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Technical Newbie - Oil overfill

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Technical Newbie - Oil overfill

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armalite8

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Sep 5, 2012
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Hi all.

So, this is my first Fiat (Panda 1.3MJ). I've always serviced my own cars and have to confess to having made a schoolboy error here. I've put about 500ml (1cm on dipstick) too much oil in. Misjudged the level when changing the oil & filter.

Now on my old Renaults and Fords this would just get slurped up in a few thousand miles. But this little gem (I really love this car) has never sipped a drop in 18,000 miles and it on 125k now.

So, is it likely to do any damage and, if so, is there a non-messy (sump plug) way to remove it. The tube down the filler seems to be impossible thanks to a corner and a very narrow filler base.

Thanks to all.
 
Too much oil is likely to leak everywhere it can. So it needs to come out.

Tube down dipstick hole is favourite, but may be difficult or impossible.
Sump plug is next answer. Bit messy, but no more than the oil change. Release plug, but do not fully remove. Hold at hole to restrict amount draining and to ease refitting. There will be some up your sleeve and some special "mechanics phrases".
 
hi, in my experience,
you'll have got it fairly clean around the oil filter when changing it,
= so give it another wipe around and put a clean container underneath, and spin the filter back off by 1/2 a turn, then re-seat after a few seconds of dribbling..!!

MUCH more contollable than the sump plug ( lowest point of entire system..!!),
and if you leave the spilt oil to stand - you've still got a chance of re-using most of it..!!,

Charlie
 
The oil filter spin off would be OK for a petrol Panda, but the MJ is different.
When you unscrew the oil filter housing the oil drains back into the sump.

If the oil level is too high the crankshaft is liable to hit the oil and generate heat, in the extreme diesel engines have been known to run on the lubricating oil that is splashed around. This blows the engine up as there is no stopping it ! But this is very unlikely for 10mm, it only happens when totally overfilled.

I have a Pella pump which can be a very useful tool, I use it to empty my son's Vectra of oil as it has cross-drilled sump plug. Google it!

I reckon you will be OK for 10mm, as long as you don't corner and brake like a numpty.
 
richardllew said:
The oil filter spin off would be OK for a petrol Panda, but the MJ is different.
When you unscrew the oil filter housing the oil drains back into the sump.

If the oil level is too high the crankshaft is liable to hit the oil and generate heat, in the extreme diesel engines have been known to run on the lubricating oil that is splashed around. This blows the engine up as there is no stopping it ! But this is very unlikely for 10mm, it only happens when totally overfilled.

QUOTE]

I totally agree with the overfilled = BAD, :eek:
BUT how do you replace a MJ's oil filter?, surely there is a point where the filter AND some of it's oil is exposed to the amosphere - and therefore is a good place to drain away oil..,

Clarification would be helpful,

thanks,
Charlie
Click to expand...
 
richardllew said:
The oil filter is in a housing which unscrews vertically. As the housing unscrews the oil filter lifts under the influence of a spring and the oil drains into the sump.
It's much cleaner than the spin off cartridges, and obviously there is less raw material usage.
Click to expand...
If memory serves me correctly, the MJ doesn't have an 'O'-ring seal but a gasket instead which I think is a little unusual. I believe it's quite easy to not seal it correctly with the corresponding dribble of oil down the front of the engine.
 
Many thanks to everyone. I'll have to bite the bullet and open the drain plug I think :(

Interestingly since the oil/filter change and with a 'little' overfill I've had almost 4mpg more out of the beastie. So it might be drinking it after all :eek:
 
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