Oil Overfill Concern After Recent Oil Change – Seeking Advice

[xcm77]

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[Nick034]

I checked the oil level today according to the manual, and it’s slightly higher than it should be (in both cases when the engine is cold and hot). I looked at the dipstick side that points toward the engine.

I also checked a few videos to get some perspective of how much room there is until the crankshaft.

The other side of the dipstick (the side pointing toward the driver’s front side wheel) looks like this.

So, I think I should be fine and won’t drain the oil. Thanks, everyone, for the advice!

P.S. I’m new to Mustangs. I know my question and situation might seem silly, so I apologize for that, but at least I’ll learn something from this.

 

[Trap]

I wouldn't feel silly, cause this is getting to be all too common these days. It is not that hard for them to get it right. They just don;t care anymore. Quite often it means that they didn't allow the old oil to drain long enough.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

This thread is funny.

 

[SCP440]

A couple of years ago a mate dropped his BMW into the dealership for an oil change and service and he was supposed to be picking it up a few hours later. He got a call after an hour to say it won't be ready as they have to fit a new engine. It was under warranty so he was not worried about the cost but asked why? Apparently the technician who did the oil change forgot to put any oil in it before he started it.
I would rather have a bit too much than not enough.

 

[K4fxd]

It was under warranty so he was not worried about the cost but asked why?

In this case it would get a new engine even if it had 500K miles on it.

 

[Trap]

In this case it would get a new engine even if it had 500K miles on it.

But try and get them to do that if they added too much oil and it happened 2,ooo miles after the change.
We pay for them to do it right, and they are not doing that great of a job.
Same when they rotate tires. They usually come back way over torqued.
I had to use a 2 breaker bar to barely get a lug nut off that was suppose to be 100 ft-lbs. more than a few times which is why I now do my own rotation's.

 

[atomicpunk]

It's free oil. My car would use that before the next oil change.
It's like going to the bar and the bartender overpours making your drink, freebie!

 

[sk47]

Thing big problem is if the oil pan is too full then windage or direct strike from the swinging crank can pick up and froth the oil. Oil with air in it doesn't pump well since air is compressible. Hence oil pressure and circulation problems.

The engine has a windage tray and 1/2 or even 1 qt is nothing to worry about.

the only time there is any chance of the crank hitting the extra oil is on startup but as soon as the engine is running 60% of the oil is around the engine doing what it is supposed to do.

Hello; A TV series, ENGINE MASTERS, did a program about oil fill levels. Season 3 episode 3 "How Oil Kills Power". They were, of course, testing for horsepower differences. In the process they also measured the effect of oil frothing on oil pressure. Frothing being the effect of the rotating assembly whipping air into the oil. Frothing can cause oil pressure to drop and also can affect hydraulic lifter cam performance with air in the oil.
They started with a full spec oil level then removed one quart. Going one quart low gained 5.2 HP at 6300 RPM. The one quart low oil pressure was improved Over the tested RPM range oil pressure was better by around two PSI. At high RPMS the oil pressure was better by maybe six PSI. Not good to run to redline with too much oil.

They then switched to a Milodon oil pan with a windage tray. It seems the Coyote engine has such a pan from the factory, so such is good. I guess an over fill of oil could get the oil level above the windage tray and that is the rub in this thread discussion. How to know for sure exactly how much oil to add to the pan to avoid windage. The show suggested a way to check with the oil pan removed. Not clear to me how to do this on an engine in the car.

In the Milidon oil pan test they first overfilled by two quarts (8 quarts). Killed 22 HP and lowered oil pressure. They drained a quart ( 7 quarts) and still killed HP & lost oil pressure.

Drained a second quart (6 quarts) and still lost HP & oil pressure. {interesting note- the oil pressure curve improved a bit at high RPM's. Speculation being enough oil was up in the engine to get the oil pan level down just enough. I tentatively gather from this that it takes higher RPM's to overcome an overfill.}

Drained another quart (5 quarts) (level at one quart low from the measured just below the windage tray) made more HP & gained oil pressure.

They ended the program with warnings about dangers of removing too much oil. That this was dyno testing with no hills or sloshing oil side to side as you will on the road.

What might be helpful is for someone on this forum who happens to have a stock oil pan off, and they do the filling with water as shown in the episode to see just how much it takes to get the oil level just below the windage tray.

