an over fill.

I agree. Back in my motorcycling days, my friend and neighbor, Tom, had an R100 upon which he performed this task. I recall him slipping some tubing into the fill hole and siphoning the oil using a turkey baster or large syringe.

 

[CleanSump]

Use it. The oil is practically new and the additive package can't have been depleted any. As top up oil, it will always be cleaner than what's in the sump.

 

[KrisZ]

How about removing the oil filter? By itself it will contain a good amount of oil and some will also drain out. You may have to do it few times though.

 

[Shel_B]

How about removing the oil filter? By itself it will contain a good amount of oil and some will also drain out. You may have to do it few times though.

IMO, not a good idea, albeit a tempting one. Reusing the gasket may contribute to a poor seal and leaks.

 

[DGXR]

Definitely reuse it. But when you do eventually reuse this drained oil, I would not pour in every bit of it because there may be a few little things lurking at the bottom of the container... leave those out of your motor. Just my experience dealing with overfilled crankcases.