Is a 7qts good for a 6qts engine? and how many WAL-MART car service techs needed to change oil incorrectly?

Question

A few days ago (9/5/07) I went into the Wal-mart in Albuquerque,NM for a oil change. Well while they were doing a oil change I notice the service tech putting in 7qts of oil in my 95'Jeep Grande Cheeoke(Straght 6/ 4.0L). I went in the tec bay and asked him what the hell he was doing? He claimed that the dip stick showed that it still needed another qt. Well after aruging with the them over twenty min to take out one qt.I finnly had enought and paid for a oil change with extra oil. Well to make along story shorter. I still have seven qts of oil in my six qt engine. I have driven about four hundred mile and have to drive another 50 to the dealer to get another oil change. Besides another oil change what should I ask the the dealer to do. Should the dealer do to a compression test or what.? On the second question I now know the answer. ONE IS TO MANY!!! DONT LET WAL-MART CLOSE TO YOUR F****** CAR, TRUCK, OR SUV.

I checked it before I drove home tonight. I still had about a qt over the full line on the dip stick. .

Answer 1

It won't hurt it. The worst thing that can happen by having too much oil in the engine is if the level is up high enough for the crankshaft to touch it. This can cause the motor to run out of balance and sling excessive oil in the crankcase which you would more than likely be able to see in the form of smoke since the wiper ring on the piston usually cannot keep this amount of oil from entering the combustion chamber. In other words, if you haven't seen smoke coming out of the tailpipe, don't sweat it.

Answer 2

6 quarts
(w/filter, all engines)

NOT 7. And of course you knew that. So the question is, why did you even drive it out of the store overfilled, let alone 400 miles?

Assuming they used decent oil, you don't need another change, you just needed it brought down to the proper level.

So, what damage could you have done? Overfilling causes the oil to foam which can put the engine at risk. To quote from one of my service bulletins:

Over filling the oil can be a slight problem or a big problem depending on how much it was overfilled. The problem with overfilling comes when the crankshaft hits the oil. The crankshaft turns the oil into a foam, kind of like the head on a beer, and that is what circulates through the oil system. Since this foam is mostly air, the moving parts of the engine don't get sufficient lubrication and are damaged.

So the real question is, did the oil get high enough that the crank was slapping it and foaming it? If you didn't notice any smoke from the exhaust or over heating, you may have dodged the bullet this time.

Tell the dealer what happened, and let them check it out. Unfortunately you may not be able to go back on the Wal-Mart oil change folks for damages because you didn't do things you should have done to lessen damage. In other words, YOU are the one who drove it 400 miles knowing it was overfilled.

Answer 3

Well, here goes nothing...

Most engines will accomodate an extra 1/2 quart over the capacity listed in the owners manual.
This is because there is always a 1/2 quart in circulation while the motor is running.

One extra quart will not likely do anything. If the crankshaft was splashing in the oil you would notice power loss and the oil would be full of tiny bubbles when you pull the dipstick.

I had a customer come in after leaving a oil quick lube place and the technician was stumped until he told me that oil came out of the breather tube when he pulled it off to look in the valve cover. He kept pulling the dipstick and wiping it and I told him the engine is not just full, it's full-full to the top with oil. They had forgotten to drain the oil pan before dumping another five quarts in it.

Another guy came in where the oil change guy had spilled oil on the engien and then took it to the do it youself wash to clena the engine and flooded the electrical system. He cranked it for several minutes telling the customer that it wil start, they always start. All of a sudden "BOOM!" the whole exhaust system exploded when it finally threw a spark and the flash ignited all of the unburned fuel in the exhaust.

You got off easy. Thank your lucky stars. The worst that can happen in a "really full" engine is that you can float a bearing on the cranshaft or connecting rod.

One quart is no biggy.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

The biggest problem with overfilling your oil capacity is that many times the bottom of the crankshaft will "splash" in the extra iol causing it to become foamy. The oil pump is at that point pumping oil bubbles that are mostly air and air doesn't lubricate very well. It can cause your engine a sever amount of wear in a very short time. Look at your dipstick after the engine has run for a minute or two and see if the oil is foamy or if it looks like a smooth oil layer. If it's foamy Do not run the engine and get the extra quart of oil removed. If it's a smooth layer of oil just drive it to the dealer and get the extra oil removed.

Answer 5

just drain out a quart and let it go. no compression test or anything needed. just check dipstick (the one in the engine, not the wallywrld tech) level and drain accordingly.
keep in mind u r dealing with minimum wage employees here, they only do what wage they get. yes they r cheaper, but sometimes at what cost later? i haven't bought anything at wallywrld in 5yrs and i haven't died yet.

Answer 6

If the stick is not past the full line its fine,if it's past it drop some out,i never have anyone change my oil i do it my self becuse of this kind of stuff.

Answer 7

just drain out 1 quart