 

[K4fxd]

I had to use a 2 breaker bar to barely get a lug nut off that was suppose to be 100 ft-lbs. more than a few times which is why I now do my own rotation's.

150 ft/lbs on a S550 mustang

But try and get them to do that if they added too much oil and it happened 2,ooo miles after the change.

Unless they double the amount of oil, not to worry, half qt, 1 qt in an 8 qt sump is nothing i'd worry about.

 

[Oakley]

just put oil in till it comes out the top.

 

[DougS550]

I can't see any damage having occurred in the brief period of use since the oil change. But I do think it's a step towards goodness to get the level correct. The Engineers prescribed a level using the stick and reference markings.

I'd check the oil level using the method described below, which references waiting 15 minutes, then checking. If the level is found over, return the car and have them drain off a bit. It's a simple fix I'm sure they'd be open to accommodating. In that process, you'd also confirm how much the tech put in and how accurate the dipstick is vs. the recommended oil level.

Edit,

In the future, I'd make it easier on the tech: 1x5-liter jug and 3x1-liter bottles. I realize that's more expensive, but measuring things out just so from two large jugs is something of a PITA.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...-Owners-Manual-version-3_om_EN-US_03_2015.pdf

5.0L Engine: Engine oil 8.0 qt (7.6 L)

ENGINE OIL CHECK

1. Make sure that your vehicle is on level
ground.

2. Switch the engine off and wait 15
minutes for the oil to drain into the oil
pan.

3. Set the parking brake and ensure the
gearshift is in park (P).

4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from
engine heat.

5. Locate and carefully remove the engine
oil level dipstick.

6. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the
dipstick fully, then remove it again.

• If the oil level is between the lower
and upper holes, the oil level is
acceptable. DO NOT ADD OIL.

• If the oil level is below the lower
hole, add enough oil to raise the
level within the lower and upper
holes.

• Oil levels above the upper hole may
cause engine damage. Some oil
must be removed from the engine
by an authorized dealer.

7. Put the oil level dipstick back into the
oil dipstick tube and ensure it is fully
seated.

I agree, I don't like guessing about "IF" 1/2-1 quart over the manufactures fill mark "Will or "Will Not" rise above the windage tray or cause excessive oil pickup by the crank lobes. To me, Its a standard I always stay within. This way when I am rebuilding or modding my car, I don't start getting lazy or complacent and venture outside the lines of a manufactures specifications on anything, from a large job or small, it just keeps me within the lines so to speak. But that's just me. That is why some mechanics when they do a job like oil replacement will look at the overfill and say: That's OK, it wont cause an issue, IN His or Her Opinion? In my job I see mechanics who get into that mind set and cause airplane crashes. Veering outside of "ANY" Manufacture's specifications will always get worse, and for some, they cannot return from the ultimate consequence. But this is just me.

 

[Trap]

150 ft/lbs on a S550 mustang

Unless they double the amount of oil, not to worry, half qt 1 qt in an 8 qt sump is nothing i'd worry about.

You are right about the S550, I was thinking of my Boss and my daily driver which is a 100.

As to too much oil in the engine, wonder how warranty would act if the engine let go and you bring it back with too much oil, now it gives them an excuse to try and get out of it.

I am just saying that when I pay for a service I expect it done properly, and lately to often it is not. I agree the 1/2 a quart extra should not be a problem, But I would expect them to do ti right

 

[Mike Pfeifer]

You are right about the S550, I was thinking of my Boss and my daily driver which is a 100.

As to too much oil in the engine, wonder how warranty would act if the engine let go and you bring it back with too much oil, now it gives them an excuse to try and get out of it.

I am just saying that when I pay for a service I expect it done properly, and lately to often it is not. I agree the 1/2 a quart extra should not be a problem, But I would expect them to do ti right

No one is going to question a potential 1/2 quart above the line on a warranty engine claim. They will make sure it has ANY oil, and they MAY question if the oil is brand new and looks like it was never run (huge red flag). No one is getting paid enough to measure oil quantity to that degree, or send out for viscosity or spec analysis or any thing else like that unless it’s a really really weird situation, and even then, I’ve never ever heard of that happening.

 

[K4fxd]

I am just saying that when I pay for a service I expect it done properly, and lately to often it is not. I agree the 1/2 a quart extra should not be a problem, But I would expect them to do ti right

How do we know it is over filled? Is the dip stick calibrated for his engine? A bit over the top hole is nothing to worry about.

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