Overfilling engine oil
 

Today I changed oil and oil filter, and unfortunately I have put in to much oil. Is it bad for the engine, or could it perhaps just push it out via the crankcase ventilation? Or should I try to suck some oil back from the oil filler hole?

I have put in 2.6L but have put in about 2.9L.

Personally I'd just crack the drain nut on the frame down tube (or the crank case if you prefer), and empty approximately 300ml out into a jug...

Replace drain plug, warm up engine, check level, and top up if needs be...

J x

Thanks, yes maybe easier than trying to suck it out.

Still a bit curious though how an engine is affected by to much oil.

It is possible that [particularly at high speed/revs], the crankcase will pressurize and the oil blow out... if you're lucky, only though the crankcase breather [and into the airbox] as you surmise, but if you're unlucky, past the countershaft output seal, pi55ing oil all over the place...

I'm sure some engine nerd will also elaborate - but I believe it's possible oil could be forced past the valve stem seals too for example?

Anyway, best not to have too much extra oil in there... a 100-200ml might not make much difference [especially on a sump with 2.6litres in], but 300ml might be pushing it a bit?

Of course the XT does keep some of the oil in the frame, so I guess there is a bit more 'breathing space' than on a wet-sump engine, but the principle is the same...

J x

Thanks for the info! I would be stupid to push my luck right :)
I'll just drain it a little and get it right instead.

Very well put jmo, you are correct in saying too much excess oil will blow seals but as you say a relatively small amount will cause no harm.

I was once at a friends garage some years ago and a customer towed their car in complaining that it wouldnt start, on investigation it emerged he had changed the oil and filter himself and when he had put fresh oil in he had FILLED it right to the TOP (all 3 gallons of it!). Not supriseingly it wouldnt even turn over!! :bricks:

I would drain the excess oil to the correct oil level.

Not only can it cause oil leaks, the extra oil can damage the exhaust cat with contamination if it is blown through the engine breather hose into the air box.

Thanks Kev, I will do that today. Yesterday was a disaster. I have changed oil and filter many times on other bikes but this one got me bad, everything that could go wrong did... I probably should have had something more to eat :bricks:

Hi, what is th CORRECT way to check the oil level? Take it for a short ride 3-5 miles then check when i get back, is what i have been doing. But i am never sure how long to let it stand before i check it, as after a certain time i understand that the oil drains back into the sump?
Crusty

You must check the oil level as soon as you come back from your short ride, you do not need to let it stand.

Just make sure you hold the bike level and not on the sidestand when checking the oil

I also filled 2.9L This problem is also treated in this thread http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=16450
I took out some oil without unscrew the drain bolts.
I used a water plastic bottle 0.5L with large cap.
On the cap of the bottle i drilled 2 holes. Though each hole i passed a transparent plastic tube ( 8mm) into the bottle. One of the two outside ends was placed in the oil filler hole and the other the other one was used to suck air out.
I took out aprox 300 ml considering the 0.5 L bottle used. I couldn’t find a syringe.
I ride it 60 km and than checked the oil level: bike straight up, waited 3 minutes (had to wait was leaking) , the cleaned dipstick inserted without screwing it, and the level seems to be at the max.
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9204/levelg.jpg
This oil level check seems like rocket science.

I've changed the oil on mine 3 times,every time 2.6L doesn't even show on the stick,to get it 3/4 of the way up the stick need another half liter any others have this problem.

Done a few oil changes and when i had my bike in getting the valve checked got the my local mechanic to also change the oil. He said he put in 2.6ltrs of oil, but i never trust people so started the bike took it for a short spin around the block, checked the level of oil on the dip stick and no thing, half a litre later and we where sorted. Took a long ride home and checked when i got home and still the same about 3/4 up the dip stick.

Never had this problem at home as i never new how much i was putting in, was always a rough guess!!!!

The engine is not over full... The tank is over full
the engine will always have to correct amount of oil in it..

I see checking the spec of the latest XT's the oil quantity is 2.9L

Well the experts have always told me that better 100mL BELOW the MAX level than 100mL above, as excess oil leads to excess oil pressure and that can cause all sorts of engine damage, so always better to stay just below the MAX mark......

This is basically true imo. But if the frame tank is overfull, I think oil will drain out of it back into the engine, thus causing (in extreme cases) an overfull crankcase with its attendant problems. I doubt that 300ml is much of an issue, but I imagine one shouldn't check the oil...

Not a case of over filling, unless I put 2.9L in it won't even show on the dip stick.

It's strange that basically the same engine/frame configurations can vary so much. Mine will only take 2.6L to be at the full mark, but there you go. I'd be happy if it did take 2.9L. More oil is good.

With these XT's you need to take the bike for a small ride after the 2.6 L & get the motor to operating temperature then read the dip stick level & adjust the oil level accordingly. The XT600 has a dry sump & needs to equalize the oil levels between the oil tanl & sump that is why a ride is nessary.

As mentioned many times I filled my XT oil differently to what Yamaha say. I measure out 2.9L of oil, fill the main tank until the oil level shows fill on the dip stick then poor the rest of the 2.0L of oil into the motor throught the engine breather hose. When I start the bike it will show the correct oil level quicker then doing it Yamaha's way.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa202/kevxtx/6a.jpg

Reviving old thread.

I had a local workshop do some maintenance on the bike, and they replaced the oil/filter at the same time actually by "mistake", although i didn't order it. Didn't have to pay for it, so all good.

I finalized the other service tasks this weekend and started up the bike. Put it on center stand, ran it on idle for ~2 minutes, gave it a few small rev increments as i had changed the coolant earlier. Ran it fairly hot for about ~5 min. Thought i heard a ticking sound, turned it of. Checked the oil level, and a small stream pored out as i removed the oil dip stick. WTF! It was overfilled! The workshop apparently didn't check the oil properly, probably cold and/or on side stand.

I extracted out about 100-300 ml. I actually don�t know how much, as some pored out on the bike itself and the rest was pumped out in the oil bin.

The workshop did test drive the bike, although i reckon it was a very short one.

No signs of oil in air box. No signs of oil leaks on engine gaskets. Coolant level went down, but thats rather a an effect of the coolant change. Haven't ran the bike since.

Should I be worried?

No. Not if it's hardly been run/ridden whilst overfilled. If you check again (300ml sounds about right to remove) and the level is fine, then you'll be good to go...